June 7, 2009

Final Stats

AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 10 TCU Horned Frogs staved off elimination and forced a game three with a 3-2 victory over No. 4 Texas Sunday afternoon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. For the first time in school history, the Frogs will play in a Super Regional Championship game which is slated for a 6 p.m. start Monday and will be aired live on ESPN2. Matt Carpenter and Matt Vern provided the Frogs' offense with two home runs.

TCU found a recipe for success against a Longhorn squad that played small ball in game one - retire the lead-off hitter and go from there. Horned Frog starter Paul Gerrish did his job, allowing just two lead-off hitters to reach while holding the Horns in check for much of the contest. He went pitch-for-pitch with Texas starter Cole Green and bent but didn't break.

The Longhorns picked up a one-out single in the first, but a strike-`em-out/throw-`em out double play ended the inning without any runs crossing the plate.

Following a one-out error in the second, Gerrish sent down the next 10 batters before allowing a two-out single to Cameron Rupp. The hit didn't phase him as he got Connor Rowe to ground out to end the inning.

In the meantime, the Horned Frog chances were few, but they took advantage of them when they got them. A lead-off single by Taylor Featherston in the fourth got the ball rolling. With one-out, Vern unleashed with his second two-run home run of the Super Regional to put the Frogs in front. He sent his 17 home run of the season sailing over the right field fence for a 2-0 lead.

Carpenter delivered an insurance run in the sixth with a two-out home run to increase the lead to 3-0. The long ball tied his career high in home runs at 11.

After wasting a lead-off single in the seventh, the Longhorns made sure a lead-off double came around to score in the seventh. Kevin Keyes doubled to open the frame and scored on a one-out single from Preston Clark to cut the deficit to 3-1. Gerrish stranded Clark at first with two consecutive flyouts to Chris Ellington in right field.

Another lead-off hitter reached for Texas in the eighth and turned into another run as they closed the gap to one, 3-1. Pinch hitter Russell Moldenhauer took Gerrish's first offering off the shoulder. The Frogs went to the bullpen and called on Eric Marshall. A two-out single from Brandon Belt drove in the second run of the game for Texas. But Marshall did his job, getting Keyes to pop up softly to end the inning, leaving the tying run on base.

In the top of the ninth, Marshall set the side down in order to lock up his ninth save of the season.

Gerrish improved to 7-2 on the season with seven innings of solid work. The junior allowed two runs on five hits, didn't walk anybody and struck out six.

TCU tallied win No. 40 for the fourth time under Jim Schlossnagle. They improve to 40-17 overall on the season. The series finale is set for 6 p.m on Monday night. The game will air live on ESPN2. Tyler Lockwood will take the mound for the Frogs.