June 8, 2009

Final Stats

AUSTIN, Texas - The 2009 TCU Horned Frogs came up short in their bid for a trip to Omaha with a 5-2 loss at No. 4 Texas Monday night. The Frogs fell behind 5-0 and tried to rally late, but the rally fell short as the most successful season in school history came to an end. The Frogs finish the year with a 40-18 record.

The Longhorns stole the momentum in the bottom of the first inning and never let go as they jumped out to an early 3-0 lead. Michael Torres singled on the first pitch he saw and scored on a long triple off the bat of Brandon Belt to put Texas on top. Russell Moldenhauer grounded out to make it a 2-0 game and Kevin Keyes homered to cap off the inning.

On the mound, freshman Taylor Jungmann did his job holding the Frog bats in check. While his team built a 5-0 advantage, Jungmann didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning.

Keyes again spurred a Longhorn rally as he doubled to lead off the fourth inning. The Frogs looked like they would get out of it as he made it to third with nobody out, but TCU starter Tyler Lockwood got a big first out before giving way to Eric Marshall. He fanned Preston Clark for the second out, but Cameron Rupp doubled to drive in the insurance run. Connor Rowe followed with a single to extend the lead to 5-0.

Bryan Holaday broke up Jungmann's no-hitter with a lead-off single, but a double play ended the Frog threat.

TCU's best chance to crack the scoreboard came in the sixth inning. Matt Curry led off with a base hit and Aaron Schultz was plunked on the arm to put two out with nobody. The Longhorn defense came up with two big ground balls and ended the threat without allowing a run.

Taylor Cragin took over on the mound for the Frogs and held the Longhorns in check for the final four innings. He allowed just one hit, walked a batter and struck out four.

Texas turned to Austin Wood in the seventh and the Frogs bats finally came to life in the eighth. Hunt Woodruff hit a pinch-hit double with two outs. After Brance Rivera singled, Corey Steglich drove in Woodruff with the first run of the game, but the Frogs would get no more in the frame and trailed 5-1 heading into the ninth.

TCU again tried to mount a rally in the ninth. Matt Vern tripled with one out and scored on a Holaday base hit. Texas called on Chance Ruffin and he recorded the final two outs to close out the game.

Lockwood allowed four runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. He walked one and struck out one.

TCU says goodbye to seven seniors. Matt Carpenter, Matt Vern, Taylor Cragin, Hunt Woodruff, Chris Ellington, Corey Steglich and Ben Carruthers all completed a very successful four years at TCU.