The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
31-17, 9-9
TCU
33-11, 13-6
Comeback foiled as Baseball falls, 11-10, to No. 9 TCU in extras
05.06.2017 | Baseball
Senior Zane Gurwitz and freshman Austin Todd collected five hits apiece in the loss.
FORT WORTH, Texas—Despite battling back from a five-run deficit and pounding out a season-high 17 hits, No. 24 Texas Baseball fell, 11-10, to No. 9 TCU on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th inning on Friday night at Lupton Stadium.
The Longhorns got on the board first thanks to some run-manufacturing by freshman Austin Todd. The leadoff hitter singled up the middle—his first of five hits on the night—and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Kody Clemens flew out to move Todd the third, the freshman scored on a wild pitch to give Texas a 1-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived for the Longhorns, however, as TCU plated a pair in the bottom half of the inning off Morgan Cooper, who was touched up for a career-high seven runs in the ballgame. The right-hander allowed two in the first, four in the second and one in the third before he was lifted. Cooper, who hadn't allowed an extra-base hit in 38.1 innings in Big 12 play this season, gave up four doubles and his first homer of the season in his shortest outing of the year.
The Longhorns offense added one in the third thanks to Todd's first career home run, but trailed 7-2 after four complete.
In the fifth, Texas mounted some offense off TCU starter Nick Lodolo. Todd led off the frame with his third hit of the night and moved to second on a Kody Clemens single. With one out, Kacy Clemens walked to load the bases and Ryan Reynolds followed with an RBI fielder's choice to make it 7-3. Zane Gurwitz, who also pounded out a career-high five hits, then singled to right to make it 7-4 and the Longhorns had cut it to a three-run ballgame.
TCU answered back in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back solo homers off Jake McKenzie but Connor Mayes entered in relief and quieted the Horned Frogs offense.
The Longhorns weren't done on offense, however, as they mustered up a rally in the seventh off the TCU bullpen.
Travis Jones and Kacy Clemens opened the inning with back-to-back singles. After a one-out wild pitch advanced the runners, Gurwitz hit an infield single to score Jones and give the Longhorns runners on the corners. Michael McCann, who entered in the fifth, then singled to right-center to plate Clemens and make it a 9-6 ballgame.
Pinch-hitter Tyler Rand drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases but and with two away, Todd delivered once again. The Round Rock native ripped a single up the middle to plate two and pull the Longhorns back to within one at 9-8.
After Mayes gave up a lead off single in the home half of the frame, Chase Shugart entered and got three groundouts to keep the Longhorns within one.
In the ninth, Gurwitz opened the frame with his fourth hit of the day. After advancing on a passed ball, Gurwitz moved to third on a McCann sacrifice bunt. Rand followed with a sac fly and the Longhorns tied it up at 9-9.
In the 10th, Kody Clemens hit a one-out single before Jones walked and Ryan Reynolds reached on catcher's interference with two outs. With the bases juiced, Gurwitz singled through the left side to plate the go-ahead run before Jones was called out at the plate to end the inning.
TCU tied things up in the home half of the inning when catcher Evan Skoug hit leadoff homer to tie things up at 10-10 off Beau Ridgeway.
After the Longhorns went down in order in the 11th, a bases-loaded sacrifice fly gave the Horned Frogs the walk-off win.
Texas and TCU will resume the series on Saturday at noon. Right-hander Nolan Kingham will get the start for the Longhorns.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Coughlin, Cal (1-0)
L: Ridgeway, Beau (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Cantu, Michael 1
HR: Todd, Austin 1
RBI: Todd, Austin 3 ; Reynolds, Ryan 1 ; Gurwitz, Zane 3 ; McCann, Michael 1 ; Rand, Tyler 1
SH: McCann, Michael 1
SF: Rand, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Todd, Austin 3 ; Clemens, Kody 1 ; Shaw, Tate 1 ; Jones, Travis 1 ; Clemens, Kacy 1 ; Gurwitz, Zane 2 ; McCann, Michael 1
SB: Jones, Travis 1
CS: Gurwitz, Zane 1
HBP: Jones, Travis 1
Batting:
2B: Wade, Austen 2 ; Baker, Luken 1 ; Barzilli, Elliott 1
HR: Skoug, Evan 2 ; Barzilli, Elliott 1 ; Merrill, Ryan 1
RBI: Wanhanen, Connor 1 ; Baker, Luken 2 ; Skoug, Evan 3 ; Warner, Cam 2 ; Barzilli, Elliott 1 ; Merrill, Ryan 2
SF: Wanhanen, Connor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wade, Austen 2 ; Wanhanen, Connor 1 ; Baker, Luken 1 ; Skoug, Evan 2 ; Watson, Josh 1 ; Barzilli, Elliott 1 ; Williams, Evan 1 ; Merrill, Ryan 2
SB: Wade, Austen 1 ; Merrill, Ryan 1
HBP: Wanhanen, Connor 1
