Baseball: Doubleheader sweep, walk-off single highlight TCU’s series win over BYU

The Horned Frogs improved to 25-8 after taking all three of its games against the Cougars.

TCU infielder Cole Cramer played the hero once again Friday evening, delivering a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning to help the Horned Frogs clinch a Big 12 series sweep against BYU. Cramer, who hit the game-winning sacrifice fly against UTSA on Tuesday, tied the score with an RBI knock in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the series finale into extras. The Horned Frogs (25-8, 8-4 Big 12) have caught fire over the last few weeks, taking nine of their last 10 games while scoring an average of 8.4 runs per game in that span. TCU, who will face UT Arlington this Tuesday, swept its doubleheader with BYU on Thursday.

Thursday Game 1: TCU 11, BYU 6

Trailing 2-0, TCU exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning to take control of its series opener against the Cougars. The Horned Frogs flexed plenty of power in the frame, with Jack Bell belting a three-run blast over the right-field wall before freshman phenom Sawyer Strosnider pounded a two-run shot over the right-center-field wall. Chase Brunson and Isaac Cadena followed with RBI doubles to cap off the seven-run frame.

TCU took a 9-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning, where Strosnider ripped an RBI triple down the right-field line and freshman Noah Franco sent an RBI single through the left side of the infield. BYU brought itself within three runs after a three-run homer from Brock Watkins in the top of the sixth inning and an RBI single from Cooper Vest in the top of the eighth inning. TCU came through with insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, however, taking a five-run lead on a two-run shot from Cadena, who powered a homer over the center-field wall. Franco was a perfect 5 for 5 for the Horned Frogs, who totaled 14 hits.

Right-hander Kole Klecker earned the start on the TCU side, throwing four innings while striking out six batters and holding the Cougars to two runs on two hits. Left-hander Mason Brassfield entered in relief and added six more strikeouts over three and one-third innings, allowing four runs (one earned). Right-handed freshman Kade Eudy shut the door down the stretch, firing one and two-thirds innings with one strikeout for his third save this season.

Thursday Game 2: TCU 8, BYU 0

The Horned Frogs belted three home runs during the second game of their doubleheader with BYU. Sawyer Strosnider and Chase Brunson each went long in the bottom of the first inning, where Strosnider smacked a solo shot before Brunson blasted a two-run homer to give the Horned Frogs a 3-0 lead. Colton Griffin came through with a big at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, pulling a three-run homer to right to put TCU up 6-0.

An RBI double from Anthony Silva and an RBI single from Karson Bowen gave the Horned Frogs an eight-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. On the mound, right-hander Tommy LaPour turned in his best outing of the season, firing seven no-hit frames with six strikeouts before handing the ball to Gianluca Shinn, who struck out the side in the top of the eighth inning. Nate Stern tossed a shutout frame in the ninth to seal the TCU victory.

LaPour improved to 4-2 on the season witih his performance Thursday night. Bowen went 3 for 3 and reached base four times for the Horned Frogs, who recorded 14 hits in the win. Franco went 3 for 4 and Brunson went 3 for 5 to aid the TCU offense against the Cougars.

Friday: TCU 13, BYU 12 (11)

The Horned Frogs faced a significant deficit early, with the Cougars compiling six runs in the top of the third inning. TCU was undeterred, however, as the Horned Frogs scratched one run in the bottom of the fourth inning before a three-run bomb from Chase Brunson in the bottom of the fifth inning evened the score at 6-6. Brunson drove in TCU’s first run of the game, slapping a solo shot over the right-field wall. The Horned Frogs tallied five runs in the fifth inning, making the score 6-3 after a solo blast from Karson Bowen and an RBI single from Noah Franco. Bowen went 4 for 5 for the TCU offense, which registered 16 hits.

BYU retook control over the sixth and seventh innings, where the Cougars drove home six runners to surge ahead 12-6. BYU couldn’t contain the TCU offense, though, as the Horned Frogs brought themselves within three after Isaac Cadena’s three-run homer to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning. TCU completed its rally with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, where pinch-hitter Jack Arthur delivered arguably the biggest at-bat of the game, belting a two-run shot to left-center that made the score 12-11. With two runners on base, Cole Cramer took a ground ball the other way for a game-tying, two-out RBI single.

Freshman right-hander Kaden Smith earned his first win of the season, throwing the final three frames while striking out four batters and holding BYU without a hit or a run. TCU allowed nine walks and nine hits to the Cougars, but the Horned Frogs capitalized on poor pitching from BYU, drawing 10 walks in the game. Cramer reached base six times to lead TCU in the game, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and three walks.