Baylor
TCU
No. 16 Baseball Rallies Past No. 24 TCU 4-3
3/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 15, 2005
WACO, Texas - Chase Gerdes ripped a one-out RBI triple down the right field line to tie the game, and Michael Griffin followed with a game-winning sacrifice fly as No. 16 Baylor (12-7) rallied twice in the final two innings to defeat No. 24 TCU (12-6) in 10 innings Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.
It marked the second consecutive game in which Gerdes and
Baylor now has won a season-best four consecutive games, all coming against nationally ranked opponents. The Bears are now 7-1 this season against teams nationally ranked opponents.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth, Baylor scored a run without the benefit of a hit to send the game to extra innings. After Kyle Reynolds and Josh Ford walked to open the inning, Zach Dillon advanced both runners with a groundout to second. Reid Brees then grounded out to second, scoring Reynolds from third.
The tie was short-lived, though, as the Horned Frogs plated a run on two hits in the top of the 10th. Spencer Jackson led off with a single to right and moved to second on a Kyle Dahlberg sacrifice bunt. Stuart Musslewhite followed with a single to center, putting TCU back ahead 3-2.
Kevin Russo was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the 10th and moved to second on a Paul Witt sacrifice bunt. That set the stage for Gerdes' fourth triple of the season, which skipped over the diving glove of TCU first baseman Matt Carpenter, who entered the game as a defensive replacement of pinch runner Jerid Buttell to start the bottom of the 10th.
Abe Woody (2-0) earned the victory, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Starter Sean Walker was touched for two runs on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Andy Pape and Jeff Mandel each provided one inning of scoreless relief.
Shawn Ferguson (0-1) was saddled with the loss, surrendering three runs on one hit and four walks with three strikeouts in the final 3.0 innings. Baylor's comeback spoiled a solid outing by starter Tim McGough, who pitched 6.0 innings of one-hit shutout ball with no walks and seven strikeouts.
TCU got on the board in the top of the second on an Andrew Walker solo home run to left-center. The Frogs pushed their lead to 2-0 in the sixth thanks to a Shelby Ford sacrifice fly.
Baylor pulled to within one with a run on a hit and three walks in the bottom of the seventh, all coming with two outs. After Ford walked, Dillon singled through the left side and Brees walked to load the bases.
Musslewhite was the only player in the game with more than one hit, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Baylor returns to action this weekend, beginning Big 12 Conference play with a split series against top-ranked
