Frogs Use Timely Hitting, OSU Miscues to Earn Win

Preston Morrison had his second consecutive rough start, allowing an early run on a two out hit after a lead off walk, but settled in to hold the Cowboys at bay while the Frogs worked on getting their bats going. The combination of timely hitting and some costly errors would be enough to push the Frogs out in front, where they would stay, despite a late push by OSU.

After Morrison gave up the first inning run, TCU would respond with two in the second, sparked by Cody Jones hustling down the line for an infield single. He would subsequently steal second, and Connor Wanhanen would bring him around on a single to the right side. Wanhanen would score on a Derek Odell double, and TCU would take the lead - one they wouldn't surrender. The Frogs would squander an opportunity to add to it - with Odell on third Schloss called for the double steal, and a nice play by the Pokes would get DO dead to rights at the plate. Morrison would allow a single in the second, but got two strikeouts to end the threat - which would be the theme of the night. Preston seemed to pitch himself in and out of trouble more than Frog fans are accustomed to seeing; but delivered time and time again with a timely strikeout, or see his defense make a play to keep OSU off the board.

The Frogs would add a run in the second, and OSU would go scoreless until the fifth, as Morrison settled in and worked around a HBP and a few hits. In the fifth, a lead off single, passed ball, and a sacrifice would lead to an unearned run, but the Frogs would get it back in the bottom half of the frame, starting with a Cody Jones walk. Jones would get thrown out at second on Wanhanen's fielder's choice grounder, and then he would be eliminated on a Derek Odell grounder, which should have been a double play, but the short stop's throwing error would put DO on second with two down. Catcher Evan Skoug would come through in the clutch, singling Odell home, to give the Frogs the two run cushion.

TCU would get an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as the Frogs would get two walks and a single to load the bases. Connor Wanhanen would draw the bases loaded walk to give TCU the 5-2 lead, but Odell would strike out to end the inning, stranding three Frogs. After a scoreless top of the seventh for Morrison, the Frogs would strike again in the bottom - opening the frame with a Skoug single, followed by back to back doubles by Garrett Crain and Keaton Jones - the latter collecting two RBIs in the process. TCU finished the frame with three straight strikeouts, but the damage was done - and those two runs would prove huge soon.

Morrison, who had been so sharp for the past several innings faltered a bit in the top of the eighth, allowing a single to open the inning and letting Frog killer Williams homer for the second straight game. Williams, who had the game winner off of Ferrell in extras last night, would only serve to make the final score more respectable on Saturday, as Travis Evans would relieve Morrison and get two quick outs to end the rally. The Frogs went quickly in the bottom of the inning, and Schloss called on Trey Teakell to close things out - which he did with the help of some nice glove work by Jeremie Fagnan at first.

In the game, Preston Morrison wrote his name in the record books for TCU - becoming the school's all-time leader in innings pitched. P Mo finished with a final line of 7.2 innings, three earned runs, nine strikeouts and two walks (two hit by pitch). He allowed six hits and one home run. Trey Teakell earned the save, throwing 11 pitches, 8 for strikes, in a perfect ninth.

Offensively, the Frogs knocked starter Tyler Buffett out after scoring three runs in two innings off the sophomore. The OSU bullpen, which had been stretched Friday night, would give up seven hits in their seven innings of work, three to Wanhanen, who had two RBIs, and two to Skoug, who plated one run.

The Frogs will look to take the series Sunday, as they send Alex Young to the mound to face the Cowboy's Michael Freeman for a 2pm start on FS1.