TCU Defeats Long Beach State 5-2, Wins Series

Continuing with the weekend’s theme, Sunday, TCU got out to a quick lead against Long Beach State in the rubber match of their three game set, on their way to a 5-2 victory and a series win.

After Wymer worked around a one out single in the first, the Frogs got some help on their way to a two run open. Leadoff hitter Coby Boulware reached safely on an error, and Luken Baker followed a batter later with a single to short. Zach Humphrey’s two out triple was the big blow, driving in the first two runs of the game. Meanwhile, Sean Wymer got off to a solid start, throwing up nothing but zeroes through the first three frames. But the fourth gave him some trouble.

Wymer put the leadoff runner on for the second consecutive frame, but this one - a beaning - came back to bite him. He followed with two quick fly outs, but a two out single kept Long Beach State alive. After appearing to get the third out of the inning on a beautifully placed pitch that was called a ball, a single to right plated a pair and tied the game at two apiece.

The Frogs quickly answered back in the bottom of the inning, as the freshmen infielders got the offense rolling. AJ Balta started things with a one out single, and after Landestoy flied out for the second out of the frame, Conner Shepherd took one for the team - literally - getting plunked to put runners on first and second. Adam Oviedo broke the tie with a base hit, and Coby Boulware made it a two run advantage with a knock of his own, giving TCU a 4-2 lead, one they would not relinquish.

The bullpen did their job as well, Sunday, pitching five shutout frames - though there was some drama late. Wymer finished having allowed two runs on four hits, with one strikeout, one walk, and one hit batter. Haylen Green followed him and threw 1.2 innings of one hit ball, and Coughlin added 1.1 of no hit, one strikeout work. Jake Eissler made his second appearance of the series and allowed just one hit as well, taking TCU to the eighth, with a three run advantage after an insurance run in the sixth.

Schlossnagle made the call to Durbin Feltman to close things out, and he struggled. Long Beach didn’t seem all that phased by the gas, getting three hits in the top of the ninth and loading the bases with two outs. But Durbin bounced back and got a ground out to end the inning and the game, giving TCU their fourth victory in six tries on the year.

The Frogs finished with five runs on ten hits, walked three times and struck out ten. Green earned his first win of the year, and Feltman his second save. Boulware, Baker, and Oviedo each had two hits, with the freshman picking up an RBI apiece. Humphreys led the Frogs with two driven in.

For Long Beach, Andrews took the loss, but he was really good - holding TCU to two earned runs on six hits, striking out five and walking two in 5.0 innings. The Dirtbags finished with two runs on nine hits, three walks, and four Ks.

Next up for TCU is a date with the UTA Mavericks, who they will play in Arlington Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30, and freshman Russell Smith is expected to make his collegiate debut.