TCU vs. Sam Houston Recap: Forever Baseball

TCU got things going early thanks a Cody Jones double (arguably could've been stretched to a triple) that was perfectly placed down the first baseline. Boomer White proved once again why he's the offensive MVP of this ballclub as he drove in the speedster jones to give TCU the 1-0 lead early in the 1st.

The Baseball Gods tested the Frogs early in the bottom of the 1st as Cody Jones slipped on the outfield grass which allowed the Bearkats to load the bases early. Boomer White then slipped on the grass too, and Sam Houston tied the game at 1. But the Gods responded and thanks to a very helpful runner-interference call, TCU was able to get out the inning early with limited damage.

Garrett Crain got things going from the get-go with a lead-off single in the top of the 2nd, but a great play by SHSU left fielder Luke Plucheck robbed Dylan Fitzgerald of a hit and TCU was unable to get out the inning with any support for Morrison.

Credit SHSU Jason Simms, because TCU couldn't figure the side-armed enigma out most of the game. Simms was mowing the Frogs down early and had 6 strikeouts through 5 innings of work. But things started to fall of for the kid in the 6th as his pitching became more and more erratic beginning with a leadoff walk to Kyle Bacak, who was advanced to second thanks to a brilliant bunt by Cody Jones.

By this time, the home crowd started to get more into the game. Did it have an effect? Why not---because who else but Boomer White put the ball in play to force a huge Sam Houston error to give the Frogs a 2-1 lead. Was it the prettiest of RBIs? Nope. But it didn't matter because White then stole third and got the Lupton crowd as loud as it's been in a long time. The momentum was cut short with a Kevin Cron strikeout to end the inning---taking cuts that sent a breeze to Dallas. But the credit perhaps goes to Simms again, who fooled the majority of the lineup with his puzzling release point.

The momentum still carried as the Frogs finally began make consistently solid contact off of Simms. TCU also got a huge boost from the crowd when a SHSU failed hit-and-run resulted in a double play to end the bottom of the 7th. Andrew Godail came in for the Kats in the top 8th and a potentially deadly 1-out walk to Cody Jones ended up being futile.

After another yet another set of defensive fumbles by TCU in the bottom of the 8th, Alex Young came into pitch and the Bearkats tied the game at 2 going into the 9th. The real change of pace came from the brilliant outing of Trey Teakell, who despite the high-pressure situation looked as poised as ever.

Despite a weird start from the defense, Preston Morrison was on his typical Greg Maddux flow. One of the bigger moments for P-Mo came in the bottom of the 4th when he got Shea Pierce to strikeout to end the inning after Morrison fell behind in the count. The Kats continued to have no answer for Morrison as he came back and forced the offense to go three up three down beginning with a leadoff strikeout.The defense quickly forgot about the errors early and the game and Morrison continued to by fire.

Things were interesting throughout the extra innings, but it all came to a head in the bottom of the 21st, when Sam Houston had the bases loaded with one out. A ground ball turned into an attempted double play, when Kats left fielder Luke Plucheck took out Garret Crain, and was called for runner interference, ending the inning and the threat. Sam Houston State had already begun running on the field in celebration, as a runner had come home to score, and in the aftermath both Pleucheck and head coach David Pierce were tossed.

Ultimately, it was Boomer who again stepped up to the challenge. After 12 innings of free baseball that saw both teams threaten to score but unable to convert, Boomer stepped up with runners on first and second, and two outs in the top of the 22nd inning. In the most Boomer of fashions, he ripped a single to left field, where the Kats' left fielder, in for the ejected Plucheck, bobbled the ball. Keaton Jones scored from second and Cody Jones advanced to third.

Riley Ferrell came on in the bottom of the inning, sprinting out of the bullpen like he was on fire, and Wild Thing was playing in his head. After walking the leadoff batter, and seeing him sacrifice bunted to second, Ferrell struck out Kats catcher, and got the next batter to pop up to Keaton to end the game.

Sam Houston State fans were not pleased, but TCU fans were deliriously ecstatic.

The Kats play Siena at 2:30 this afternoon, with the winner taking on TCU at 7. :