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Lifelong Frog
[SIZE=12pt]Weik, Purke Lead Frogs to 11-5 Victory Over Arizona[/SIZE]
BOX SCORE | QUOTES | VIDEO PRESS CONFERENCE [+]
Box Score | Quotes
FORT WORTH, Texas - Joe Weik connected on two home runs and freshmen Matt Purke held the Arizona bats in check en route to leading the Horned Frogs to an 11-5 victory on Saturday evening at Lupton Stadium in the Fort Worth Regional. The victory is the 48th of the season for the Frogs, tying the single-season record set in 1997.
Weik finished the evening with four hits - including a pair of home runs - to go along with a career-high six runs batted in and two runs scored.
Weik's first home would come in the top of the fourth inning when Matt Curry - who set a single-game record with five walks - reached first followed by the TCU junior's fourth home run of the season over the left field fence to give TCU a 6-1 lead.
The Grapevine, Texas, native would add another home run in the top of the ninth inning when he connected on a three-run blast to give TCU an 11-5 lead.
Taylor Featherston delivered the first big blast for the Frogs as the TCU sophomore connected on a three-run home run in the top of the third inning to break a 1-1 tie and give the home squad a 4-1 advantage. Jason Coats led off the inning with a double down the left field line then Curry walked before Featherston delivered his seventh home run of the season over the left center fence.
While the Frogs' offense used the long ball to get to the Arizona pitching staff, Purke held his own on the mound as the TCU newcomer improved to 13-0 on the season. Purke allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits while striking out nine hitters in 6.1 innings of action.
The Wildcats would cut the lead to three runs at 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Josh Garcia connected on his third home run of the season and second of regional action to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Robert Refsnyder reached base on an infield single then advanced to second on a TCU throwing error. The Wildcats' outfielder would be plated three batters later when Alex Mejia singled up the middle.
Jason Coats connected on a RBI single in the top of the seventh inning, which plated Jerome Pena, to give TCU a 7-3 lead. Bryan Holaday tacked on the second run of the inning when the TCU senior walked and would later advance to third base on an Arizona throwing error. The Frogs' catcher would score on a wild pitch by UA hurler Nick Cunningham to give the Frogs an 8-3 advantage. Arizona starter Kyle Simon suffered the setback after allowing six runs - all earned - on six hits in 3.2 innings of action. The Arizona hurler fell to 8-6 on the season.
Garcia led the Arizona bats as the Wildcat designated hitter finished with three hits, two runs scored and one RBI. Mejia and Refsnyder each finished with two hits for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats dropped to 34-23 on the season and will return to the field on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Central Time in an elimination game against Baylor.
With the victory, the Frogs improved to 48-11 on the season and advanced to the Fort Worth Regional Championship Game on Sunday evening. The Frogs will square-off against the winner of the Baylor-Arizona afternoon contest followed the championship game at 7:00 p.m. Central Time.
Game Notes:
* TCU Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle tied Frank Windegger for the second-most wins in school history, recording his 298th win this season.
* The five walks to Matt Curry gave him 54 on the season, which ties a single-season record for walks. Sam Lunsford drew 54 walks in 1996.
* With Joe Weik's two home runs in the game, TCU has now had nine players with multi-home run contests this season.
* Matt Purke and Tyler Lockwood combined to fan 10 batters in the game. TCU is 21-0 this season when it tallies 10 or more strikeouts.
* TCU scored first in the game for the 38th time and moved to 34-4 in those contests.
