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TCU Advances To Championship Game - TCU Athletics
ARLINGTON, Texas – An outstanding job on the mound by the duo of Sam Stoutenborough and Ben Abeldt secured TCU's spot in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship game
GoFrogs: TCU Advances To Championship Game
ARLINGTON, Texas – An outstanding job on the mound by the duo of Sam Stoutenborough and Ben Abeldt secured TCU's spot in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship game as the Horned Frogs eliminated Kansas State with a 6-3 win Saturday morning at Globe Life Field.
The Rundown
Sam Stoutenborough gave the Horned Frogs a solid 5 2/3 innings of work. He navigated base runners in all but one inning, making pitches when he needed as Kansas State ultimately stranded seven runners with him on the mound. He allowed three runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out three in the no-decision.
Ben Abeldt (2-3) took over on the mound in a tie game with two outs in the sixth. He was brilliant in striking out seven while allowing just three hits. He worked around two one-out base runners in the seventh and navigated a lead-off single in the ninth to pick up the win.
Twice Kansas State took a lead only to see TCU respond in its half of the inning. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on a two-out solo home run. Karson Bowen drew a lead-off walk and was standing on third after a stolen base and error. Cole Fontenelle tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly.
The Wildcats opened up a 3-1 lead on three hits in the fifth but again the Frogs had an answer. Kurtis Byrne's one out home run pulled the Frogs within one. Logan Maxwell followed with a triple and scored the tying run on an Austin Davis sac fly.
TCU took the lead for good in the sixth after loading the bases on a hit batter, walk and fielding miscue with nobody out. Anthony Silva bounced into a double play, but Brayden Taylor was able to score the go-ahead run.
The Frogs took advantage of yet another Kansas State miscue in the eighth to score two big insurance runs. With one out and runners on the corners, Tre Richardson dropped down a bunt that easily scored Taylor. An errant throw to third allowed Fontenelle to score for a 6-3 lead.
Stats of the Game
7 – Ben Abledt struck a career-high seven batters in a career-high 3 1/3 innings of work.
Notes:
• TCU is advancing to its 11th conference championship game and its fifth in the Big 12 (2014, 16, 18, 21).
• TCU is now 57-35 all-time in conference tournament contests.
• TCU homered in a game for the 43rd time this season.
• TCU stole multiple bases (3) in a game for the 33rd time this season.
• TCU was outhit for just the 18th time this season.
• TCU played errorless baseball for the 25th time this season.
• The TCU pitching staff fanned double-digit batters (10) for the 22nd time this season.
• Elijah Nunez has reached safely in eight straight games.
• Karson Bowen caught 13th base runner stealing in the game.
• Bowen extended his hitting streak to seven games.
• Taylor has reached safely in 24 straight contests.
• Cole Fontenelle has reached safely in 15 straight games.
• Kurtis Byrne ran his hitting streak to eight games.
• Byrne hit his seventh home run of the season and the 13th of his career.
Next Up:
With the win, TCU improves 36-22 overall. The Horned Frogs advance to Sunday's championship game against either Oklahoma State or Texas Tech. The contest will be televised on ESPNU. First pitch will be at 5 p.m.
