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TCU Drops Heartbreaker in CWS Opener To Oral Roberts - TCU Athletics
OMAHA – Oral Roberts rallied with four runs in the ninth inning to steal a 6-5 victory from TCU in the opening game of the 2023 College World Series at Charles Schwab
GoFrogs: TCU Drops Heartbreaker in CWS Opener To Oral Roberts
OMAHA – Oral Roberts rallied with four runs in the ninth inning to steal a 6-5 victory from TCU in the opening game of the 2023 College World Series at Charles Schwab Field Friday afternoon. Cole Fontenelle homered and drove in three in the loss for the Horned Frogs.
The Rundown
The first three hitters for Oral Roberts reached in the ninth to put the tying runs on base. With one in and one out in the inning, the Golden Eagles' Blaze Brothers hit a three run home run to put Oral Roberts up 6-5.
TCU did not go quietly in the ninth, getting the tying run to second and the winning run on first, but Cade Denton wiggled off the hook to secure the win.
Cole Fontenelle's one out home run in the fourth opened the scoring, but Oral Roberts would battle back to take its first lead of the game with a two out, two run home run in the sixth.
TCU quickly responded, tying the game at two in the bottom of the inning. Karson Bowen led off the inning with a double and scored on a Fontenelle base hit to tie the game at two.
Free passes in the eighth helped TCU build a 5-2 lead. Elijah Nunez's base hit started a string of five straight Frogs reaching base. With the bases loaded, Fontenelle worked an eight pitch walk to give the Frogs a 3-2 lead. Tre Richardson was hit by the pitch to drive in the second run of the inning. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Kurtis Byrne gave the Frogs a three run lead, but it was not to be.
Kole Klecker started and went five innings for the Frogs. He allowed a run on five hits, walked one and struck out one. Ben Abeldt allowed a run on one hit in his two innings of work. Luke Savage (5-4) suffered the loss after allowing all four runs in the ninth. Garrett Wright recorded the final out of the ninth inning.
Stat of the Game
3 – Cole Fontnelle homered in the contest giving him home runs in each of the last three games. He now has 14 home runs on the season.
Notes:
• TCU is now 63-43 all-time in NCAA postseason play.
• TCU fell to 4-2 in its College World Series opening game.
• TCU homered in a game for the 49th time this season.
• TCU lost for just the second time when leading after eight (37-2).
• TCU was outhit for just the 20th time this season.
• Karson Bowen collected his 23rd career multi-hit game.
• Brayden Taylor has reached safely in 31 straight contests.
• Cole Fontenelle has reached safely in 22 straight games.
• Fontenelle extended his hitting streak to seven straight games.
• Fontenelle collected his 25th multi-hit game of the season and the 27th of his career.
• Fontenelle posted his 14th career multi-RBI game.
Next Up:
With the loss, TCU falls to 42-23 overall. The Horned Frogs will face the loser of the Virginia/Florida contest in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN.
