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GoFrogs: TCU Tops Baylor In Championships Opener

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Lifelong Frog

GoFrogs: TCU Tops Baylor In Championships Opener
ARLINGTON, Texas – TCU scored four unanswered runs in its final two at-bats to rally for a 4-2 win over Baylor in its opening game of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. The victory is the eighth straight for the Horned Frogs. Kurtis Byrne and Bobby Goodloe tallied two hits in the game.

The Rundown
Brett Walker was outstanding in his return to the starting rotation. He allowed two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings of work. The bullpen trio of Caleb Bolden, Augie Mihlbauer and Garrett Wright tossed the final three innings, limiting Baylor to just one hit and three walks (one intentional) to go along with four strikeouts. Mihlbauer (3-0) picked up the win, while Wright tallied his third save.

Baylor opened up an early lead in the first and added a run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead.

A lead-off single by Tommy Sacco got the Frogs going in the sixth. With two on and one out, Bobby Goodloe made it a 2-1 game with a double to left. A lack of urgency by the defense allowed Kurtis Byrne to score on a David Bishop sacrifice fly. The runner at second was doubled off, but not before Byrne crossed the plate with the tying run.

TCU picked up two more runs in the eighth to break the tie. Sacco walked to open the inning and moved to third on a Brayden Taylor base hit. A wild pitch allowed Sacco to score the go-ahead run. Byrne followed with an RBI single for a 4-2 lead.

Stat of the Game:
30 –
Elijah Nunez reached the 30 stolen base plateau with a steal of third in the first inning. It is just the seventh time in program history that a player has swiped 30 bases in a season.

Notes:
• TCU improved to 23-11 in the Big Tournament.
• The Horned Frogs are 6-3 in Big 12 Tournament opening games.
• TCU is now 54-33 all-time in conference tournament games.
• TCU outhit its opponent for the 28th time this season.
• TCU played errorless baseball for the 28th time this year.
• TCU stole multiple bases (3) for the 24th time this year.
Augie Mihlbauer made his 86th career appearance, moving him into a tie for fifth all-time in program history. He is now tied with Riley Ferrell (2013-15).
Elijah Nunez has reached safely in 12 straight games.
Tommy Sacco has hit safely in 13 straight games and reached safely in 16 straight.
Brayden Taylor and Gray Rodgers have reached safely in nine straight.
Kurtis Byrne notched his 16th multi-hit game of the season and the 17th of his career.
Bobby Goodloe posted his seventh multi-hit game of the season and the 13th of his career.
• Rodgers extended his hitting streak to six games.
Garrett Wright collected his third save of the year and the fourth of his career.

Next Up:
With the win, TCU improves to 36-18 overall. The Horned Frogs have advanced to face the No. 4 seed Texas Thursday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Globe Life Field. Marcelo Perez will get the start for the Horned Frogs. The contest will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
 
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