FORT WORTH — No. 21 TCU clinched the series with a 4-3 win over No. 4 Texas Tech Friday night at Lupton Stadium. Kurtis Byrne accounted for three of the four runs scored, driving in two and scoring once while tallying three hits in the game.
The Horned Frogs opened up a 2-0 lead in the second. David Bishop led off the inning with a base hit. With two on and nobody out, Kurtis Byrne doubled home the first run of the game. He later scored on a Luke Boyers ground out.
TCU extended its lead to four with another two spot in the sixth. Bishop led off the inning with a base hit and moved to second on a wild pitch. A passed ball had him on third with nobody out. Bryne lined a single through the right side to make it a 3-0 game. Pinch runner Sam Thompson later scored on a wild pitch.
The Red Raiders had base runners in all but two frames, but didn’t break through until the eighth inning. The first four hitters reached and two scored to make it a 4-2 game. River Ridings set down three straight to leave the tying runs on base.
In the ninth, Texas Tech made it interesting. A bases-loaded walk made it a one run ballgame with only one out. Ridings got an infield fly for out No. 2 and a ground out to lock up the save.
Marcelo Perez (3-1) picked up the win after tossing five shutout innings. He allowed two hits, walked three and fanned six.
Stat of the Game:
12 – The TCU pitching staff stranded 12 Texas Tech base runners.
Notes:
- Tonight’s attendance was 6,280.
- TCU improved to 3-3 in one-run games.
- The TCU pitching staff fanned double-digit batters (11) for the 16thtime this season.
- TCU outhit its opponent for the 17thtime this season.
- TCU played flawless defense for the 18thtime this season.
- Tommy Sacco and Luke Boyers stretched their hitting streaks to five games.
- David Bishop collected his 12thmulti-hit game of his career.
- Kurtis Byrne posted his ninth multi-hit game of the season and the 10thof his career.
- Byrne tallied his fourth multi-RBI game of the year and the sixth of his career.
- River Ridings picked up his 10thsave of the season and the 11thof his career.
Next Up:
With the win, No. 21 TCU improves to 23-12 overall and 9-5 in Big 12 play. The series finale is set for Saturday afternoon at 2. Brett Walker will take the mound for the Horned Frogs. The contest will be televised on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
