COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Two late unearned runs for Louisiana proved to be the difference as TCU came up short in a 7-6 loss in the opening game of the NCAA College Station Regional. All seven runs scored by Louisiana came with two outs in the inning. For the Horned Frogs, Tommy Sacco and Porter Brown homered.
After falling into a 3-0 hole after the second, TCU rallied to take a 4-3 lead. Tommy Sacco hit a two run home in the third to make it 3-2 ballgame. In the fifth, Garrison Berkley walked and Elijah Nunez reached on an error. Kurtis Byrne came through with a two-run single to put the Frogs in front.
The lead was short lived as Louisiana struck for two in the sixth. A two out walk scored on a two-out single. A triple followed to put the Ragin’ Cajuns up 5-4.
More two out damage followed in the seventh, as an errant throw on an infield single pushed the Louisiana lead to two, 6-4. Porter Brown’s home run in the bottom of the seventh pulled the Frogs within one, 6-5.
Another two out throwing error turned into another Louisiana run. TCU again pulled within one on a two-out double from David Bishop, 7-6. The Frogs had the tying run on second in the ninth, but couldn’t get him home.
Riley Cornelio (4-5) took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits. He walked five and struck out three. Luke Savage, Drew Hill and Austin Krob all pitched in relief.
Stat of the Game:
22 – Tommy Sacco hit his 22nd double of the season in the first inning. It’s the fifth-most doubles in a season for a Horned Frog.
Notes:
- TCU dropped to 56-41 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
- TCU is now 34-23 all-time in the NCAA Regional.
- TCU homered in a game for the 32ndtime.
- TCU hit multiple home runs in a game for the 17thtime.
- Elijah Nunez has reached safely in 15 straight games.
- Tommy Sacco hit his 11thhome run of the season and the 15thof his career.
- Sacco tallied his 25thmulti-hit game of the year and the 38thof his career.
- Sacco posted his 13thmulti-RBI game of the season and the 23rdof his career.
- Brayden Taylor has reached safely in 11 straight.
- Kurtis Byrne posted his eighth multi-RBI game of the season and the 10thof his career.
- Byrne has reached safely in 10 straight.
- David Bishop collected his 15thcareer multi-hit game.
Next Up:
With the loss, TCU falls to 36-21 on the season. The Horned Frogs will meet Oral Roberts in an elimination game on Saturday at Noon. Marcelo Perez will get the ball for the Horned Frogs. The game will be televised on ESPN+.
