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BB: TCU Tops Texas Tech, Extends Win Streak

Mar. 11, 2012
TCU Athletics

FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU Horned Frogs stretched their winning streak to four games with a 2-1 victory over Texas Tech Sunday afternoon. Stefan Crichton pitched seven solid innings and Josh Elander scored both of the Frogs' runs in the win.

Crichton (2-0) surrendered just one run on four hits in seven innings of work. He walked one and struck out four. Justin Scharf gave up one hit in his 2/3 of an inning and Kevin Allen struck out the lone batter he faced. Kaleb Merck pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the year.

The Red Raiders put early pressure on in each of the first two innings with one-out doubles, but each time Crichton was able to work out of the jams. Jason Coats made a sliding catch on a sinking line drive to end the second.

TCU made an error count in the bottom of the second as it took a 1-0 lead. Josh Elander singled up the middle to lead off the frame and moved to third on an errant pick-off throw. With one out, Jerrick Suiter hit a slow roller to short, allowing Elander to scamper home with the first run of the game.

Texas Tech tied the game in the top of the fourth as a lead-off double turned into a run. Barrett Barnes hit the double and moved to third on a one-out single from Kevin Whitehead. A sacrifice fly from Reid Redman tied the game at one. Crichton made an acrobatic snag on a bouncer up the middle to end the inning.

The tie didn't hold as the Frogs again turned a Red Raider miscue into a run. Elander hit a one-out single to right and moved to second when the outfielder didn't field the ball cleanly. A balk moved Elander to third and he scored on a Derek Odell ground out, giving the Frogs a 2-1 lead.

Crichton again worked out of a one-out jam in the fifth as he issued a walk and hit a batter to put the go-ahead run on base. After a meeting on the mound, he got the next two batters out, stranding the runners on base. Following the hit batter, Crichton retired the final eight batters he faced before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Texas Tech tried to mound an eighth inning rally as Barnes doubled with two outs and moved to third on a wild pitch. Allen came in and got Scott LeJeune to strikeout to end the inning. Merck slammed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth inning to preserve the win.

TCU improves to 6-6 on the season. The Frogs and the Red Raiders will wrap up the weather-altered series Monday afternoon at Lupton Stadium. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Admission is free.