TCU used a four-run 5th inning to build a comfortable lead and rode it to a 6-1 victory over Oral Roberts on Tuesday afternoon at the College World Series. TCU’s win eliminates the Golden Eagles. The bullpen duo of Hunter Hodges and Cohen Feser combined to toss 4 1/3 scoreless innings to lock up the victory.
The pitching quartet of Cam Brown, Luke Savage (6-4), Hunter Hodges and Cohen Feser held one of the nation’s top offensive teams to one run on seven hits. The offense did its part, picking up six runs on 11 hits. The Horned Frogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second on an Austin Davis two out bases loaded walk.
Oral Roberts threatened to tie the game after a pair of walks to open the third. With two in scoring position and one out, Brown got a shallow fly ball and a strikeout looking on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning. TCU was gifted another run in the 4th on a balk call. Kurtis Byrne singled with one out and moved to third on a two out double from Logan Maxwell. A balk call allowed Byrne to cross the plate for a 2-0 lead.
The Frogs broke the game open in the 5th with four runs on four hits and a walk. Elijah Nunez led off the inning with a base hit. He was on third with one out after a ground out and a stolen base. Cole Fontenelle dumped a single into center for a 3-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Kurtis Byrne hit a sacrifice fly. Following a Richardson stolen base, Anthony Silva delivered a two-out, two run single for a 6-0 lead.
ORU’s lone run came in the 5th inning as it took advantage of a lead-off single. A two out single from Jonah Cox made it a 6-1 ballgame. With two outs, Hunter Hodges took over on the mound and got a strikeout to strand two runners.
Hodges tossed 2 1/3 scoreless. He allowed one hit, walked a batter and struck out two. Cohen Feser closed the game with two scoreless innings. His second strikeout of the game end the game with the bases loaded.
TCU head coach Kirk Saarloos along with players Cam Brown, Kurtis Byrne, and Anthony Silva all talked about the win postgame. Video is courtesy of the NCAA.