The Horned Frogs channeled any nerves they may have had coming into their first-ever appearance at Rosenblatt Stadium into five runs and never looked back.
The entire batting order came to the plate in the bottom of the first inning – all simply doing what they know how to do: swing the bat. Florida State starter Sean Gilmartin surrendered four singles, two doubles and a sacrifice fly as TCU put together an inning it will never forget on college baseball’s biggest stage.
That was all that freshman All-American Matt Purke needed to help the Frogs cruise to victory. Purke, who tied Lance Broadway with his 15th win of the season Saturday, gave up his only run in the top of the first. In the seven-inning outing, he allowed four hits, walked seven and uncharacteristically walked four, although Florida State does have a penchant for the base on balls, according to the telecast.
The third inning started with two consecutive walks to Jantzen Witte and Taylor Featherston by reliever Hunter Scantling. Aaron Schultz sacrificed the runners over to second and third for Brance Rivera, who executed a squeeze ply to get Witte in from third but only found himself in the middle of a 1-3-2 non-traditional double play. Sacrifices are a huge part of the Frogs’ fundamentally-focused game plan.
After an error by catcher and clubhouse leader Bryan Holaday in the top of the fourth allowed a runner to reach base on a strikeout, he atoned for that mistake by hitting the ball over the wall in left field for TCU’s first CWS home run. That made it 7-1
After three scoreless innings, Jason Coats brought home Brance Rivera in the eighth for his third RBI of the game and the Frogs’ eighth and final run.
The Frogs are now in good position in the winner’s bracket and will play UCLA at 8 p.m. Monday on ESPN2. Go Frogs!
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