Texas Tech Loses Heartbreaker to TCU at College World Series

Texas Tech and TCU engaged in a pitchers duel to open the College World Series before a three-run homerun put TCU up for good in the top of the ninth.

Tech got on the board first in the bottom of the 3rd when Cory Raley knocked a double into left that allowed Tanner Gardner to score from first base. Gardner slid past a close tag at the plate after stalling at third base on his way around the hot corner.

TCU countered with a run of their own lead-off walk from Steven Gingery came home to score on a sac fly in the top of the fourth inning. They added another in the fifth with a solo shot from Cam Warner. Hayden Howard would come in to replace Gingery in the fifth after the homerun.

Tech would answer back in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Floyd came home on a Gardner double. Gardner would go down running to second with an apparent hamstring injury, but would stay in the game after being stretched out.

Howard and Ryan Moseley would play with fire in the top of the eighth with two Frogs on base, but would escape the inning to allow the Red Raider bats an opportunity to get to get the lead in the bottom of the eighth.

Raley got a one-out, infield single, then stole second. Guitierrez was intentionally walked after running the count to 3-1. Then, Mr. Clutch Hunter Hargrove ripped a double past the third baseman to send Raley to the plate for a 3-2 lead.

Robert Dugger would come on to close the game. After giving up a walk and a single, TCU freshman Luken Baker murdered a ball into the bleachers in left field, giving the Frogs a 5-3 lead. Dugger would then get a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning.

Texas Tech would have an opportunity for the walk off in the bottom of the ninth.

Pinch hitter Ryan Long would lead off the inning with a strikeout. Stephen Smith then flied out to right field. Orlando Garcia would complete the three up three down inning with a strikeout.

Texas Tech will play the loser of the Florida versus Coastal Carolina on Tuesday.