Around the Big 12: Frogs Keep Pace With WVU
Tommy LaPour picked up his sixth win of the season, as TCU matched West Virginia’s result with a 6-1 win over Central Florida in Orlando, Fla.
The Horned Frogs sit in a virtual tie for first place in the Big 12 with the Mountaineers, with West Virginia ahead on percentage points. The Mountaineers had two games with Oklahoma State canceled, which is why they sit at 11-4 compared to TCU’s 12-5. The teams will not meet this season.
Chase Brunson hit his 10th home run of the season and has now hit safely in 38 consecutive games. TCU picked up three hits from Cole Cramer, but mostly rode LaPour’s sharp performance past the Knights. Central Florida only scored an unearned run in the fourth inning, as Austin Williamson got hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly. The Knights nearly started a big inning, but LaPour ended the inning by inducing a double play.
UCF slipped into last place at 4-12 with the defeat. The teams play Game 2 Friday.
Read More: Frogs Keep Pace With WVU
Cougars Unload on Arizona
Crew McChesney and Ryder Robinson collected three hits each and BYU batted around in the seventh, earning a 12-5 win over No. 22 Arizona on Thursday.
The Cougars trailed the Wildcats by a run going into the seventh, but struck for eight runs in their frame. Tate Gambill and Keani Painter both lashed two-run singles in the inning, burying any chance of an Arizona response.
Collin McKinney struck out nine in six innings, but the Wildcats’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Game 2 takes place Friday.
Utes Blast Bears With Three Home Runs
Tyler Quinn hit one of three late home runs for Utah, which buried Baylor in a 13-1 avalanche on Thursday in Waco, Texas.
Related: How WVU Gymnastics Turned Its Season Around
Quinn helped break the game open for the Utes, who moved out of last place in the Big 12 with the win. He cleared the bases with a 3-run double, giving Utah a 6-1 lead that Baylor never threatened. Baylor starter Ethan Calder couldn’t get out of the fifth, and the Bears’ relievers did no better.
Core Jackson also homered and drove in five runs for the Utes. Utah sits a game shy of .500 overall and will play the second game of the series Friday.
King, Cromwick Close Out Red Raiders
Matt King hit a two-run home run and Josiah Cromwick followed with a three-run blast, as Arizona State scored five in the eighth inning and beat Texas Tech 10-4 on Thursday in Phoenix.
Ben Jacobs kept the Red Raiders off balance through six innings, striking out 13. Trendan Parish held Arizona State in check through five innings of relief, but took the loss when the Sun Devils scored in the seventh. Isaiah Jackson, ASU’s ninth-place hitter, homered in the second and singled in the go-ahead run. Jackson finished with three hits and four RBIs, as the Sun Devils remained two games back of first place.
At 11-22, Texas Tech is almost certainly ineligible for NCAA tournament play without winning the Big 12 tournament. Game 2 takes place Friday.
