Around the Big 12: Knights Knock Frogs Out of First
Russell Sandefer struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings of work, as UCF took the second game of its series with TCU, earning a 5-1 win on Friday.
The Horned Frogs entered Friday tied for first place in the Big 12 with West Virginia, but failed to match the Mountaineers’ result. West Virginia defeated Cincinnati on Friday for its second win of the series, breaking the tie and taking sole possession of first.
Chase Krewson and Dylan King both homered for the Knights, who worked out nine walks in the victory. TCU only scored in the sixth inning off a Chase Brunson RBI triple, and King quickly answered in the bottom half to help the Knights knock the Frogs out of first.
The teams close the series Saturday.
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Broussard Lifts Cougars Past Cowboys
Tre Broussard put Houston ahead in the sixth inning with a bases-clearing double, as the Cougars came back for a 7-4 win over Oklahoma State in the teams’ series opener.
Antoine Jean shut the Cowboys down over the final five innings, allowing only a solo homer to Ian Daugherty. The Cowboys wasted a strong start from Harrison Bodendorf. The Hawai’i transfer held his opponent to two runs or less for the third straight start, but the Oklahoma State bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.
Broussard did most of the damage, driving in four runs for the game. The teams play Game 2 on Saturday.
White Carries Arizona to Victory
Mason White’s 3-run home run in the fifth inning put Arizona ahead to stay. The Wildcats held on for a 5-4 win over BYU on Friday.
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Both teams got strong performances out of their bullpen, as the teams combined for just five hits over the final four innings. Owen Kramkowski earned his sixth win of the season, lasting five innings and striking out five.
Ryder Robinson and Cooper Vest both had three hits for BYU, but the Cougars wasted several opportunities. BYU outhit Arizona 13-9, but the Cougars left 10 men stranded. The Wildcats tied the series, with Game 3 played Saturday.
Hauge Powers Jayhawks’ Comeback
Jackson Hauge blasted his 17th home run of the season, a 3-run shot in the seventh inning. Kansas took the lead there and never lost it, beating Kansas State 5-3 on Friday night in Lawrence, Kan.
Jacob Frost dominated the first six innings, striking out 10. But Kansas finally chased him in the seventh, and the Jayhawks struck off the Wildcats’ bullpen. Brady Ballinger drove in a run with a single, and Hauge followed to give the Jayhawks their first lead.
Manning West picked up his third win of the season, as Kansas relievers allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings. The teams finished the series Saturday.
Kemp Helps Bears Tie Series
Tyriq Kemp drove in all four runs for Baylor, as the Bears edged Utah 4-3 on Friday night to even their series. Kemp just missed hitting for the cycle, missing out on the double in a four-hit game. The Bears never trailed in the contest, as Kemp hit a two-run home run in the first inning, followed with an RBI triple in the second and singled home the winning run in the eighth.
Drake DiGiorno provided all of the offense for Utah, hitting a three-run home run in the seventh. Merit Jones pitched seven strong innings for Utah, fanning six and allowing no runs in his final five frames.
The teams finish the series Saturday.
Sun Devils Walk Past Red Raiders
Arizona State went ahead for good on a bases-loaded walk after rain forced the game’s suspension Friday night. When the teams resumed play Saturday afternoon, the Sun Devils earned a 9-8 victory.
The game was called in the bottom of the seventh on Friday, with ASU having loaded the bases and tied the game at 7. After the resumption, Kyle Walker and Landon Hairston both worked out free passes, forcing in runs. Texas Tech tried to counter with a Logan Hughes double in the ninth, but could not get the tying run past second.
The teams complete the series Saturday.
