FORT WORTH – TCU punched its ticket to Omaha with a 6-4 victory over the No. 14 National Seed Indiana State Saturday night at Lupton Stadium in front of a record-breaking crowd of 8,994. The trip to the Men's College World Series is the sixth in program history.
TCU found itself in a 2-0 deficit after the first inning. Brayden Taylor worked a one out walk in the fourth to start the parade of hitters to the plate. Cole Fontenelle doubled to put the tying runs in scoring position. Tre Richardson beat out an infield single to cut the deficit in half. The comeback was complete as Kurtis Byrne reached on an error to drive in the tying run.
Anthony Silva's base hit to right brought home Richardson with the go-ahead run. Luke Boyers doubled in another run and Austin Davis grounded out to cap a five-run fourth inning.
Fontenelle's two out home run in the fifth gave the Frogs a 6-2 advantage.
Indiana State did not go quietly as it picked up two runs in the sixth to pull within two, 6-4. Ben Abeldt was able to wiggle off the hook with a big strikeout to strand the tying runs in scoring position.
The Sycamores brought the tying run to the plate in each of the final three innings. A Karson Bowen back-pick at second ended the seventh. A double play ball brought the eighth to a close and Garrett Wright retired three straight after allowing an infield single to lock up his fifth save of the season.
Sam Stoutenborough (5-0) started for TCU and went 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits, walked one and struck out two. Ben Abeldt allowed a run on four hits, walked two and struck out two in 2.2 innings of work.
With the win, TCU improves 42-22 overall. The Horned Frogs will face the winner of the Oregon/Oral Roberts Super Regional in their opening game in Omaha.