Eric Gutierrez drove in three run in Texas Tech's win against TCU.
TULSA, Okla. -- Texas Tech scored eight runs in the first four innings and never looked back as second-ranked TCU was eliminated from the Big 12 tournament with an 8-1 loss on Thursday.
The game got off to an ominous start as the Red Raiders picked up three runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batter. Preston Morrison hit the lead-off batter and a long single followed to put runners on the corners with nobody out. After a one-out walk loaded the bases, the Frogs looked like they would get out of the jam with a ground ball, but the failure to turn the double play resulted in the first run of the game. An errant pick-off throw and a two-out hit by Tanner Gardner made it a 3-0 game in favor of Texas Tech.
Texas Tech's lead grew to four in the second as it took advantage of a lead-off single. A balk and a base hit had runners on the corners with one out. Michael Davis scored on a ground out from Tyler Nesloney to make it a 4-0 game.
Solo home runs to lead off the third (Eric Gutierrez) and fourth (Michael Davis) pushed the Red Raider lead to 6-0. A one-out error in the fourth proved costly as Gutierrez singled home a pair of runs to make it an 8-0 ballgame in favor of Texas Tech.
TCU had a couple opportunities to crack the scoreboard in the early innings but couldn't solve the combination of Corey Taylor and Jonathan Tripp. Cody Jones led off the first with a base hit and made it to third where he was stranded. A two-out double from Jones in the third also went by the wayside.
The Frogs finally had multiple base runners in an inning in the fourth. Skoug opened the inning with a base hit and moved to third on a two-out double from Keaton Jones, but a strikeout ended the inning.
TCU avoided the shutout in the ninth. Elliott Barzilli drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a Connor Beck base hit. A two-out error loaded the bases. Evan Williams was plunked on the back to drive in the lone run of the game.
Corey Taylor earned the win for the Red Raiders, going 5 innings without allowing a run. Johnathon Tripp pitched the next three innings, and Parker Mushinski finished up the game in the ninth.
The combination of Brian Howard and Drew Gooch came on to pitch the final 5.2 innings for the Frogs. Howard allowed an unearned run on three hits in 3.1 innings and struck out five. Gooch closed out the game with 2.1 scoreless frames. He gave up one hit, walked two and struck out three.
Preston Morrison (11-2) was touched for seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in 3.1 innings as he was charged with the loss.
