TCU’s third rally, in ninth, subdues Oklahoma Sooners

No. 5 TCU scored three runs in the eighth inning and three runs in the ninth for its second and third rallies of the game to beat No. 24 Oklahoma 9-6 on Friday night and clinch at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.

Connor Wanhanen’s leadoff double, Ryan Merrill’s single, two walks and a hit by pitch helped fuel the three-run ninth.

TCU closer Durbin Feltman earned the save with a scoreless ninth, allowing two hits.

The Horned Frogs took a 6-4 lead in the top of the eighth. Evan Skoug’s second double of the game drove in a run, Cam Warner doubled to score Skoug, and Warner scored later on a wild pitch. That overcame a 4-3 OU lead.

But the Sooners rallied for two in the eighth and a 6-6 tie, scoring on a throwing error and a collision involving TCU first baseman Luken Baker. a TCU throw to first base resulted in the Sooners base runner and TCU first baseman Luken Baker colliding. Baker had to leave the game.

The Sooners tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth on O’Brien’s RBI double after Walker’s single.

TCU scored twice in the first inning. Wanhanen led off with a walk and Ryan Merrill followed with a single. Luken Baker’s single made it 1-0 and Evan Skoug got the second run home on a groundout. With two outs, Nolan Brown lined out to center field.

TCU took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Elliott Barzilli hit a two-out single to score Skoug, who had led off with a double. Barzilli was thrown out stealing to end the inning.

Freshman left-hander Nick Lodolo started for the Frogs and went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, only two of which were earned, and giving up seven hits. Sean Wymer got the win but gave up three runs, two earned, in the eighth.

This story was originally published May 12, 2017 at 10:47 PM with the headline "TCU’s third rally, in ninth, subdues Oklahoma Sooners."