LUBBOCK, Texas – Zach Humphreys’ bases-loaded double in the top of the 14th gave TCU a 3-1 run lead. The Horned Frogs held on to defeat No. 8 Texas Tech by that same score in the series opener in Lubbock on Thursday night.
Nick Lodolo was brilliant over the course of eight innings. He allowed just five hits and struck out 13. Following a lead-off double in the second, he retired 18 of the next 19 batters he faced. He registered 10 strikeouts over that stretch.
The Horned Frogs had base runners in 11 of 14 innings, but couldn’t break through. The Frogs had two golden opportunities in the eighth and ninth to score. In the eighth, TCU had a runner on third with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. Johnny Rizer doubled with one out in the ninth, but was cut down trying to score on an Alex Isola base hit.
Texas Tech’s best chance to get on the board in regulation came in the eight as they tallied a trio of hits around a couple of outs. Lodolo’s 13th strikeout of the game left the bases loaded.
TCU finally broke through in the 11th. Rizer singled and was standing on third with two outs. A strikeout looked like it had ended the inning, but the ball was not caught cleanly forcing a throw to first. On the throw attempt, the catcher’s feet got tangled up and all runners were safe as Rizer crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.
Dramatics followed in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Cody Masters doubled. The runner at first slid across the plate, but was called out. The call was overturned on replay and the game was tied.
Texas Tech looked poised to win the game in the 13th after a lead-off double. After a hit to right, Jake Guenther unloaded a strike to home and the runner was tagged out. The Red Raiders went on to load the bases with one out. Dalton Brown (1-0) picked up back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
TCU pushed across a pair of runs in the 14th on Humphreys doubled with the bases loaded. Conner Shepherd and Adam Oviedo singled and Bobby Goodloe walked ahead of the Humphreys double.
In the bottom of the inning, Texas Tech had the tying runs in scoring position with one out. Augie Mihlbauer locked down the save with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
With the win, TCU improves to 29-21 overall and 11-11 in Big 12 play. The Horned Frogs and the Red Raiders will meet in Game 2 of the series on Friday night at 6:30. The game will be televised on FSSW+.