College World Series: TCU Wins Gritty Game Against Virginia

An inning by inning recap of Game 5 in Omaha between TCU and Virginia.

Carson Wersal | Jun 18, 2023

The Horned Frogs battled their way to victory in a close one against Virginia, winning Game 5 of the MCWS 4-3.

MCWS Game Five - 1st Inning

The Horned Frogs saw Connelly Early well in the 1st inning with two hits, including a double by Elijah Nunez and a single by Karson Bowen. Cole Fontenelle scored Nunez with a deep fly ball, and Tre Richardson lined out to left field to end the inning.

The Cavaliers responded well as Griff O’Ferrall and Ethan O’Donnell started off the inning with a double and a single. Jake Gelof was able to score O’Ferrall on a fielder’s choice, but that was all as Sam Stoutenborough got out of the inning, allowing only a run.

(TCU-1, Virginia-1)

MCWS Game Five - 2nd Inning

After two quick outs in the 2nd inning, Logan Maxwell doubled, followed by an infield single by Austin Davis, but some miscommunication on the basepaths ended the inning for the Frogs.

Stoutenborough looked good in the 2nd with a quick inning with a strikeout looking, a deep fly ball, and a groundout by Henry Godbout to end the inning.

(TCU-1, Virginia-1)

MCWS Game Five - 3rd Inning

Bowen singled to center, and Brayden Taylor broke his cold streak with a double down 1st baseline. Fontenelle got his second RBI with a ground ball to first that scored Bowen, but that’s all for the Frogs in the 3rd.

Stoutenborough settled in nicely in the 3rd with a 10-pitch inning with a flyout, groundout, and a strikeout swinging to end it.

(TCU-2, Virginia-1)

MCWS Game Five - 4th Inning

Kurtis Byrne and Anthony Silva flew out to right field to start off the inning. The Horned Frogs got two walks courtesy of Maxwell and Davis, but that was all, as Nunez flew out to left field to end the top of the 4th.

Stoutenborough outdid himself in the 4th with a 7-pitch inning with two groundouts and a fly ball to right field.

(TCU-2, Virginia-1)

MCWS Game Five - 5th Inning

After Bowen and Taylor both grounded out early in the 5th, Fontenelle found himself on first after a long at-bat via the walk. Unfortunately, Richardson hit a hard line drive to center field to end the top of the 5th.

Stoutenborough struggled in the 5th with two walks but found two groundouts along the way but leaves the game with his final stat-line being 4.2 innings pitched, 2 hits, and 1 earned run on the day. Garrett Wright took over on the mound with two outs and two on and battled his way back from a 3-0 count getting O’Ferrall to groundout to finish off the inning.

(TCU-2, Virginia-1)

MCWS Game Five - 6th Inning

Byrne grounded out to second, and Maxwell struck out, but some walks by Silva and Davis allowed some timely hitting by Nunez to push Silva across the plate to add to TCU’s lead. Bowen lasered one right at the left fielder to end the inning.

Wright looked dominant for the Frogs in the 6th by striking out O’Donnell, making Gelof flyout to left field, and striking out the impressive cleanup hitter Kyle Teel to end the 6th.

(TCU-3, Virginia-1)

MCWS Game Five - 7th Inning

Taylor flew out to deep left, followed by Fontenelle striking out. Richardson ended his streak of being the last out by singling to left field. Byrne ends the inning by grounding into a fielder's choice at 2nd base.

Ethan Anderson started off the Hoos the right way by homering to left field. Wright responded by striking out Saucke and Stephan and getting Godbout to ground out to third to keep the lead for the Frogs.

(TCU-3, Virginia-2)

MCWS Game Five - 8th Inning

Silva started off the inning with an infield single, and Luke Boyers moved Silva over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Austin got a hold of one hitting the ball over the center fielder for a double that scored Silva adding one to the Horned Frogs' lead. Nunez moved Davis over to 3rd base with a fly ball to right field. Bowen walked, but Taylor struck out swinging to stop the Frogs from adding any more.

Didawick started Virginia off with a single up the middle and then stole second to give the Hoos a runner on second with nobody out. O’Ferrall moves over Didawick with a deep fly ball out to left field, who eventually ends up scoring due to a fielder's choice. Ben Abeldt took the mound in relief and limits the damage by only allowing one to keep the Frogs’ lead.

(TCU-4, Virginia-3)

MCWS Game Five - 9th Inning

Fontenelle singled into center to start the 9th. Tre Richardson bunted him over to second and, on a close play at first, was called out. Jay Woolfolk does his job in relief by getting Byrne and Silva both to fly out to end the inning.

Abeldt got two quick outs to begin the ninth with a strikeout and a groundout to shortstop. Saucke singled but advanced to second on a fielding error by Nunez. Abeldt struck out Stephan for the final out.

Final Score: TCU-4, Virginia-3

Ben Abeldt and Garrett Wright did their job in relief against Virginia, holding the Hoos to only two earned runs, with Wright earning the win. Nunez, Bowen, and Silva all had two hits in this game as well as Davis with a big double in the 8th inning to get Silva to score. Fontenelle had two big RBI's early in the game to give the Frogs an early lead.

Next up: TCU will play on Tuesday at 1 p.m. against the loser of Oral Roberts vs Florida.

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Published Jun 18, 2023

CARSON WERSAL

Carson is a student currently at TCU studying journalism with a sports focus. He graduated from Aledo High School and played baseball for Frank Phillips College before attending TCU in 2022. Carson follows local Fort Worth sports but is excited to start writing about TCU sports.