May 28, 2004

HOUSTON - TCU broke a dead-locked 4-4 tie with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and added two more solo home runs in the seventh and eighth to stun the fourth-ranked ECU Pirates, 10-4, and eliminate the No. 1 seed on Friday (May 28) night in Game 10 of the 2004 Conference USA Baseball Tournament, presented by Sterling Bank, at Cougar Field. TCU improves to 35-24 on the year, while ECU falls to 48-11.

The game marks the first time in the league's annual tournament that both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds failed to reach the semifinals.

TCU got on the board first with two runs in the first. After Ramon Moses struck out, Bo Cogbill and Chad Huffman hit back-to-back singles. Austin Adams struck out and Shelby Ford followed with a two-run double to left center to clear the bases.

ECU answered with a run in the second when Drew Costanzo, who lead off with a walk and advanced to third on a Trevor Lawhorn single, came around to score on a wild pitch.

TCU added its third run in the second on a double by D.J. Pokluda and an RBI-single by Moses.

The Pirates captured the lead with three runs in the third. Jamie Paige and Billy Richardson both reached after being hit by a pitch, and following Ryan Jones' single to center field, Paige came around to score on a fielding error by Horned Frogs' centerfielder Austin Adams. Richardson came home on a passed ball, and Costanzo singled up the middle to send Jones home.

Cogbill singled up the middle to notch the Horned Frogs' fourth and tying run in the bottom of the fourth.

With two outs in the sixth, Huffman started the TCU four-run rally with a single through the left side of the infield. Adams was hit by a pitch to reach first, and after both runners advanced on a passed ball, Ford followed with a high pop up on the infield that ECU allowed to drop for a single, allowing both runners to score. After the next batter, Chris Neuman, drew a walk, the Pirates brought in Ricky Brooks to pitch to Kyle Dahlberg, who laced a two-run double to left center.

J.J. Estrada lead off the seventh with a solo bomb to left, and Neuman notched the Horned Frogs' tenth and final run with a homer to left center.

Robbie Findlay, who relieved starter Chad Underwood, earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the season. Findlay hurled the final 4.2 innings allowing just two hits and fanning seven.

Mike Flye took the loss for ECU and drops to 2-3 on the year. Flye entered the game in the fourth in relief of starter Shane Mathews and gave up four runs on three hits in two innings of work.

With the win, TCU advances to the semifinals and will face No. 5 seed Houston on Saturday (May 29) afternoon at 12:30 p.m.