TCU had no answer for USC as they lost their first game of the regional 13-1.
This is a start that Tommy LaPour wanted to forget. He went three innings while allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. He also hit two batters.
USC got on the board first in the second inning with an RBI single from catcher Richard Tejeda, who brought second baseman Abbrie Covarrubias in. This made the score 1-0.
The Trojans would add on in the fourth inning, making the score 3-0. Right fielder Jack Basseer hit a RBI single, bringing Covarrubias home. Which was followed up by a fielder’s choice from third baseman Ethan Hedges.
TCU would finally get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run from designated hitter Sawyer Strosnider. He pulled the call and deposited it into right field. This made the TCU’s deficit 4-1, the closest TCU would get.
USC would pile on in the sixth inning. Shortstop Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek would single with the bases loaded and bring Tejeda in. First baseman Adrian Lopez would continue the scoring as he would single and bring center fielder Brayden Dowd in.
Covarrubias would cap off the inning with a sacrifice fly to bring in Hedges and give USC a 6-1 lead.
The game would not improve for TCU as USC tacked on a pair of three-run innings in the seventh and ninth innings. The Horned Frogs pitchers shot themselves in the foot in those innings as they walked five batters, hit two and had a throwing error.
The Frogs must improve to extend its run in the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament. TCU will be in the loser’s bracket of the regional, so TCU will have to win out to win the regional. TCU will play Oregon State Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
