May 17, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU’s Andrew Walker hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, rallying the Horned Frogs from a 4-2 deficit en route to the 10-4 win at Lupton Stadium this evening. New Mexico’s Stephen Smith had thrown four hitless innings, including three straight when Walker and the Frogs tapped him for four hits and four runs.
The win, the Horned Frogs eighth straight against New Mexico, drops the Lobos to 25-27 overall and 11-11 in Mountain West Conference action.
The streak looked like it would come to an end early in the game as the Lobos jumped on top with three unearned runs in the second. Jordan Pacheco stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and drew a full-count walk, bringing Adam Courcha home for the first run. Daniel Stovall followed with a two-RBI single, plating Scott Gracey and Matt Foote.
Three Frog singles, including one from Walker, led to two runs in the bottom of the second. But Smith settled down and got out of the inning. He cruised over the next three innings, recording four of his five strikeouts.
Max Willett led off the sixth inning with a walk and scored two plate appearances later as Foote tripled for the fourth time this year. The Lobos bats went cold after that, with the only hit coming off of Ian Hollick, who extended his career-high hit streak to 19 games.
TCU reliever Donald Furrow (3-0) earned the win, allowing just three hits and one run in 5.2 innings. Smith gave up six runs on eight hits and a walk in 7.0 innings. Brandon Hewett threw an inning of relief for the Lobos.
The first five batters in the Lobos lineup all recorded a hit with Stovall leading the team in RBIs (2). Walker led TCU, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored while teammate Clint Arnold was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
The series resumes tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT with left-handed Bobby LaFromboise (6-2, 3.40 ERA) taking the mound for UNM against right-handed Chris Johnson (10-2, 3.86 ERA).