TCU captured its fourth Big 12 Championship over Oklahoma State at Globe Life Field Sunday. (Photo Courtesy of the Big 12 Conference)
ARLINGTON, Texas – TCU won the Big 12 Championship Game, beating Oklahoma State by 12-5 Sunday evening.
TCU has won four Big 12 Championships since joining the conference in 2012 and swatted 16 hits in the win.
Oklahoma State entered the Big 12 Tournament at No.18 in the country after the regular season and now will get to host games in the NCAA Tournament regional round in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In the top of the second inning, TCU drew first blood when shortstop Anthony Silva’s infield single between the shortstop and third base sent Tre Richardson home.
The next batter, left fielder Luke Boyers, unleashed a mammoth three-run home run to the right center field seats, scoring Kurtis Byrne and Silva and the Horned Frogs went up 4-0.
Cowboys starting pitcher Ben Abram went two innings, allowing four hits, four earned runs, and three strikeouts.
In the top of the third inning, Richardson laced a double over Cowboys right fielder Carson Benge’s head and Karson Bowen and Brayden Taylor. Benge threw to third base as Cole Fontanelle attempted to score; he was eventually cut down by Cowboys third baseman Tyler Wulfert’s throw to the plate as the first out of the inning, but TCU went up 6-0.
The next batter, designated Kurtis Byrne, ripped an RBI single to left field to score Richardson. A few batters later, right fielder Austin Davis singled to center field, scoring Byrne to go up 8-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Cowboys’ Nolan Schubert drew a bases loaded walk for Oklahoma State’s first run of the game.
Taylor belted his third home run of the conference tournament and 21st home run of the season during the bottom of the seventh inning to right center field, scoring Bowen and putting TCU up 12-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Horned Frogs relief pitcher Garrett Wright came in to shut the door and struck out the side 1-2-3.
The Horned Frogs pitching staff managed what they could during yesterday’s win. Starting pitcher Chase Hoover would just go two innings allowing two hits, two earned runs, walking three batters and striking out during the conference championship game.
“Can’t say enough about our team and our players in terms of all they’ve gone through and to come out the other side of it and we’re playing good baseball,” said TCU head coach Kirk Saarloos. “It’s been a lot of fun and they deserve all the credit. They’ve been amazing and resilient and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Horned Frogs relief pitcher Luke Savage kept his composure out of the bullpen pitching four innings allowing two hits, no earned runs, walking one batter, and striking out two.
“I think just getting ahead on these guys, letting the defense work,” Savage said. “I mean we got incredible guys behind me and behind the dish so really just doing all I can to get ahead and let the defense work and give our offense a chance to go back out and score some runs.”
Taylor’s home run in the top of the seventh inning as well extended his on-base streak to 25 games. He won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award and was selected to the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team.
TCU and Oklahoma State will both find out their first game opponents of the NCAA tournament during Selection Monday prior to the start of the NCAA regionals this upcoming weekend.
2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team
C: Karson Bowen, TCU
1B: David Mendham, Oklahoma State
2B: Brady Day, Kansas State
3B: Brayden Taylor, TCU
SS: Marcus Brown, Oklahoma State
OF: John Spikerman, Oklahoma
OF: Elijah Nunez, TCU
OF: Nolen Hester, Texas Tech
DH: Kurtis Byrne, TCU
SP: German Fajardo, Kansas State
SP: Brennan Phillips, Oklahoma State
