PROVO — BYU gave up two big innings and failed to get much offensive production going all night Thursday — losing 16-5 to TCU on the first night of the three-game series.
The Cougars (15-22, 5-5) gave up 14 hits on the night, and had 13 of their own, but it was five errors early on in the game that would come back to bite the Cougars.
The Horned Frogs made themselves right at home in the first inning—jumping on the Cougars early. TCU right fielder Chris Ellington ripped a double to the left field fence to score the first two runs of the game. Then after three errors and a pair of TCU runs, Ben Carruthers hit a deep ball off the fence in center to score three more runs— making it 7-0.
The Cougars got one run back in the bottom of the first, but the damage was already done.
BYU cut the lead to five in the third inning, but in the top of the fourth TCU gave the Cougars another blow. TCU's Ellington hit his third double, in as many at bats at that point, to start the Horned Frogs' rally by bringing in two runs. Three runs and two pitchers later, the Cougars finally retired TCU with the score 12-2.
TCU brought in reliever Dillon Farish in the seventh inning and the Cougars got four quick hits to score two runs bring the
game within eight at 13-5 with two innings to play.
But that was as close as they would get as the Horned Frogs seemed to have an answer for everything the Cougars threw at them.
In all, five Cougar pitchers made appearances in the game and all gave up multiple hits, except for J.C. Leach who threw the last inning and was the only one to not give up a run.
Steve Parker who went 2-for-4 with a triple led BYU and first baseman Kasey Ko was 4-for-5 on the night.
The Cougars will continue their series against TCU tonight at 7 p.m.
E-mail: ethomas@desnews.com