OKLAHOMA CITY – The No. 2-seeded Bears were eliminated from the 2019 Big 12 Championship with a 5-2 loss to No. 6 TCU in a suspended game that was completed on Saturday morning at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The Bears’ pitching staff of Jacob Ashkinos, Logan Freeman, Ryan Leckich, Luke Boyd, Daniel Caruso and Kyle Hill only allowed one walk on the day and struck out 10, but the Horned Frogs (31-25) got some big, timely hits, putting up three in the third as the Bears (34-17) struggled to get going against TCU’s Brandon Williamson.
The Bears were led by Richard Cunningham, Davis Wendzel and Josh Bissonette, who each had two hits on the day. Cunningham is in the midst of a 23-game hitting streak, tied for the third-longest in college baseball this season, while Bissonette launched his third home run of the year.
The Horned Frogs got on the board with three runs on four hits in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead. The Bears answered right back with one of their own, as Nick Loftin led off the inning with a triple and Shea Langeliers delivered a one-out sac fly to make it 3-1.
The Horned Frogs added one more in the fourth and one in the seventh to push their lead to 5-1.
Bissonette connected on his third home run of the year, a solo shot to left field to cut the Horned Frogs’ lead to three.
With the top of the eighth inning about to begin at 9:21 p.m., the game entered a weather delay. It was later decided that due to unplayable field conditions that the game would be suspended until Saturday morning.
The game resumed at 9 a.m. on Saturday in the top of the eighth inning and reliever Caruso made quick work of the Horned Frogs, setting them down in order with two strikeouts.
The Bears had a base runner in the bottom half of the eighth as they looked to cut into the lead, but were unable to get anything going.
Closer Hill entered to set the Horned Frogs down in order in the ninth, keeping the Bears within three as they entered the last frame, but the offense was unable to get anything going.
Baylor starter Ashkinos took the loss to fall to 2-4 on the year, while TCU starter Williamson, who kept the Bears off-balance for 7.0 innings earned the win, improving to 4-5.
The Bears will now wait to find out where they are heading for NCAA Regionals. The selection show is set for 11 a.m. CT on Monday, 27 and we be televised live on ESPNU.
