TCU still alive in CWS with win over UCLA

Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb.

Matt Purke and Tyler Lockwood held UCLA to four hits and Taylor Featherston hit the biggest of TCU’s three home runs, leading the Horned Frogs to a 6-2 victory Friday that keeps them alive in the College World Series.

TCU (54-13) forced a second Bracket 1 title game today, with the winner going to the best-of-3 finals beginning Monday.

Featherston’s two-run homer off reliever Garett Claypool gave TCU a three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh after the Bruins (50-15) had closed to 3-2.

The unbeaten Purke set a school record with his 16th win of the season, and Lockwood earned his eighth save. UCLA starter Rob Rasmussen (11-3) struggled with his control early and left in the fifth inning.

Pena homered in the fourth to put TCU up 3-0. Bryan Holaday followed Featherston’s seventh-inning homer with his 15th of the year in the eighth. The Frogs hit three homers in Wednesday’s 11-7 win over Florida State.

Purke, who held Florida State to four hits over seven innings in last Saturday’s CWS opener, turned in his second straight strong performance. He held UCLA hitless until Chris Giovinazzo reached on a bunt single with one out in the fifth, drawing a smattering of boos from the TCU-partisan crowd.

Brett Krill’s single up the middle drove in Giovinazzo, the first earned run against Purke in 112/3 innings.

Purke escaped further damage when, with two outs and two runners on, right fielder Brance Rivera made a running catch on Niko Gallego’s slicing fly ball.

Purke left with one out in the seventh, allowing three hits, walking two and hitting a batter.