TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Adam Toth drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning and eighth-seeded Baylor rallied from a pair of two-run deficits to upset top-seeded TCU 6-5 on Wednesday in the Big 12 Conference tournament.
Baylor (22-30) tied it in the eighth off TCU closer Riley Ferrell (1-2). In the ninth, Jonathan Ducoff led off with a walk. Ferrell’s second wild pitch in two innings and a passed ball put Lane Kelly, pinch-running for Ducoff, at third base. Following Ferrell’s third walk in four batters, Toth lofted a fly ball to deep right field that easily scored Kelly.
Kameron Esthay, who had three hits, had a two-run shot in the first to give the Bears an early lead. Later, Ducoff and Logan Brown blasted solo homers for Baylor.
Cody Jones, selected the conference player of the year this week, had three hits and drove in three runs for TCU (43-10). Derek Odell also had three hits for the Horned Frogs.
Brad Kuntz, Baylor’s fourth pitcher of the game, worked the final 1 2-3 innings to even his record at 1-1. He retired TCU in order in the ninth.
The Bears continue pool play with a winners’ bracket game against No. 4 seed Texas on Thursday.
TCU, the regular-season champion and defending tournament champion, will meet No. 5 seed Texas Tech in a loser-out contest Thursday.