TCU’s baseball season has ended with a 3-2 loss in a thriller against Florida on Wednesday afternoon at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Starting pitcher Kole Klecker settled in after giving up two early runs but taken out of the game after five innings. Relievers Garrett Wright and Ben Abeldt kept the Horned Frogs in the game with just one run allowed in four innings out of the bullpen.
Florida got on the board right away as Josh Rivera hit a two-run home run off Klecker in the top of the first to give the Gators a 2-0 lead.
TCU cut into the deficit on a Brayden Taylor RBI single in the bottom of the inning, yet both teams struggled to score from there.
Florida starter Jac Caglianone was pulled after 85 pitches through 4 2/3 innings. TCU immediately loaded the bases with one out on the Gators’ bullpen but failed to score as Tre Richardson struck out swinging, and Kurtis Byrne popped out to end the inning.
Rivera led off the top of the eight with a double as Florida threatened to increase its lead, yet the Horned Frogs were able to wiggle out of trouble and stay within a run.
A Richardson single in the bottom of the eighth put the tying run on base, and Anthony Silva’s ground-rule double to left-center field tied the game.
TCU threatened to score another after a pitch hit Logan Maxwell, but Cade Fisher avoided further damage by striking out Austin Davis.
Florida scored the winning run in the top of the ninth as Tyler Shelnut led off the inning with a double off the base of the wall in right-center and scored on a deep ground ball that forced a short throw from the TCU shortstop.
Taylor sent a line drive deep to center field with two outs in the ninth, but Florida center fielder Michael Robertson made a leaping grab to end the game.
Florida advances to College World Series final, awaiting either Wake Forest or LSU.
TCU ended the season with a 44-24 record.