There will be no magical run for the Pepperdine Waves baseball team. Despite being three outs away from its first College World Series (CWS) berth since 1992, the Waves were eliminated in the Super Regional bracket of the championship tournament on June 9.
Texas Christian University (TCU) scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning, including the game-winner on a suicide squeeze play, giving the Horned Frogs a 6-5 victory over Pepperdine in the third and decisive game of the Super Regional in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Horned Frogs, ranked seventh in the nation, will advance to the CWS in Omaha, Neb., and will face Texas Tech.
With the victory, TCU (47-16) is the third team from the Lone Star State to win its Super Regional and advance to the CWS; the University of Texas and Texas Tech are also in the CWS.
Pepperdine’s elimination means only one team from Southern California – U.C. Irvine – will advance to the CWS.
Closer Eric Karch (4-2) took the loss for the Waves (43-18). TCU’s closer Riley Ferrell (2-1) was credited with the win.
Ferrell survived a ninth inning where the Waves had two runner on base with two outs and Aaron Brown, who had homered earlier in the game, on-deck. However, Ferrell reportedly struck out Bryan Langlois to save the game and help TCU eliminate Pepperdine.
TCU opened the top half of the ninth inning with three consecutive hits. The fourth batter reportedly popped-out, but Kyle Bacak bunted home the go-ahead run.
The Waves built a 3-1 lead by the second inning. TCU cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fifth inning but Brown hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the same inning to give Pepperdine a 4-2 lead.
In the sixth inning, TCU scored two runs to tie the game at 4-4.
Langlois gave Pepperdine a 5-4 lead, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly.
A half inning later, with a runner on first and second, Karch gave up a double, allowing one run to score. After the pop out, Bacak sacrificed home the game-winner.
Pepperdine staged a rally in the bottom half of the ninth, opening with a lead off walk and consecutive sacrifices to advance the game tying run to third base. Ferrell gave up a two-out walk to place runners on the corner, but Langlois struck out to end the rally and game.
The Horned Frogs advance to its second CWS in school history; TCU finished third in the 2010 CWS.
No. 3 Virginia, Ole Miss, Louisville, and Vanderbilt also advanced to the CWS.
The 2014 CWS will begin June 14 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha.
Pepperdine won the 1992 CWS.
