Fresno, California – Stan Newton earned a win and a save Saturday, leading TCU to doubleheader sweep of Fresno State. The Frogs won the opener, 6-5, then took game two by the same score, 6-5. The Frogs improve to 27-18 overall, 17-8 in Western Athletic Conference play. Fresno State drops to 28-19 overall, 12-11 in WAC action. The Frogs have now posted a record of 11-3 in WAC road games.

In the opener, Newton pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. With the scored tied at 5-5, Newton retired both men he faced in the 8th inning, leaving a runner stranded at third base. In the top of the 9th, the Frogs came up with one run on three hits, including a RBI-single by Erick Macha, to take a 6-5 lead. Newton then pitched a scoreless 9th, to raise his record to 5-0.

TCU took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs on three hits, including Mike Settle’s two-run double. In the bottom half of the inning, Fresno tied the game on the strength of three hits and a TCU fielding error. The Frogs responded with three runs in the top of the fifth on a three-run home run by Tom Bates, his seventh of the season. Terry Trofholz and Macha led the Frogs with two hits each.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh, scoring three runs on three consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly. TCU starter Chris Bradshaw left the game after allowing the first two hitters to reach base in the seventh inning. Bradshaw allowed five runs, three earned on seven hits, four walks and seven strikeouts in six-plus innings. Clayton Jerome pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, then turned the game over to Newton. Fresno starter Bob Runyon suffered his first loss of the season. He allowed six runs on 11 hits in 8.1 innings.

In the nightcap, Newton allowed two unearned runs on two hits in 1.1 innings to notch his fifth save of the season. After retiring the only man he faced in the eighth, Newton walked Nick Garcia to start the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitter Scott Beshears reached on a fielders choice, when TCU third baseman Mike Settle’s throw to second base went into right field. After Newton retired the next two hitters, he allowed consecutive run-scoring singles to Josh Labandeira and Brandon Gemoll. With the tying run at third and the winning run at first base, Newton struck out Casey McGehee to end the game.

The Frogs scored three in the first, and single runs in the third and fourth innings to build a 5-0 lead. In the first inning, Trofholz reached on a Labandeira throwing error, then Rudy Ontiveros walked. Macha followed with a double to left field, scoring Trofholz. Bates and Olmstead both grounded out, scoring Ontiveros and Macha for the second and third runs. In the third, Trofholz and Ontiveros put together back to back doubles to start the inning. Trofholz was unable to score on the Ontiveros hit, but he did cross home on Bates’ sacrifice fly. Then in the fourth, Rudy Rivera’s two-out triple scored Jason Price, who had reached on a leadoff double.

Fresno scored three runs in the fourth on five hits, the biggest a two-run double by Brad Harper. TCU increased the lead to 6-3, scoring one run in the fifth on Ontiveros’ double, Macha’s singled and another Bates’ sacrifice fly. Bates, who saw his 11-game hitting streak end, led the Frogs with three runs batted in. In the doubleheader, he drove in six runs, raising his season total to 47 RBIs. Trofholz and Macha each had two hits in the second game, while Ontiveros had three hits, including two doubles. As a team, the Frogs had nine hits, six for extra bases.

Newton earned the save for Justin Crowder, who worked the first 7.2 innings. Crowder allowed three earned runs on 10 hits in 7.2 innings. He walked one and struck out five, raising his record to 6-3.

The series will conclude with a single-game Sunday, April 22. First-pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. central time.

Chris Bradshaw, Clayton Jerome (7), Stan Newton (8) and Jason Price. Bob Runyon, Jason Gutknecht (9), Nick Moran (9) and Brad Harper. Winning pitcher – Newton (5-0). Losing pitcher – Runyon (5-1). Save – none. 2B – TCU-Settle. FS–Lopez, Labandeira. HR – TCU-Bates (7). Time: 2:26.

Justin Crowder, Stan Newton (8) and Jason Price. Francisco Nieves, Ozzie Gonzalez (3), Jason Gutknecht (5), Ben Fritz (7) and Brad Harper. Winning pitcher – Crowder (6-3). Losing pitcher – Nieves (5-2). Save – Newton (5). 2B – TCU–Trofholz, Ontiveros, Macha, Price. FS–Harper. 3B – TCU–Rivera. Attn: 2628. Time: 2:25.