FORT WORTH (May 21) TCU seniors Shawn Thompson, Levi Groomer and Shaun Wooley made their final game at the TCU Diamond memorable as the Frogs knocked off 25th ranked Rice, 3-2. Thompson held Rice to two runs in 7.2 innings to earn his seventh win of the season. Groomer homered in the third to tie the game at 1-1, and then Wooley homered in the sixth to provide the Frogs with the third run of the game.

If the Owls are to earn a share of the WAC title, then Rice needs Fresno State to defeat San Jose State Sunday. However, should the Spartans win, then San Jose State would earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Thompson, who started Friday's series opener, allowed only six hits, but he walked five men and struck out four. He induced inning ending double plays in the second and fifth innings. In the fourth, Rice had a chance to increase the lead. Jesse Roman walked, Mitch Ackal and Jerry Van Noy singled to load the bases. John Lukin singled to left field, scoring Roman. On the play, left fielder Jason Price threw out Ackal at home plate, then catcher Brad Rogers threw out Van Noy at third base, ending the inning.

Brett Smith homered in the third inning to account for the first Rice run. Groomer then tied the game on a solo shot in the bottom half of the inning. Mark Hamilton, who followed Groomer with a double to left center, scored on Erick Macha's bloop single to right field. In the sixth, Wooley homered to right center for the final run of the game.

Kenny Baugh, who also started Friday's game, allowed two runs in five innings. He allowed three hits, two walks and struck out six. Jayme Sperring suffered the loss. He allowed one run on two hits in one inning.

The Owls threatened in the eighth, picking up a pair of two-out walks off of Thompson. Relief pitcher Chad Durham replaced Thompson and immediately struck out Mitch Ackal to end the inning. Van Noy led off the ninth with a single up the middle, but Durham retired the final three hitters to earn his third save of the year.

The Frogs end the year with a record of 22-34, 12-18 in WAC play. The Owls end the regular season at 40-21 overall, 19-11 in WAC action. The win was TCU's eighth this season over a nationally ranked opponent.

        
Game Linescore  123     456     789     R-H-E
Rice            001     100     000     2-7-1
TCU             002     001     00x     3-5-1

Winning Pitcher Thompson (7-5).
Losing Pitcher Sperring (3-5).
Save Durham (3).

2B Rice none. TCU Srp, Hamilton.
HR Rice Smith (8). TCU Groomer (7), Wooley (7).
Time: 2:09.
Attn: 387