FORT WORTH, Texas – The final series of the regular season kicked off with a 7-6 loss at TCU for Santa Clara baseball Thursday night.

Free passes were the story of the game with both teams combining to walk 15. The Broncos (24-27) had the tougher time finding the strike zone, walking 11 total, including three with the bases loaded.

The Horned Frogs (33-18) seemingly had an answer each time Santa Clara scored. After a three-spot for the Broncos in the fourth put them on top, two in the bottom of the frame tied things. They once again took a lead with one in the sixth but TCU came back with four to get on top for good.

Seven different players had a hit for the Horned Frogs with six scoring a run and six knocking one in. Elijah Nunez was the lone TCU player with two RBIs and Luke Boyers was the player to cross the plate multiple times.

Brett Walker (5-2) ended up with the win out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Luke Savage went the final 2 innings for his second save of the year.

It was the bottom of the lineup that did the damage for Santa Clara. The six through nine hitters combined for six of the team's eight hits with Michael Diaz and Cal Christofori both having two-hit games. Christofori also knocked in two and Alex Lambeau had three RBIs. Matt Jew hit a solo home run in the ninth to cut the deficit in half and finished with two runs scored.

Cade Pilchard (1-2) took the loss out of the bullpen. In 2 1/3 innings he allowed three runs on just one hit due to three walks.

Starter Cole Kitchen didn't get a decision but reached a milestone with his 100th strikeout. His four on the night put him at 101 for the season. It is the first time since 2017 a Santa Clara pitcher has punched out triple digits, when Jacob Steffens also finished with 101.

NEXT UP
The teams play again tomorrow at 4 p.m.

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