FORT WORTH, Texas — Gonzaga and No. 11 TCU traded blows for nine innings Friday night at Lupton Baseball Stadium, but GU pulled away late to take the first of a three-game series with the Horned Frogs thanks to a resurgent offensive effort and a commanding late-game performance on the mound from RHP Bradley Mullan.
 
The lead changed hands four times in the first five innings and both teams combined for 21 runs on 22 hits, but Mullan proved to be a steadying force as the game progressed and the Bulldogs gained control for their first win of the season against a ranked opponent.
 
Taking over in the fifth, Mullan (3.2 IP, 2 strikeouts, 3 hits) slowed the Horned Frogs' offense to one run through the ninth while the Bulldogs' hitters produced a run in three of the game's final four innings to pad their lead. Led by Brett Harris (3-for-4, 3 runs), Andrew Orzel (2-for-5, 3 RBI, one run) and Stephen Lund (2 runs, 2 hits, 2 RBI, one HR) Gonzaga racked up 14 hits in total to snap a two-game losing skid and more than double its run total from both losses.
 
"Just a really good team win," said Head Coach Mark Machtolf. "Our offense had some huge performances, and we were able to be very resilient and punch back after TCU threw some big innings at us. Excited to get after it again tomorrow."
 
Buoyed by three quick outs on TCU's first three batters from GU starter Gabriel Hughes (4.0 IP, 2 strikeouts, 4 hits), the Zags started building momentum early — they picked up a hit from Harris in the first and put two runs on the board in the second with an RBI double from Guthrie Morrison.
 
But TCU's hitters found more leeway with Hughes in the next frame, loading the bases off walks before Gene Wood struck a sacrifice fly for the Horned Frogs' first run by way of Zach Humphreys. Hughes reasserted himself with two strikeouts in a row to get out of the frame, proceeding to hold the Horned Frogs scoreless in the third.
 
TCU took a 4-2 lead in the fourth behind a two-run homer from Wood and a another run from Hunter Wolfe off a groundout after stifling the Zags' bats in the third and fourth and holding them scoreless.
 
In response, Lund blasted his third homer of the season for GU—his second of the week—that also drove in Morrison. After Lund's slam, the Bulldogs proceeded to hit TCU reliever Drew Hill (⅓ IP, 3 hits, 3 runs) out of the game after only 14 pitches and then produced three more runs from Harris, Orzel and Grayston Sterling before Augie Mihlbauer could strike out Mason Marenco to close the inning.
 
The two teams continued to go back and forth as bats on both sides heated up. TCU responded with a three-run double from Brayden Taylor that put the Horned Frogs back up 8-7, but GU loaded the bases in the next frame and came back with a momentum-snatching three-run hit of its own—a deep drive from Andrew Orzel that bounced off the left field wall and was bobbled in transit to give the Zags the lead with seemingly plenty of baseball left to be played.
 
But from the sixth inning on, Mullan settled in and continued to keep the Horned Frogs from threatening the lead again — the Zags picked up three runs off a double from Orzel in the sixth, and another in the eighth off another double from Jack Machtolf to stretch the lead.
 
In the ninth, Guthrie Morrison added more insurance when he stole home—GU's third score off a wild pitch in the same game—and Kanta Kobayashi scored off a passed ball for run No. 13.
 
TCU got two runners on base with one out in the final frame in hopes of a comeback, but RHP Trystan Vrieiling came in to produce the final two outs necessary off a strikeout and a groundout without cutting into the lead.
 
Inside the Series
With the win, GU trails the all-time series with TCU 2-3, with all five games being played at TCU's Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth. 
 
Up Next
The three-game series resumes Saturday, with RHP William Kempner (1-0, 14.1 IP, 16 K, 1.88 ERA) set to start for GU and square off with TCU LHP Russell Smith.
 
Follow the Game
The next two matchups with TCU will be live streamed on ESPN+ via Big 12 Now. Saturday's game is set for noon and Sunday at 11 a.m. (all times PST). Times are subject to change — check GoZags.com for up-to-date times and gameday information.