TCU beats LSU behind Teakell's perfect relief

OMAHA, Neb. -- Trey Teakell's sensational relief effort kept Texas Christian alive in the College World Series for at least another day.

The TCU right-hander tossed 4 1/3 perfect innings out of the bullpen and was backed by a three-run fifth inning as the No. 7 Horned Frogs beat No. 2 Louisiana State, 8-4, on Thursday at TD Ameritrade Park.

TCU advances to face Vanderbilt at 8 p.m. ET on Friday and needs to beat the Commodores twice to advance to the Finals. Vanderbilt defeated TCU, 1-0, on Tuesday.

"Trey, as usual, is remarkable," TCU catcher Evan Skoug said. "For him to come in and be Mr. Reliable and give us several good innings and keep us in the ballgame is amazing."

Teakell, the Tigers' ninth-round pick in the 2015 Draft, entered the fourth inning with a runner on second and one out. He escaped the inning thanks to two grounders and retired all 13 batters he faced until he was removed with two outs in the eighth.

Teakell recorded eight ground-ball outs, four fly-ball outs and struck out one on 36 pitches (23 strikes).

"He threw strikes. He sunk his fastball," LSU Kade Scivicque (fourth round, Tigers) said. "He competed against us and we just missed a few pitches."

TCU snapped a 3-3 tie in the fifth when LSU's Jake Godfrey walked two of the first three batters he faced and surrendered an RBI single to Skoug. TCU's Dane Steinhagen followed with a two-run double off Hunter Devall.

Steinhagen went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Horned Frogs, while Jeremie Fagnan and Skoug added two hits apiece.

Both starters struggled, with TCU's Mitchell Traver (28th round, Cardinals) allowing three runs and walking two in 3 1/3 innings, while LSU's Zac Person (ninth round, Astros) allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings.

"We got outplayed by a team that brought in a really good relief pitcher, and he baffled us for five innings," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "We just didn't pitch quite well enough today."

LSU turned in two of the night's defensive highlights in a losing effort.

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TCU's Derek Odell led off the fourth with a chopper up the middle and LSU shortstop Alex Bregman (No. 2 overall, Astros) ranged to his left, caught the ball behind the bag in the outfield, spun and fired a strong throw to first.

In the sixth, LSU reliever Doug Norman made a behind-the-back snag on a comeback chopper for the second out of the inning.

Thursday's game
No. 7 TCU 8, No. 2 LSU 4

Friday's games
Virginia vs. Florida, 3 p.m.

Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 TCU, 8 p.m.