TCU Horned Frogs center-fielder Elijah Nunez pulled off an incredible catch Saturday that proved exceptional in several ways.
First, Nunez’s catch off the bat of Kansas State’s Kyan Lodice was a great play. Nunez returned to the wall, timed his leap perfectly, and saved a would-be home run.
The catch in the bottom of the ninth marked the final out of the game, preserving TCU’s 4-3 win over the Wildcats.
Finally, the catch might have saved TCU’s College World Series hopes. The Horned Frogs are 33-22 heading into the Big 12 Tournament.
That’s a lot of drama riding on one catch.
"DID HE GET IT? UNBELIEVABLE, WHAT A CATCH BY NUNEZ. He robs a home run from Kyan Lodice and wins the game for TCU."pic.twitter.com/qN3iCcr3gk
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 20, 2023
TCU’s victory gave them some excellent payback against the Wildcats, who scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off Friday’s game. They’ll now participate in the festivities of the Big 12 Tournament next week as college baseball’s season winds down.
Nunez, a junior from Arlington, Texas, won Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors in 2022.
Fans agreed on Twitter — there was a lot to like about this catch. You know it’s an exceptional play when fans resort to all-caps in their tweets.
ELIJAH. NUNEZ.
That catch might have saved TCU’s playoff hopes
— Jamie Plunkett (@FrogPreacher) May 20, 2023
ELIJAH NUNEZ WHAT A CATCH
— Sam Mitchell (@samitch405) May 20, 2023
What makes it more impressive? #TCU really needed this win to keep its Omaha hopes alive.
A possible season saving play from Nunez.
— Charles Baggarly (@swaggarly) May 20, 2023
Perfect timing gotta love it!
— kathynaskins (@kathynaskins) May 20, 2023
[Awful Announcing; Photo Credit: 11point7 The College Baseball Podcast]
