Quick Hitters
TCU stuns No. 1 Kansas 8582 in Big 12 quarterfinals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Desmond Bane had 16 points, hitting three free throws with 2.5 seconds left, to help TCU stun top-ranked Kansas 85-82 in the Big 12 quarterfinals Thursday.
The eighth-seeded Horned Frogs (19-14) blew an 11-point halftime lead, and still trailed 80-76 with just over a minute remaining. But a parade of free throws knotted the game, and Alex Robinson’s driving layup gave TCU the lead back with 31 seconds left
Frank Mason answered with a pair of free throws for Kansas (28-4), but the Horned Frogs got the ball to Bane in the corner and he was fouled by Svi Mykhailiuk while putting up a shot.
He calmly drained all of them, and Devonte Graham’s long 3 at the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the rim as the Horned Frogs leaped off their benched to celebrate a massive upset of the No. 1 seed.
They’ll play No. 23 Iowa State, which topped Oklahoma State earlier, in Friday’s semifinals.
Kenrich Williams had 13 points, Robinson had 13 and Brandon Parrish had 12 for the Horned Frogs, who caught a break when Jayhawks coach Bill Self suspended Josh Jackson for the game.
Jackson was cited for traffic violations in the latest incident involving the star freshman.
San Luis senior righthander Gabriel Ponce continued his blistering pace on the mound to begin the 2017 season.
Ponce threw a completegame shutout with 14 strikeouts in the Sidewinders’ 5-0 win against Gila Ridge in a freedom game Thursday at San Luis.
“It was the best I’ve seen him this year so far,” San Luis coach Cesar Castillo said.
Ponce now has an 0.41 earned run average in 17 innings over three starts. He allowed two hits Thursday, but did hit five batters, a product of pitching inside.
“He’s working hitters inside, which is why he’s effective,” Castillo said. “He doesn’t let the guys get over the plate. Today, we’re not surprised that he hit guys because he’s not afraid to go inside. If they’re crowding the plate, trying to go the other way, that’s what’s going to happen.”
Though the Hawks (1-2 AIA) had a batter reach base during every inning, none came across, and they left seven men on base during the contest.
“He’s as good a pitcher as we’re probably going to see this year, not to take anything away from (Ramon) Miranda,” Gila Ridge coach Greg Osowski said, alluding to Gila Ridge’s 11-0 loss to San Luis on Tuesday, during which Miranda threw five shutout innings. “They really shut us down.”
Ponce went with a mix of fastballs and sliders, plus threw his changeup to left-handed batters. The inward movement on righthanders was with his fourseamer, something Ponce said happens on occasion. A two-seamer, a slightly slower pitch, is what usually generates that kind of movement. The ability to maintain that velocity while getting movement made Ponce a tough at-bat for Gila Ridge hitters.
“It had slice on it,” Ponce said. “I adjusted a little and tried to go outside so I could come back inside.”
When he wasn’t getting strikeouts with his heat, Ponce went to his slider, which he commanded well Thursday.
“He attacked the zone the whole day,” Castillo said. “It was good to see