Although TCU baseball salvaged a doubleheader against Arizona on Saturday, the Horned Frogs lost by one run in the finale and ultimately dropped their three-game series with the Wildcats. It’s a blow for TCU (21-14, 8-7 Big 12), which had an opportunity to move up the conference ladder against one of the lower-ranked teams in the Big 12. But the Horned Frogs, who’re now just one gave over .500 in conference play, must regroup during Tuesday’s midweek game against Tarleton State. TCU will then travel
to Waco for a three-game Big 12 series at Baylor.
Friday: Arizona 4, TCU 3
A sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning helped the Wildcats take the series opener over the Horned Frogs on Friday evening. Trailing 3-1, TCU scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning, where Nolan Traeger and Kyuss Gargett each smacked RBI singles to tie the game. Mason Brassfield took the loss on the mound, falling to 3-3 despite striking out nine batters and holding Arizona to one earned run on four hits over five innings.
Trever Baumler earned the start for the Horned Frogs, throwing four innings and striking out three while allowing three earned runs and three walks on seven hits. Traeger and Noah Franco each went 2 for 4 to lead the TCU offense, which posted eight hits and left seven runners on base. The Horned Frogs struck out 15 times.
Saturday (Game 1): TCU 5, Arizona 0
The Horned Frogs evened the series with a victory in the first game of their Big 12 doubleheader on Saturday. Lance Davis spun another outstanding start for TCU, pitching seven innings and limiting the Wildcats to four hits while striking out seven batters. Nate Stern entered in relief and fired the final two frames, striking out two to aid the Horned Frogs in their win. Nolan Traeger and Chase Brunson each recorded two RBIs to lead the offense.
All five runs came on home runs. Brady Dallimore blasted a solo shot in the second before Traeger pounded a two-run homer in the fourth and Brunson bombed a two-run homer in the fifth. Jack Bell went 2 for 4 and was the only player with multiple hits for the Horned Frogs, who collected seven hits and drew four walks.
Saturday (Game 2): Arizona 3, TCU 2
The Horned Frogs squandered a stellar pitching outing from right-hander Zack James, who twirled seven frames and struck out three while holding Arizona to five hits. Walter Quinn and Tanner Sagouspe each surrendered runs in relief, with Quinn conceding two in just one third of an inning before Sagouspe, who took the loss, allowed one in the ninth. The Wildcats scored all three of their runs over the eighth and ninth innings.
Jack Arthur’s solo homer in the first gave TCU a 1-0 lead. The Horned Frogs added a run in the second courtesy of a Rob Liddington sacrifice fly. But a trio of RBI singles over the eighth and ninth frames enabled the Wildcats to complete their comeback. Brady Dallimore went 2 for 3 for the Horned Frogs, who had five hits in the loss.
