TCU right-hander Zack James recorded the best start of his career, and one of the best starts of the season for any Horned Frog pitcher, during the team’s Big 12 Conference series finale against Kansas State on Sunday. James fired eight strong innings, holding the Wildcats to five hits as TCU took the rubber match and clinched a Big 12 series victory. The Horned Frogs (20-11, 7-5 Big 12) will travel to Abilene on Tuesday before hosting Arizona.
Friday: Kansas State 13, TCU 12
In a wild series opener,
the Horned Frogs tallied three runs in both the first and fourth innings as well as two runs in both the third and sixth innings. But the Wildcats, who walked things off in the bottom of the ninth, rallied for six runs in the third and a combined four runs over the sixth and seventh innings. TCU finished with 11 hits, while Kansas State had 13 hits and both sides committed two errors. The teams combined to draw 15 walks.
Cole Cramer went 4 for 6 and scored three runs for the Horned Frogs, who left 11 runners on base. Chase Brunson went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Noah Franco went 2 for 5 with three RBIs. Kyuss Gargett went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Nolan Traeger added two RBIs in the loss. Mason Brassfield started for the Horned Frogs, but the left-hander allowed eight runs (four earned) over just three innings. Trever Baumler entered in relief and gave up four runs in three innings of work. Tanner Sagouspe had two scoreless frames with three strikeouts.
Saturday: TCU 9, Kansas State 3
Trailing 3-1 after two frames, the Horned Frogs scored a combined six runs over the fifth and sixth innings before adding two in the ninth inning to even the series against the Wildcats. Chase Brunson started the scoring with a solo homer before Brady Dallimore’s RBI double and Preston Gamster’s ground-ball tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth. Dallimore (RBI single) and Gamster (two-RBI double) ignited TCU’s four-run surge in the sixth inning.
Jack Arthur and Cole Cramer each pounded solo shots in the ninth for the Horned Frogs, who had 12 hits and drew four walks in the win. Lance Davis regrouped after a rough first inning, throwing 6 2/3 innings while striking out four and working around six hits and three walks. Noah Franco added a pair of shutout frames in relief and Walter Quinn recorded one out in relief to help the Horned Frogs lock down the Saturday matchup.
Sunday: TCU 4, Kansas State 0
James earned the win for the Horned Frogs, improving to 4-0 on the season after throwing eight scoreless innings and striking out five with just one walk. Walter Quinn entered in the ninth and sealed the win, striking out one to clinch the series finale. TCU led 3-0 after the second inning, where Cole Cramer belted a two-run double. Brady Dallimore’s solo home run in the fifth inning gave the Horned Frogs a four-run advantage.
Cramer went 3 for 5 for the Horned Frogs, who finished with 12 hits, drew five walks and overcame leaving 14 runners on base in the win. Jack Bell and Lucas Franco each reached base three times and recorded two hits.
