Baseball: TCU Earns a Comeback Victory Over Tarleton State

TCU baseball may give up a lot of runs, but it also scores a lot of runs, and Tuesday night’s victory over Tarleton State echoed that sentiment. The Horned Frogs beat the Texans 9-8, making it the fourth game in a row that TCU’s defense has allowed at least five runs.

Tarleton State got the scoring going in the bottom of the second with a Kooper Shook (outstanding name) solo shot to left field, but the Texan lead was short-lived as the Frogs responded a half-inning later. With the bases loaded, Tre Richardson cleared the runners with a double, making it a 3-1 ballgame.

In the bottom of the third, Braeden Sloan, who came in the game to relieve starting pitcher Sam Stoutenborough, allowed a three-run home run that see-sawed the lead back in Tarleton State’s favor. Stoutenborough’s day on the mound was quick, pitching for just two innings, allowing two hits, one run, and striking out one batter. Sloan’s day was even shorter as he pitched for one inning and allowed three runs.

David Bishop’s solo home run in the top of the fourth tied the ballgame, but once again, the Frog defense gave the lead back. The Texans scored four runs in the bottom of the inning on Mason Speaker, the Frogs’ second relief pitcher of the day. His outing ended after .2 innings, and Fesser Cohen took over. Tarleton State led 8-4.

Cohen, Ryan Vanderhei, Ben Albeldt, and Garrett Wright were the four pitchers that finished the game for TCU and collectively allowed four hits, zero runs, and struck out eight batters. It was a strong finish for a staff that has struggled to keep runs off the board, but the damage had been dealt. It was up to the offense to make a comeback.

In the sixth inning, the comeback began with a Fisher Ingersoll fielder’s choice, which sent Bishop home. The offense exploded again in the seventh inning, scoring four runs and giving TCU a lead it would not surrender. Kurtis Byrne hit an RBI single that sent Richardson home, Cole Fontenelle scored on a wild pitch, and Anthony Silva hit an RBI single that scored two runs, making it a 9-8 ballgame.

No more runs were scored by either team, so Kirk Saarloos and the Frogs earned an impressive come-from-behind victory. The win pushed TCU to 18-11 on the year. The Horned Frogs now turn to its weekend home series against Oklahoma State, the No. 16 team in the country. The first game begins at 6 pm on Thursday in Fort Worth. The series will be available to watch on ESPN+ (Thursday and Sunday) and ESPNU (Saturday).