TCU Baseball: How The Frogs Got To The Super Regional And Where They Go From Here
With Monday’s 12-4 victory over the No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks clinched a berth in the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament. This is the 8th time in school history that TCU has made it to the Super Regionals, and it is the team’s first time doing so since 2017.
The Horned Frogs entered the NCAA Tournament on a six-game winning streak, coming off a fabulous performance in the Big 12 Tournament and being crowned tournament champions. Now, three games into the national tournament, TCU is undefeated after outsourcing their opponents 44 to 13.
Opening the tournament against the University of Arizona, the Frogs got a great performance by Kole Klecker. After four innings, Kirk Saarloos decided to go to the bullpen, where Luke Savage entered the game and dominated the Wildcats. The right-handed reliever went four innings, giving up one run on three hits. Freshman Cohen Feser would enter the game in the 9th to close out a dominant victory. An outstanding outing from the bullpen, Savage laid the grounds for how TCU pitchers would go about their outings in the ensuing games.
While Saturday’s matchup against Arkansas was delayed due to weather conditions, the Frogs and the Razorbacks squared off on Sunday in what was a one-sided affair from the outset. The Frogs plated six runs in the 1st, five runs in the 2nd, and three runs in the 3rd to jump out to a quick 14-1 lead. With the final score of 20-5, it was pure domination from the TCU bats and pitching staff.
Tre Richardson had the game of his life–5 for 6 with 11 runs batted in. Throughout the team’s ups and downs, the second baseman has been one of TCU’s most consistent hitters, providing a spark in the middle of the batting order and on the diamond. On Sunday, Richardson launched three home runs, including two grand slams.
In addition to the offensive explosion, Sam Stoutenborough had quite the day on the mound. While giving up four runs, Stoutenborough recorded five strikeouts in six innings before handing it over to Hunter Hodges and Mason Speaker to close out the final three innings.
This set the Frogs up for a rematch with the Razorbacks on Monday, to finalize which team would go on to the Super Regionals. While beating a team twice in a row can be tough, the Frogs did so in style.
The Frogs started on the backfoot against the Razorbacks, going down 4-2 come the 5th inning. Despite the slow start offensively, TCU rumbled back, scoring ten unanswered runs. In that span, Austin Davis hit a three-run shot, Kurtis Byrne launched two solo bombs, and Richardson cranked a two-run shot to center.
While starter Cam Brown gave up four runs in 4 ⅓ innings pitched, freshman reliever Ben Abeldt came into the game and settled down the Razorback bats. The left-hander threw 4 ⅔ innings of scoreless baseball, conceding one hit and two walks while striking out four.
With Monday’s victory, the Frogs clinched a trip to the Super Regional against the Indiana State Sycamores. While the Super Regional was scheduled to be played in Indiana, due to the Special Olympics tournament being hosted up north, TCU’s Lupton Stadium will most likely resort to being the host site for this chapter of the tournament.
Their fabulous run of form starting in the month of May and leading into early June has set TCU up for success. Furthermore, the team hasn’t exhausted many of its pitchers through the first three games of the NCAA Tournament, which will allow Saarloos to call to the bullpen and rely on fresh arms if needed.
The Frogs will, most likely, travel home to face the Indiana State Sycamores for a series this coming weekend. TCU is entering the game, having won 17 of their last 19 games.
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