TCU Baseball: Kansas Series Recap
The TCU Horned Frogs bounced back this weekend with an emphatic series sweep of the visiting Kansas Jayhawks.
After a conference series loss to Oklahoma a week prior, the Frogs picked up two midweek victories, shutting out Abilene Christian 7-0 and rolling past Northwestern 9-2. TCU continued its string of victories after a come-from-behind win over Kansas on Friday, and crushing the Jayhawks on Saturday 18-5.
Cam Brown took the mound for the Frogs on Sunday and pitched a seven-inning, complete game as a result of the mercy rule being put into effect. The right-hander saw traffic on the bases in the first inning after allowing a single and a walk to start the game. But Brown managed to escape unscathed.
Hot all series, TCU’s bats were active again on Sunday. With runners at first and second, Brayden Taylor drew a walk with a pitch that got away from Jayhawks pitcher, Hunter Cranton. Scored a passed ball, the red-hot Luke Boyers came across to score TCU’s first run of the day.
Cole Fontenelle got in on the action with a base knock that scored Tre Richardson, and a bases-loaded walk worked by David Bishop saw the Frogs jump out to an early 3-0.
Following the Frogs’ active first inning, Brown blew by the Jayhawks in the second by striking out the side. A quick top of the second saw TCU back at the plate in no time.
Taylor, who has struggled at the plate in recent games, got a hold of one in the second inning, taking Kansas’ Cranton yard for his 8th home run of the year. A lead-off double for Karson Bowen and a walk registered to Austin Davis put runners at first and second to open the bottom of the third. A single from Bishop saw Bowen come in to score as Davis advanced to third.
Struggling early on this season, Bishop found a stride in Sunday’s game as he went 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. On the other side of things, Bowen continues his tremendous start to his collegiate career. Leading 5-0 over the Jayhawks, the Frogs weren’t done yet. Freshman shortstop Anthony Silva blistered a ball to center field for a 3-run home run. His first collegiate homer saw the Frogs extend their lead to 8-0.
As the game progressed, it only got worse for the struggling Jayhawks. The Frogs poured it on with a 4-run 4th inning. Courtesy of a 2-run single by Davis and a 2-run double by Silva, the Frogs took a 12-0 lead. In the 6th inning, Davis hit a solo shot over the TCU bullpen in left field, his 6th home run of the season. Eventually extending the score to 14-0, the game was called after seven innings as a result of the mercy rule.
Just as TCU’s bats were red-hot on Sunday, equally so was Brown. A phenomenal day on the hill, Brown went 7 innings, giving up 0 runs on 2 hits, and 1 walk. Brown flew through the Jayhawks lineup with 8 strikeouts, bringing his ERA to 2.08 on the season.
Since the series loss to Oklahoma and plummeting out of the Top 25, the Frogs have gone undefeated, outsourcing their opponents 56-13. While TCU’s opponents haven’t been elite, they have gotten the job done. Pitching has been much-improved, and hitting has been as consistent as ever.
Now sitting at 15-9 (4-2 Big 12), the Frogs will travel to Arlington for a rematch against the UT Arlington Mavericks. The teams have split the two previous meetings this season and will go head-to-head on Tuesday night.
After the Mavericks, TCU will hit the road for a highly-anticipated series in Lubbock against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. No. 22 in the nation, the Red Raiders are currently 18-7 (2-4 Big 12).
With a successful five-game home stand, the Frogs get back into the winning column and will hope to break into the Top 25 on Monday. But all attention is now on UT Arlington ahead of their game Tuesday night.
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