Border Dispute: TCU Baseball Hosts Oklahoma For Weekend Series
A month into the season, the 2023 TCU Horned Frogs were 9-7. They secured wins over ranked opponents like Vanderbilt and Arkansas, but also just suffered a shocking loss to UT-Arlington. At a delicate part of the season, TCU hit the road for Norman and delivered a big 13-5 victory Friday night. But the next two days were both Oklahoma Sooners victories and TCU limped back home at 10-9.
Of course, the rest is history, but the Horned Frogs have a grudge. They're 17-13 against Oklahoma since joining the Big 12 in 2012 and have dropped four of their last six against the Sooners.
TCU (15-2, 1-2 Big 12) hosts Oklahoma (10-6, 3-1) this weekend for a three-game series. Friday's first pitch comes at 6:30 p.m. CST, Saturday at 5:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Stream the games on ESPN+, listen to them on 88.7 FM KTCU, or see them for yourself at Lupton Stadium.
#12 TCU Hosts Oklahoma In Big 12 Clash
Coming off its first losses of the season, TCU rebounded in spectacular fashion, winning a no-doubter at #19 Dallas Baptist, 9-6. Oklahoma played an extra midweek contest, dropping Tuesday's decision to rival Oklahoma State before picking up a 5-1 road victory at UT-Arlington. That extra game matters.
Wednesday's lineup featured almost a full set of starters, at least at the plate. The pitching staff was more focused on midweek players, much like TCU's setup Tuesday. But don't overlook an extra day of rest – that might help TCU on Friday night.
The Sooners' pitching staff and defense are on a tear. Since March 2, they've allowed five runs once: in Tuesday's loss to the Pokes. They stifled UCF, holding the Knights to eight total runs while scoring 29 of their own. Earlier in the season, OU held #5 Tennessee to a single run. While the wheels fell off in some midweek games and a Friday night matchup against Pitt (19 runs allowed), Oklahoma has shut opposing bats down.
Notably, TCU rides a 17-game home win streak dating back to last season.
Pitching Matchups
Junior Braden Davis (1-1, 4.74 ERA) opens things up Friday night. Outside that March 1 disaster against Pitt, Davis has allowed three total runs (17 innings pitched). Saturday features Redshirt Junior Brendan Girton (0-0, 4.38), likely to continue his "opener" role. Girton maxes out at four innings per start, but those innings are quality; in four starts, he's allowed six total earned runs.
RS Junior James Hitt (1-1, 5.51) gets the start Sunday. Perhaps the most vulnerable of the trio, Hitt turned in his first quality start last week against UCF, holding the Knights to four hits and one run in 5.2 IP. However, the lefty also allowed runs in bunches early against Nebraska and Wright State (11 in 7.1 IP).
TCU pitts Payton Tolle (1-1, 6.06) against Davis on Friday night. Tolle turned in a strong performance last Friday, allowing two runs in four innings, but ultimately shouldered the loss. Kole Klecker (0-1, 5.30) resumes his Saturday spot while Braeden Sloan (3-0, 4.26) starts his second straight series finale.
Sloan had a tough start last Sunday, allowing four runs in the first inning, but retired four batters – likely should have been five, if not for an error – before giving way in the third.
Key To A TCU Victory
Last weekend, we saw the consequences of failing to bat well with runners in scoring position and from the inconsistency of starting pitching. The Horned Frogs managed just five total runs in their two losses and, once again, came up empty with bases loaded and no outs.
The core of the lineup couldn't buy a hit. Peyton Chatagnier went a combined 1-11, Kurtis Byrne went 2-13, Anthony Silva went 2-10, and Chase Brunson 1-9. Outside of one half inning Sunday (T9), TCU's bats went silent.
Oklahoma doesn't have the same longevity in its starting rotation that Kansas exhibited. Davis is the lone arm that's proven to go longer than four innings. However, digging into OU's bullpen isn't the same key that it was against Kansas. This group of relief pitchers – namely RS Senior Grant Stevens (3-0, 5.40) and sophomore Malachi Witherspoon (4.05, 22 strikeouts) – is extremely strong.
Getting the top of the lineup back into a rhythm, especially Chatagnier, is critical. When Oklahoma surrenders runs, it's oftentimes by the truckload. In six losses this season, the Sooners allowed 10+ runs four times.
Offensively, Oklahoma likes to get off to a hot start and let the bullpen close the door. As of yet, they haven't shown to be a rally team. Starting pitching will be more critical this weekend than its ever been.
Player To Watch
Shortstop Anthony Silva had a brutal weekend.
Aside from batting .222, he met face-to-face with Lady Luck, as much of his solid contact just didn't land. On the season, the sophomore is batting .306 – nothing to be ashamed of, but notably worse than last year's .330. He's also striking out more, being rung up 10 times in 15 games (he struck out 33 times in 61 games all last season).
Batting fifth, Silva is in a pivotal spot in the lineup. This weekend, I'm looking his way to rebound against a tough pitching staff.
He also poses one of the biggest threats as a baserunner. Getting Silva on base, then moving him into scoring position with his premier base stealing gives strong hitters like Karson Bowen and Ryder Robinson the chance to score Silva. He just has to get on base more often.
How To Watch TCU Vs. Oklahoma
When: Friday, Mar. 15, 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, Mar. 16, 5:00 p.m. | Sunday, Mar. 17, 1:00 p.m.
Where: Lupton Stadium (Fort Worth, TX)
TV/Streaming: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Radio: KTCU 88.7 FM
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