The Frogs Complete A Series Sweep Of The Eagles To Start 2024
The No. 5 TCU Horned Frogs smacked their way to a series sweep over the visiting Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.
Needing to mount severe comebacks in Friday and Saturday's games, Sunday was more straightforward. With left-handed pitcher Zack Morris taking the hill for the first time as a Horned Frog, he faced traffic on the base paths from the get-go.
The junior transfer from Arkansas walked his first batter, before donating another 90 feet from a wild pitch. An error and a one fielder's choice later, the Eagles had runners on the corners with one out. Preseason All-ASUN team Jacob Lojewski gave the Eagles an early 1-0 lead with a fielder's choice.
Just as Morris found a groove as the game progressed, his offense did too.
The Horned Frogs snatched the lead with one swing of the bat courtesy of Karson Bowen, who clobbered a two-run shot that scored Anthony Silva. Two batters later, Luke Boyers fisted a single through the infield, scoring Chase Brunson to take a 3-1 lead in the 2nd inning.
Morris lost the lead rather quickly in the 3rd inning after Ian Farrow smacked a two-run blast to left field to tie the game at three. Farrow beat up on the Frogs this opening weekend–six hits, three home runs, and nine runs batted in (RBI). Not to mention, he hit an astonishing .462 to open the 2024 season.
After the game-tying blast, Harrison Povey cranked a two-run bomb as the Eagles now took a 5-3 lead. It was a tough inning for Morris, but his offense answered the call.
Once again, it's Bowen to the rescue. This time, Silva and Logan Maxwell scored on an RBI single from Sunday's first baseman.
Morris' day was done after 90 pitches. Lasting four innings, the lefty allowed five runs (four earned runs) on five hits and three walks. Only striking out three batters, Morris found success getting weak contact from opposing hitters.
Transfer reliever from Oregon, Andrew Mosiello, held the Eagles to minimal success, but not before loading the bases in the 6th.
Making a change, Kirk Saarloos called up right-handed reliever Zachary Cawyer, who got the win on Friday night after a tremendous performance out of the bullpen. Tasked with a no out, bases loaded jam, Cawyer allowed just one inherited runner to score (inherited from Mosiello).
Just as the Eagles retook the lead, the swingin' Frogs cooked up a monster bottom half of the 6th inning.
The Frogs scored six runs on four hits, leapfrogging the Eagles to an 11-6 lead. Consecutive wild pitches from Connor O'Hara saw the Frogs tie and subsequently take the lead. Then two-way star Payton Tolle grounded a two-run single through the i, extending the lead to 10-6.
After batting around, Brody Green, who entered the game as a defensive substitution at third for Jack Basseer, singled in Tolle for the Frogs' 11th run of the day.
Additional relief aid came from Braedon Sloan and closer Hunter Hodges, who notched his first save of the season.
As TCU clinched the series sweep over the Eagles, new Frogs jumped out to stellar starts. Peyton Chatagnier was a machine in leadoff this weekend. The graduate transfer from Ole Miss went 4-for-11 (.364) with two home runs, three RBI, three stolen bases, and five walks.
Freshman center fielder Chase Brunson put on a show, going 6-for-10 (.600) with four extra-base hits, including two doubles and two homers. He also drew a mammoth four walks this weekend, putting his on-base percentage at an incredible .667.
Chase Brunson storms onto the collegiate scene with a fantastic opening weekend with the Horned Frogs.
Not to mention a couple returners from last season–Karson Bowen and Anthony Silva. Selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, these two sophomores showed their worth this weekend, combining for 11 hits, two homers, 10 RBI, and 20 total bases.
Switching gears, TCU starters were, perhaps, underwhelming in their season debuts. While Payton Tolle, Kole Klecker, and Zack Morris combined for 14 runs allowed (13 earned runs), TCU relievers stepped in tremendously to keep the Eagles at bay.
The TCU bullpen also did a fine job in providing quality relief innings. Zachary Cawyer stood out from the pack and picked up two wins for his efforts in Friday and Sunday's games.
With the series sweep, Frogball in Funkytown is officially underway. Saarloos and the Frogs will have one day before hosting the Texas State Bobcats on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 6:00 pm at Lupton Stadium.
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