TCU Baseball: Dominance On The Diamond

The Frogs improve to 7-0 for the first time since 1994

Bring out the brooms! The Frogs sweep the Bruins! It’s been 30 years since the TCU Horned Frogs started a baseball season 7-0, but after a convincing three game sweep of the No. 20 UCLA Bruins, the Frogs continue to show their prowess on the diamond.

After clinching the series with wins on Friday and Saturday, left-handed pitcher Zack Morris hit the mound Sunday to complete the domination of the Bruins.

After allowing the first three batters to reach base, Morris quickly bounced back, striking out Roch Cholowsky and getting left fielder Cameron Kim to ground into an inning-ending double play. The Frogs erupted for a five-run 1st inning when leadoff hitter Peyton Chatagnier launched a no-doubter over the left field wall for his 3rd home run of the season.

Lead-off power from @peytonchat5 💪#FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/APYCEGSyro

— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) February 25, 2024

Moments later, Logan Maxwell ripped a double to left-center. Advancing to third on a flyout by Anthony Silva, he came into score on a fielder’s choice by Kurtis Byrne.

After Jack Basseer clubbed a double to set runners up at second and third, Karson Bowen split the infield for an RBI single.

The Frogs continued to unleash upon Bruins starter Michael Barnett as Chase Brunson found his way onto the base paths, before freshman Sam Myers plated two runs off a single.

Batting around in the 1st inning, TCU added to the advantage in the 2nd with a pair of RBI singles from Maxwell and Bowen.

With a five-run lead, Morris settled down and put together a fine start. Through four innings, he surrendered two runs on three hits. While the lefty struck out five Bruins, his command continued to hinder her performance as Morris handed four free passes to the visitors.

After Morris’ four innings of work, Kirk Saarloos turned to his bullpen, which has shown time and time again its ability to manage games. Righty Caedmon Parker pitched two innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits. Leading 13-3, Oregon transfer Andrew Mosiello tossed one shutout inning, closing it out in the 7th inning for the Frogs, who run-ruled the Bruins in a dominant day on the diamond.

A tremendous series sweep over the Bruins answered lots of questions about this Horned Frogs team. A week ago, the biggest question mark was who TCU’s third baseman will be.

It’s clear.

Brody Green has stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park.

Leading the team with a batting average of .529, Green had himself quite the series, going 4-for-10 with a double, a home run, two RBI, and two runs.

Perhaps the most significant takeaway is the performance from the starting pitchers. Both Payton Tolle and Kole Klecker went further in their starts against UCLA than in their season debuts against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. Seeing them slowly stretch their starts further is exactly what you want to see.

T4 | Morris works around a one-out single. He adds his fifth strikeout in the inning.

UCLA 2, TCU 7 - Mid 4#FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/bi5zu1suZp

— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) February 25, 2024

While Morris equalized his season-opening four innings pitched, he drew weak contact from the Bruin bats all day long. He got the UCLA batters to chase and produce soft fly balls and weak grounders. Aside from his four walks and lack of command, Morris showed well on Sunday.

Now 7-0 for the first time since 1994, the Frogs will have a Pac-12-filled schedule this coming week, hosting Washington State and Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Globe Life Field to take on Arizona State and the University of Southern California twice.

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