TCU Baseball: An Impressive Turn-Around
By now, it’s no secret that TCU Baseball has won the Big 12 Tournament and is on its way to competing in the Fayetteville Regional, where they will take on Arizona. But let’s take a step back and evaluate the Horned Frogs for what they are now compared to what they were in the middle of the season.
As of this past weekend, TCU is 12-2 in their last 14 games and looks to be in top shape after dominating the Big 12 tournament with a 4-0 record. Only a few weeks ago, many said TCU would be lucky to make the NCAA Baseball Tournament. So, what changed? One major defining series I looked at was the series loss to Texas back in late April. While TCU did lose the series in the end, I highlight it because it was the last series the Horned Frogs lost and one that seemed to affect them the most. To put it bluntly, the team seemed worn out and tired.
Additionally, TCU and Texas have a history of having extremely competitive series, especially in recent years. I have a personal belief that the series loss to Texas motivated the team and coaches to adjust how they do things, one of which being the bullpen. TCU has struggled out of the pen all year long, the evidence being almost ten games throughout the season where TCU lost the lead after the starter left the game.
However, throughout TCU’s 12-2 stretch, the Horned Frogs have dominated the mound, allowing more than four runs in only one game. We’ve seen multiple bullpen arms step up to the challenge, such as Luke Savage, Chase Hoover, and even Sam Stoutenborough, who has assumed a starting role here late in the season.
As for the hitting, the Horned Frogs have been fairly consistent throughout the season but have taken it to another level with clutch hitting. It seems like every time there are runners in scoring position, the Horned Frogs find a way to deliver, especially in the Big 12 Tournament. With these two factors coming into play, TCU is no doubt one of the hottest teams in the country and could make a deep run on the Road to Omaha.
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