Baseball: Freshmen lead TCU to midweek win over Tarleton State

The Horned Frogs leaned on four freshman pitchers during their 4-2 victory Tuesday.

TCU baseball saw four freshmen take the mound during its home opener against Tarleton State on Tuesday, when the Horned Frogs scored a 4-2 victory to start the season 1-0 at Lupton Stadium. Mason Brassfield earned the start on the pitcher’s mound, throwing three scoreless frames while striking out four batters. Kade Eudy finished strong to earn the save for the Horned Frogs (6-2), firing two scoreless frames and striking out five batters. Two-way freshman Noah Franco made his pitching debut, striking out three over one inning of relief.

Isaac Cadena’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning gave the Horned Frogs a 1-0 lead. Tarleton State answered with two runs on an RBI single and an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth inning, surging ahead 2-1 before TCU retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, where Sawyer Strosnider slapped an RBI single and Colton Griffin reached on an error to plate Sam Myers. Jack Bell’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the seventh inning put TCU ahead 4-2. The Horned Frogs drew seven walks and recorded eight hits in the win.

Zack James earned his first career win, while Louis Rodriguez threw two scoreless frames of relief with one strikeout. James went one inning in relief and allowed one earned run.