The Horned Frogs move closer to .500 in conference play after taking three games from the Bears in Waco.
TCU baseball continued gaining steam over the weekend, with the Horned Frogs traveling to Waco and scoring a crucial Big 12 Conference sweep over the Bears. TCU (29-16, 13-14 Big 12) has now won six of its last seven games and will play its last seven games of the regular season at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth. The Horned Frogs will hold a three-game nonconference series against New Mexico State this coming weekend before concluding Big 12 action with conference matchups against Baylor and West Virginia.
Friday: TCU 7, Baylor 1
The Horned Frogs trailed 1-0 after the Bears went ahead on an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. TCU tied the score on a solo home run from freshman Sam Myers in the top of the fourth inning and the Horned Frogs took a 2-1 lead after Ryder Robinson’s sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning. TCU broke the game open in the top of the ninth inning, tallying five runs on a bases loaded walk to Karson Bowen and a grand slam from Jack Arthur. Arthur went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the offense in the win.
Learn the name – Big swing for @jackart20 #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/Tsh05HCGHm
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 4, 2024
Left-hander Payton Tolle took the ball to start the game, throwing six and one-third innings while striking out eight batters and holding Baylor to one unearned run. Right-hander Hunter Hodges finished the seventh inning for Tolle and left-hander Ben Abeldt fired the final two innings to earn his fifth save of the season, striking out one with one hit allowed.
Saturday: TCU 9, Baylor 7
The Horned Frogs fell into trouble early on, with Baylor scoring two runs on a double in the bottom of the first inning before adding four runs on two homers and a triple in the bottom of the second inning. Logan Maxwell belted a solo shot for TCU in the top of the first inning, while Kurtis Byrne smacked an RBI double in the top of the third inning to make the score 6-2. The Horned Frogs tallied three runs in the top of the fourth inning, where Anthony Silva sent a two-run homer down the line and Byrne followed with a solo blast of his own.
Get us going @Logan__maxwell #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/9AknqjIKcT
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 4, 2024
Silva’s RBI groundout in the top of the sixth inning tied the score at 6-6. The game remained tied after nine innings, as both teams were unable to break through in the later frames. TCU struck first in extras, scoring three runs on RBI singles from Sam Myers and Luke Boyers, as well as a sacrifice fly from Byrne, in the top of the 11th inning. While Baylor scratched one run in the bottom of the 11th inning, the Bears were unable to rally and tie the score.
Down the line for a 2-run shot for @antwansilva1 #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/jX175v3Ezj
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 4, 2024
Right-hander Zachary Cawyer threw five innings of relief, striking out six batters and earning the win to move to 6-1 on the season. Left-hander Ben Abeldt followed and fired a scoreless frame in the 11th inning to record his sixth save of the season for TCU. The Horned Frogs also received a major relief boost from right-hander Kole Klecker, who tossed four scoreless innings while striking out six batters without allowing a hit.
Getting in on the fun is @KurtisByrne #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/MdgvLoXiQD
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 4, 2024
Sunday: TCU 10, Baylor 6
The Horned Frogs showcased their power in the top of the first inning, scoring six runs on home runs from Logan Maxwell, Luke Boyers and Karson Bowen. Maxwell added an RBI single in the top of the second inning and Boyers recorded an RBI groundout in the top of the fourth inning, allowing TCU to take an 8-1 lead. Baylor fought back into the game with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning and three runs on a double and a groundout in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Is it? Could it be? Yes… it is a home run!
A little confusion, but @Logan__maxwell has his second home run in as many days!#FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/7Zcm0983Ce
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 5, 2024
A line drive, no-doubter for @Luke_Boyers #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/bpjxfQuBgK
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 5, 2024
Crushed @BowenKarson #FrogballUSA | #GoFrogs pic.twitter.com/duc6rY6y3y
— TCU Baseball (@TCU_Baseball) May 5, 2024
Bowen helped TCU clinch the series sweep with a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning, which put the Horned Frogs ahead 10-5.Right-hander Louis Rodriguez started on the mound, throwing five innings and striking out six batters with zero walks to earn the win. Left-hander Ben Abeldt entered for the third straight game and recorded his seventh save of the season, tossing two-thirds of a frame.