TCU Horned Frogs Toppled by Kansas State Wildcats, Now Look To Big 12 Tournament
After a successful regular season, the TCU Horned Frogs will now look towards the Big 12 Championship. In their last series, the Horned Frogs traveled to Manhattan, Kansas, to play at Triton Fam Stadium, where they took on the Kansas State Wildcats. TCU Baseball currently sits at 36-16 overall and 17-7 in the conference after the series and now sits ranked at No. 15.
Kansas State Series
In the TCU Horned Frogs’ last regular-season series, the team did not live up to many expectations. With being as high ranked as No. 5 in the country at one point, the Horned Frogs dropped another series. This time to a solid Kansas State team who played to prove a point. Despite losing the series, the Horned Frogs were still able to wrap up the regular season tied for first place in the Big 12 Conference.
Kansas State Game One
The series kicked off on Thursday, May 20th at 6 pm at Tointon Fam Stadium with scoreless first innings from both teams. In a low-scoring affair, both teams battled back and forth, but in the fourth inning, the Wildcats were able to add two scores to go up 3-1 early. Now trailing, the Horned Frogs would try to respond in the fifth but would match the Wildcats one score. Those would be the last points scored for either team for the game, with strong defensive outings from both. Ending the game with a score of 2-4, with the Wildcats triumphing the Horned Frogs in game one.
Part of the reason for the loss was due to poor pitching and errors throughout. The Wildcats finished the contest with just one error on their side. The Horned Frogs side is another issue the team faced in the contest. In the game, the Horned Frogs racked up three errors that came at a cost. After losing the series opener, the Horned Frogs would look to bounce back in game two.
Kansas State Series Game Two
In the second game of the series, the Horned Frogs brought the heat. In an attempt to regain the series, the team got out to an early start by taking a 4-0 lead after the second inning. The frogs would then fight through the fifth and sixth innings to go up 8-3. Now with a convincing lead, the Horned Frogs would do their best to finish the game strong.
A big play in the sixth that helped the Horned Frogs came out of Porter Brown. After hitting a three-base hit, the play was able to help the frogs capitalize on much-needed points.
On the other side of the ball, the Horned Frogs had a strong day at the plate. Late in the game, when the Wildcats were trying to come back, they were able to hold them off. Austin Krob led the charge when pitching by only allowing the Wildcats two runs and five hits. He also added six strikeouts and walked four others in the win. After a solid outing on both ends of the ball, the Horned Frogs would go onto win the contest 8-6 to tie the series 1-1.
Kansas State Series Game Three
In the third and final game of the series, the Horned Frogs could not hold off the Wildcats. The contest began with both teams coming out ready to play by each team putting up four scores in the first inning. With the score now four all, the Horned Frogs would have a solid defensive outing by not allowing another run until the ninth inning. Heading into the ninth, the Horned Frogs led the game 7-4 and would look to finish strong.
In the ninth, the Horned Frogs would be on the offensive side first. To bring in another score to bring their lead to 8-4. The game’s final inning shared some moment for the Wildcats who would come in clutch and put together one of their best innings of the year. In a must-win contest for either team, the Wildcats just wanted it more. Coming out and scoring seven runs in the last inning. The Wildcats arguably had the comeback of the year to edge out the Horned Frogs 8-11 in the contest.
Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament
With the regular season behind the TCU Horned Frogs. The team will now look forward to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament. In the first round of the tournament, the Horned Frogs will not only look to make a statement after an embarrassing loss on the road. The team in the first round will play Kansas State for the fourth time in the last week. After being beat in the previous series, the team will look to get revenge on the Wildcats.
With their season on the line, the TCU Horned Frogs will play to stay alive and a chance to climb back up in the rankings to play in NCAA Regional and Championship.
Overview
Overall, the TCU Horned Frogs ended their regular season tied for first in the Big 12 Conference. In their last series of the regular season, the Horned Frogs went on the road to face the Kansas State Wildcats. Who came to play in phenomenal series between the two teams. After losing, the team will now turn their attention towards the Phillip 66 Big 12 Tournament. In the first round of the tournament, the Horned Frogs will again take on the Kansas State Wildcats and have a chance to get revenge. The tournament will take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at Bricktown Ballpark. The contest is set to begin Wednesday, May 16th at 12:30 pm and be watched at Big 12 now on ESPN+ and listened to at KTCU 88.7 FM.
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Written by Campus Live Inter Trinity Porter
