The TCU baseball team picked up it’s third straight win with an 8-4 victory over Wichita State on Saturday at Lupton Stadium.
Preston Morrison (6-0) got the win for TCU, pitching 6 1/3 innings and surrendering five hits and four runs.
TCU head coach Jim Schlossnagle was happy with the performance from Morrison.
“His breaking ball was a lot better than it has been the last couple of weeks,” Schlossnagle said. “I thought he did a great job.”
Connor Wanhanen led the offensive attack for TCU (20-4 overall). He went 4-for-4 with a run scored on the afternoon.
Wanhanen has 10 hits in his last 12 at-bats dating back to last weekend’s series with Oklahoma State.
Schlossnagle spoke about Wanhanen’s impact on the lineup after the win.
“Connor is a big part of our offense and we are a great team when he’s producing,” Schlossnagle said.
The Frog offense got off to a hot start again on Saturday. After center fielder Cody Jones and Wanhanen produced back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, Garrett Crain’s fielder’s choice scored a run after an errant throw by Shocker shortstop Trey Vickers.
Wichita State starter Jeb Bargfeldt would then bear down to get consecutive flyouts by Evan Skoug and Dane Steinhagen to end the threat.
Bargfeldt (2-1) took the loss for the Shockers. He pitched five innings and gave up six runs on nine hits.
Sam Hilliard led the way offensively for Wichita State (11-15) with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Hilliard drove in all four Shocker runs on the afternoon.
Schlossnagle said Hilliard is dangerous in the middle of the Shocker order.
“Hilliard swings the bat really well, and when you make mistakes, he hammers the baseball,” Schlossnagle said. “Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the hitter.”
Hilliard got the Shockers on the board in the fourth inning. His two-out single scored Mikel Mucha and Tanner Dearman to cut the TCU lead to 3-2.
TCU would answer with three runs of their own in the fifth inning. Jones led off with a walk, followed by a single from Wanhanen.
After Garrett Crain’s sacrifice fly moved Jones to third, Evan Skoug scored Jones on a fielder’s choice to push the Frogs’ advantage to 4-2.
Keaton Jones would add a two-run double later in the frame to extend the TCU lead to four.
Hilliard would answer back in the seventh, taking Preston Morrison deep for a two-run home run to cut the Frog lead to 6-4.
Trey Teakell took over on the mound in the seventh. He pitched 1 2/3, innings allowed no runs on one hit.
The Frogs would pick up an insurance run in the seventh and eighth innings to extend their lead to 8-4.
TCU’s offense has combined for 22 runs on 27 hits in two games so far this weekend.
Cody Jones said the approach the team is taking at the plate plays a large part in the offensive success.
“We’re just being patient and waiting on our pitches,” Jones said. “Just trying to let the ball get deep and put a good swing on it.”
Riley Ferrell closed the game out for the Frogs in the ninth. He struck out all three Shocker hitters he faced.
TCU wraps up its 12-game home stand tomorrow against the Shockers at 1 p.m. Alex Young is scheduled to pitch for the Frogs against a pitcher to be announced for Wichita State.
Wanhanen said the Frogs need to keep trying to improve to maintain the offensive success.
“We just need to keep working and not get complacent,” Wanhanen said. “That’s what the coaching staff keeps preaching, so we need to be relentless and keep trying to get better.”
