After wrapping up a seven-game stretch of games over spring break, No. 14 TCU finished the week with a 4-3 record, bringing the team’s overall record to 12-7. The Frogs dropped four spots in both Baseball America’s top 25 rankings and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s top 25 poll. The Frogs continue play against Texas State Tuesday at Lupton Stadium to kick off a 13-game home stand.
The Frogs kicked off spring break against Houston Baptist March 11 at home for a 7-1 win. The Frogs then had the unfortunate honor of giving the Huskies, who hold a 1-16 record, their lone victory of the season in a 7-4 loss March 12. Sophomore pitcher Matt Purke (3-1) earned his first loss as a Horned Frog after allowing four runs (three unearned) off three hits and three walks.
The Frogs secured the series in the rubber match game with a 6-1 win March 13. The Frogs then traveled down Interstate-30 to UT-Arlington and were handed their first road loss of the season with a score of 3-2. The Mavericks and Frogs split the season series after TCU defeated UT-Arlington 7-3 at Lupton Stadium on March 8.
The Frogs began Mountain West Conference play Friday in Las Vegas against UNLV, taking two-of-three from the Rebels. The Frogs currently sit on top of the MWC standings with a 2-1 conference record.
Friday, the Frogs lost against UNLV 5-4 at Wilson Stadium, which ended their 11-game winning streak against UNLV. Junior starting pitcher Kyle Winkler (4-1) pitched his first complete game of the season but recorded the loss.
The Frogs then came back strong for the win 12-2 on Saturday, pounding out a total of 14 hits. Purke pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits to rebound for the win after his first career loss against Houston Baptist. It was also the first game of the season that the Frogs reached double digits in runs.
Sunday, junior right fielder Brance Rivera started the game with a home run, his fifth of the season. Rivera also extended his hit streak to 19 games and has homered in three straight games. TCU recorded a season-high 17 hits in the series clinching 8-4 win. Senior starting pitcher Steven Maxwell (2-0) pitched five innings, allowing four runs (one unearned) on six hits for the victory.
Texas State (15-4) will enter Tuesday’s game on a three-game win streak and with a 4-1 road record. The Bobcats are 1-3 against top 25 ranked teams this season: The Bobcats lost to No. 25 Rice, 11-10 in February and split a home-and-away series with No. 21 Baylor, defeating the Bears in Waco 13-2 March 1 and falling to BU in San Marcos 6-4 March 8. The Bobcats hung with No. 5 Texas at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, falling to the Longhorns 3-1 March 15. Texas State has outscored top 25 competition 28-22 on the season.
The Bobcats then swept Sam Houston State over the weekend following the loss to Texas. Last season the Frogs swept the season series against the Bobcats, 2-0.
No. 14 TCU vs. Texas State
Probable starters: Andrew Mitchell (1-0, 0.39 ERA) vs. Lee Colon (1-2, 3.63 ERA)
When: Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Lupton Stadium
TV: The Mtn.
Radio: 88.7-FM KTCU
GoFrogs.com: Watch live or follow GameTracker
