Fresh off their fifth-straight win and a two-game sweep of UT-Pan American, No. 15 TCU will conclude their 13-game homestand against Mountain West Conference-rival New Mexico.
The Frogs (20-9, 5-1 MWC) are in the middle of a stretch of five games in six days. The seven-inning performance of junior pitcher Erik Miller in a 2-0 in over UT-Pan American Tuesday may pay dividends in the upcoming weekend series with New Mexico after junior Kyle Starratt was scratched from his slated start Wednesday against the Broncs.
“Having five games this week, we needed a starting pitcher to go and be out there for a while,” head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “I needed [Miller], to go at least seven, and he did a great job of that.”
TCU added more freshman pitching depth, however, after Schlossnagle decided to pull freshman Nick Frey’s redshirt status and play him Wednesday after Starrat could not pitch. The decision resulted in a 5-1 victory and the first collegiate victory in Frey’s career.
“I think the story of the last two nights has been outstanding starting pitching from two guys who weren’t even projected starters coming into this season, along with great defense,” Schlossnagle said. “We had one error tonight, but I thought we played really good defense in the infield.
“Nick Frey wasn’t in the discussion for anything 36 hours ago, we had planned on redshirting him and he comes out and gives us a great effort today and is now firmly in the mix.”
TCU limited the Broncs to one run in 18 innings while TCU has held opponents to two runs per game during their current win streak. TCU has also won eight out of their past 10 games, all of which have been at Lupton Stadium.
The Frogs have also averaged six runs per game within the last five contests.
“It seems like at the beginning of the year everything we hit was being caught, whether it was hard or soft,” said junior center fielder Aaron Schultz, who hit a two RBI single in Wednesday’s victory. “To get my hit to fall [Wednesday] was lucky, but it scored a couple runs and put us on the board and we got rolling from there.”
The Lobos (9-20, 4-2 MWC) have struggled during a five game losing streak in series against Gonzaga and No. 22 Arizona. The Lobos scored a total of 18 runs within the last five games while Gonzaga torched the Lobos for 17 runs in one game during that stretch.
Series notes
Friday’s game with the Lobos will be the 45th time TCU and UNM have met – TCU holds a 32-12 advantage over UNM.
Since joining the MWC in 2006, the Frogs are 18-5 against the Lobos.
TCU went 3-1 against New Mexico in 2010.
The Frogs are 11-4 against UNM in Lupton Stadium, while the Lobos last won a series against TCU in Fort Worth in 2008.
Up next
Following the UNM weekend series TCU will take on No. 10 Oklahoma Tuesday in Norman, Okla. for their first away game since March 20. The Oklahoma game will be the first of a home and away series with TCU. OU will come to Fort Worth to meet their end of the deal on April 26 at Lupton Stadium.
No. 15 TCU vs. New Mexico
Game 1
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Lupton Stadium
Probable starters: Kyle Winkler (5-1, 1.05 ERA) vs. Jake McCasland (1-3, 5.36 ERA)
TV: The Mtn. (Live)
Radio: 88.7-FM KTCU
GoFrogs.com: watch live or follow GameTracker
Game 2
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lupton Stadium
Probable starters: Matt Purke (3-1, 1.16 ERA) vs. Alexis Garza (0-1, 3.27 ERA)
TV: The Mtn. (Live)
Radio: 88.7-FM KTCU
GoFrogs.com: watch live or follow GameTracker
Game 3
When: 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lupton Stadium
Probable starters: Steven Maxwell (4-0, 3.21 ERA) vs. Rudy Jaramillo (2-3, 4.50 ERA)
TV: The Mtn. (Live)
Radio: 88.7-FM KTCU
GoFrogs.com: watch live or follow GameTracker
