The TCU offense struck out 13 times and was held to just four hits as the Frogs lost to Texas State 1-0 yesterday night at Lupton Stadium.
The loss marked TCU’s first shutout in 165 games. The Frogs lost to Texas 6-0 on April 7, 2009.
TCU (2-5) had two chances to score Tuesday night and blew both.
Junior Kyle Von Tungeln led off with a single to left-center for TCU. But Texas State starter Mitchell Pitts retired the next three batters, stranding Von Tungeln at second base and ending the inning.
Then, in the seventh, redshirt senior Zac Jordan singled with two outs to give the Frogs their second hit of the game. Freshman Derek Odell followed that up with a single of his own to right field. But freshman Jerrick Suiter couldn’t capitalize, striking out with runners on the corners and ending the inning.
Head coach Jim Schlossnagle said the Frogs could never adjust to the Bobcats’ off-speed pitches at the plate.
“We didn’t adjust to hitting the breaking ball,” Schlossnagle said. “And, to their credit, they kept throwing them non-stop.”
Pitts earned the win, throwing six innings and giving up no runs on just one hit. The sophomore struck out eight and overshadowed the impressive performance of TCU freshman Brandon Finnegan. Finnegan went five innings, giving up one run on three hits. The left-hander also struck out eight.
Schlossnagle said there was room for improvement for Finnegan but admitted Tuesday night was the best outing the true freshman has had.
“[I am] very pleased with Finnegan,” Schlossnagle said. “It’s a good step forward. He can be better. He can throw more strikes. He can be better than he was, but that’s certainly the best he’s been.”
Von Tungeln went 2-for-4, the only player for the Frogs to record multiple hits. The senior is now hitting a team-high .345 on the year.
Von Tungeln said Pitts went primarily to his fastball the first time through the lineup but switched things up as the game went on. The Frogs were ahead on his off-speed and did not adapt to it, Von Tungeln said.
“At the very beginning of the game, he was throwing some fastballs here or there, and we weren’t really making contact,” Von Tungeln said. “I got fortunate enough to drive the ball up the middle. But the next go-around through, he started throwing a ton of off-speed pitches, and we didn’t make an adjustment to try to hit that off-speed pitch the other way. We were just out in front on everything.”
Texas State senior Casey Kalenkosky went 2-for-4, driving in the lone run of the game in the first inning when he tripled off Finnegan. The Bobcats are now 5-3 on the year and snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series against the Frogs.
Schlossnagle said the team’s struggles were not a matter of hustle, but a matter of reacting to what the other team was bringing, especially in the batter’s box.
“I don’t doubt anybody’s want-to or desire or effort,” Schlossnagle said. “What I doubt is our ability to make an adjustment at home plate.”
TCU will be back in action Friday when it plays Oklahoma State for game one of a three-game set at Lupton Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
