Top-seeded TCU was stunned in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals by No. 27 Baylor, 4-2.
After going a perfect 5-0 in conference play during the regular season, TCU (18-4) earned a first-round bye in this weekend’s conference tournament in Austin, Texas. However, fifth-seeded Baylor (20-8) upset the Frogs Saturday to secure a spot in the final.
“Today was disappointing and it was disappointing to lose like that,” head coach David Roditi said. “As a coach, we take pride in competing and today we got out-competed and that is the bottom line.”
In doubles play, the Bears took the opening match but No. 4 Guillermo Nuñez and Alex Rybakov responded with a victory, leaving it all to play for on court three.
Max Kurzban and Reese Stalder escaped with a 7-6 (7-2) win over Baylor’s Will Little and Constantin Frantzen to clinch the doubles’ point for TCU.
However, the Bears responded by taking the first three singles’ matches, including Nuñez and Little’s match, which was ended due to a retirement, giving Baylor a 3-1 lead in the match.
Stalder took care of Baylor’s Roy Smith on court four, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 to get the Frogs within one, leaving it up to No. 59 Trevor Johnson and No. 19 Alex Rybakov to complete the comeback for TCU.
Johnson and Baylor’s Matias Soto were locked in a nail-biter, but it was Soto who came out on top, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) to finish off the upset for the Bears.
Up Next:
TCU now moves on to the NCAA Tournament and will learn their spot during the selection show which can be watched on NCAA.com at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 1.
