TCU defeated No.22 Kansas 4-3 behind a good performance from their trio of pitchers.
Kole Klecker started the game for the Horned Frogs and went two innings allowing one run on three hits. He had two strikeouts and one walk.
Kansas got on the board first in the second inning with a RBI single from catcher Ian Francis to make the score 1-0.
Braeden Sloan came entered to relieve him and took a ball off the foot at 110 miles per hour. The ball bounced, without injury, to first baseman Karson Bowen and he was able to tag the runner out.
Sloan found himself in some trouble in the fifth inning. After a mound visit, Sloan dialed in. He got first baseman Brady Ballinger to ground into a fielder’s choice to tag the runner out at home.
He struck out right fielder Jackson Hauge for the next out. Finally, the inning finished with shortstop Michael Brooks to ground out to himself. Sloan was fired up as he walked off the field.
Sloan talked about what he did to get out of the inning and what he was told during the mound visit.
“He told me, don’t try to get out of it with one pitch. Just keep throwing good pitches and whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I was able to take a breather and locate my changeup.”
The Horned Frogs would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Left fielder Isaac Cadena slashed a triple into the right field corner with two outs.
Cadena scored on a wild pitch and beat the catcher to home plate to even up the game.
Walks to shortstop Anthony Silva, catcher Nolan Traeger and third baseman Jack Bell loaded the bases. First baseman Karson Bowen would make them pay as he laced a ball up the middle to score Silva and Traeger making it 3-1.
The Horned Frogs continued to add to their lead in the sixth inning. Second baseman Cole Cramer tripled to lead off the inning and before designated hitter Noah Franco hit a sacrifice fly to center. That extended the lead to 4-1.
Kansas refused to go away as they scored two in the top of the seventh on a double from Hauge that ripped down the third baseline. This made the score 4-3.
Sloan couldn’t make it through the inning as he was pulled with two outs with the bases loaded. His final line was two runs (one earned) in four and 2/3 innings on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Right hander Kade Eudy would come in and get the Frogs through the rest of the game. He would go two and 1/3 innings to get his fourth save of the season.
Head coach Kirk Saarloos spoke on how well his pitching staff has performed and how young players have stepped up.
“The guys are prepared when their name is called. We’re at the point where we’re 35 or 36 games in,” he said. “Some of the new guys have been put in situations where it’s no longer kind of a freshman season.”
The Horned Frogs will go for the sweep on April 13 at 1 p.m.
