TCU baseball exited the Big 12 Tournament without a win, leaving the Horned Frogs sweating their NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Monday.
TCU baseball needed a statement in Surprise. Instead, the Horned Frogs left Arizona with a problem.
A 9-4 loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 Tournament put TCU’s NCAA Tournament hopes in a much more uncomfortable spot.
The Horned Frogs were projected into the field by some outlets entering the week, but going one-and-done for the first time since 2015 gives the selection committee a reason to pause.
That’s the brutal part. TCU didn’t need to win the whole thing. It just needed to avoid giving everyone something ugly to debate.
Tommy LaPour’s shortened season continued to loom over the Horned Frogs.
The junior right-hander opened the year as the expected ace, but a flexor strain wiped out most of his regular season. Against Kansas State, he lasted only two innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
The bullpen couldn’t stop the damage, either. TCU relievers gave up six runs on 10 hits over the final seven innings, and Kansas State kept pressure on all night.
The offense didn’t exactly help early. Tazwell Butler carved through the Horned Frogs, allowing two runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
TCU didn’t collect its second hit until the fifth, when Preston Gamster doubled and later scored on Noah Franco’s double. Rob Liddington followed with an RBI single, finally giving the Frogs life.
The biggest miss came in the seventh. TCU loaded the bases with nobody out and had a real chance to flip the game. Instead, the Horned Frogs managed just two runs without a hit in the inning.
That’s the kind of missed opportunity that stings all weekend.
READ MORE: TCU Baseball’s NCAA Hopes Hit Injury Wall
Now, Kirk Saarloos’ team can’t change anything. TCU has to wait until Monday’s NCAA Tournament selection show on ESPN2 and hope its full resume still holds up.
The Frogs aren’t dead. But after wasting a chance to strengthen their case, they’re officially sweating.
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