TCU baseball opened Big 12 play with a gritty Friday win, then watched Arizona State punch back and take the series with two sharp offensive performances.
TCU baseball opened Big 12 play with a pulse-raising win, but the weekend in Arizona ended with more frustration than momentum.
After stealing Friday’s opener behind timely hitting and a huge defensive play at the plate, the No. 17 Horned Frogs were outplayed over the final two games and left Tempe with a series loss that could send them sliding in the rankings.
Friday looked like the kind of game that could set a tone for conference play. Mason Brassfield was outstanding again, working six innings, allowing just one run on four hits, and striking out eight.
TCU got just enough offense, too. Brady Dallimore launched a solo homer, Sawyer Strosnider delivered a two-run double, and Colton Griffin came through with a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth.
Griffin wasn’t done. He also erased former Frog Sam Myers at the plate in a game-saving moment that helped seal a 5-4 win. Even with 18 strikeouts, TCU found a way.
That edge vanished fast.
On Saturday, Arizona State turned the game into a track meet and TCU couldn’t keep up. The Sun Devils hung 15 runs on the Frogs, including a brutal nine-run third inning that flipped the day for good.
Lucas Franco did everything he could, going 4 for 5 with an RBI, while Jack Bell added his first home run of the season.
But TCU’s pitching took too many punches. Lance Davis was tagged for six runs in 2.1 innings, and the bullpen didn’t stop the bleeding.
Sunday brought even less resistance at the plate.
Former TCU pitcher Kole Klecker carved up his old team, spinning seven scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out seven.
Trever Baumler gave the Horned Frogs a chance with a quality start, but the bats never answered in a 4-0 loss. TCU managed little traffic, struck out nine times, and never seriously threatened.
Now sitting at 11-8 overall and 1-2 in the Big 12, TCU heads home needing a response, not excuses. The margin gets thinner from here.