TCU Closes Regular Season With Sweep

Saturday, May 21

Lupton Stadium

4:00 PM

TCU

38-14, 15-9

Kansas State

26-29, 8-16

Kansas State

TCU

TCU Closes Regular Season With Sweep

5/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 21, 2016

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

FORT WORTH - TCU completed the sweep of Kansas State Saturday afternoon with a 9-3 victory to close out the regular season with a five game winning streak.

The Rundown
Jared Janczak (6-3) gave the Horned Frogs a solid five innings on the mound, allowing just a run on three hits in five innings of work. He retired the last 10 batters he faced before giving way to the bullpen.

After K-State took the lead on a solo home run from Jake Scudder in the second, it was all Horned Frogs. TCU tied the game in the fourth as it took advantage of a lead-off walk to Elliott Barzilli. The Wildcats attempt at turning a double play went awry as they only got one out. An errant throw to third on the play allowed Barzilli to score the tying run.

In the fifth, TCU broke the game open with six runs on four hits. Zack Plunkett was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Ryan Merrill perfectly executed a hit-and-run, tripling to right center to drive in Plunkett for a 2-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Barzilli gave TCU a 3-1 lead with a sacrifice fly.

Four straight batters reached following the sac fly as the lead grew to six, 7-1. Josh Watson delivered a two-run single for a 5-1 lead. Two batters later, Connor Wanhanen picked up a two-run single of his own.

Another lead-off walk in the sixth turned into another run for TCU as Merrill scored on a Cam Warner base hit.

Kansas State picked up a pair of runs on three hits in the seventh to pull within five, 8-3, but TCU responded again in the bottom of the inning to regain a six-run lead. Watson walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. He scored the final run of the game on a Steinhagen sacrifice fly.

Stat of the Game
9 – TCU drew nine walks in today's game and five of them came around to score.

Notes
• TCU improved to 31-0 when leading after eight innings.
• TCU was outhit by its opponent for just the 16th time this season.
• TCU improved to 16-9 when the opponent scores first.
• TCU played flawless defense for the 21st time this season.
• TCU has scored four or more runs in an inning 32 times this season.
• For the fourth time this season, the TCU pitching staff did not issue a walk.
• Luken Baker has reached base safely in 24 straight games.
• Josh Watson posted his 13th multiple-RBI game of the season.
• Connor Wanhanen notched his fourth multiple-RBI game of the season and the 17the of his career.
• Dane Steinhagen posted his 18th multi-hit game of the season and the 36th of his career.

Next Up
With the victory, TCU finishes the regular season with a 38-14 overall record and concludes Big 12 play with a 15-9 record. The Horned Frogs will be the three seed in the upcoming Big 12 Championships. TCU will face Baylor in its opening game on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. The game will be televised on FCS.