• The KillerFrogs

FWST: TCU looks to bounce back against Utah

TopFrog

Lifelong Frog
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/29/21...ck-against.html

[SIZE=14pt]TCU looks to bounce back against Utah[/SIZE]

By STEFAN STEVENSON
sstevenson@star-telegram.com

TCU baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle was more agitated than concerned Wednesday night in Waco.

The Horned Frogs' 14-4 run-rule loss to Baylor, the worst loss of the season, was likely not a signal for fans to start second-guessing the Frogs, who have been ranked in the top 15 in most major polls the entire season.

The loss, which included Schlossnagle replacing most of his starters after the Frogs fell behind 11-1 in the fourth, was more likely an aberration in a season that has TCU on course to win its fifth consecutive regular-season Mountain West Conference title.

The Frogs are also positioned to earn the right to host their second consecutive regional tournament at Lupton Stadium in early June.

The Frogs (31-9, 11-3 MWC) begin a six-game stretch of conference road games at 7 tonight with Game 1 of a three-game series at Utah. The Utes (19-18, 7-8), in fourth place in the league, finished sixth last season before winning the MWC tournament title.

"The same thing happened to us here last year and we rebounded from it OK," Schlossnagle said of a 15-4 loss at Baylor Ballpark in late March 2009.

It took TCU a few games to snap out of its funk last year after the Baylor blowout. The Frogs lost to San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg in their next game (one of two two-game losing streaks last season) and lost Game 3 of the San Diego State series before reeling off eight wins in nine games.

TCU has lost two in a row twice this year, as well, all in a 19-day stretch from March 19 through April 6. In the middle of that struggle, the Frogs lost 14-11 at Air Force and are on the hook in Game 3 of that series, trailing with two outs in the top of the seventh with the Falcons (11-30, 1-9) leading 16-15. That game will most likely be completed May 14, before the teams start their three-game conference finale in Fort Worth.

"Our No. 1 goal is to win 40 or more games in the regular season and whether those come in conference or not, we just want to put ourselves in the best possible position to be an at-large team in the NCAA Tournament," Schlossnagle said. "We're just trying to win every game we play."

TCU's three starting pitchers -- Matt Purke on Friday, Kyle Winkler on Saturday and Steven Maxwell on Sunday -- have not lost a game this season, combining for a 19-0 record. Utah counters with right-hander Jordan Whatcott (4-5) and two lefties: Rick Anton (6-2) and Bryn Card (2-2).

Stefan Stevenson, 817-390-7760
 
Top