TCU coach keeps the faith as Frogs try to snap winless streak at Dallas Baptist

By Stefan Stevenson

sstevenson@star-telegram.com

TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle didn’t hesitate.

Without reservation, he has complete faith in the talent on his team. So the Horned Frogs’ 0-6 start, their worst since at least 1966, is as much a peculiar oddity to him and his players as it is a disheartening beginning to the season.

“My money is still on my team,” Schlossnagle said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that if we stay true to who we are as a program — you’ve got to play good baseball — then we’re going to go on a run and we’re going to be fine. But you can’t just say that; you’ve got to go make it happen.”

And it won’t get any easier Tuesday night. TCU plays local nemesis Dallas Baptist (4-3) at 6:30 p.m. The Patriots are coming off a three-game sweep of Mississippi Valley State in which they outscored the Delta Devils 50-5. DBU has beaten the Frogs five consecutive times, including once when the Patriots won the Fort Worth Regional in 2011 at Lupton Stadium.

But for TCU, at the moment, curbing the slow start is paramount to settling old scores with a local rival. Frogs left-hander Trevor Seidenberger makes his first start against DBU right-hander Jay Calhoun (1-0). Seidenberger has pitched three innings out of the bullpen, allowing a run on three hits with four strikeouts. Calhoun held Rice to a run on four hits in a win last week.

“I think one thing we’re learning in this program is what I respect so much about places like Texas, Florida State, Miami, Cal State Fullerton, LSU – it’s living up to the expectations of the program,” Schlossnagle said. “I’m just guessing, but maybe that’s something we’re trying to live up to. My job is to try to downplay that stuff and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Frogs’ first baseman Kevin Cron isn’t used to losing and knows his coach has never experienced a start such as this, much less a six-game losing streak at any point in a season. TCU last lost six in a row in 1997. Schlossnagle lost five straight in 2005.

“He’s won a lot of games so this is new for him, too,” Cron said. “Just as a team, we kind of have to push together and keep the faith that what we’re doing is going to help and is going to work and just keep going to the grind every practice day in and day out. We’ll be alright as long as we keep working hard.”

Hello, again: Former TCU outfielder Brance Rivera, who finished a standout career last season, is a volunteer assistant coach at DBU.

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