TCU’s momentum in the Big 12 is over.
Just two games in.But that’s OK. The Horned Frogs, playing their first season in the Big 12, need not necessarily be discouraged, figures coach Jim Schlossnagle.“The goal is to win series,” he said after watching his team’s 8-4 loss to Kansas in Game 2 of a three-game series Saturday night at Lupton Stadium.The loss ended a four-game winning streak, including Friday night’s conference opener.“Shoot, I don’t know. I’ve never coached in this league,” Schlossnagle said. “I’ve coached two games in it, so I really don’t know what it’s like. I’m guessing that the goal is to win series. I’m sure Kansas has the same goal.”The same goal, sure, but on Saturday night, a sharper effort.KU starter Wes Benjamin shook off a three-run fourth inning in which he allowed three doubles to otherwise handle the Frogs (8-10, 1-1) with apparent ease. He went six innings, striking out four and walking one for the Jayhawks (12-6, 1-1).Meanwhile, TCU starter Trevor Seidenberg was gone without getting an out in the second inning. Reliever Nick Frey gave the Frogs 5 2/3 innings of relief — all pretty good except one, a three-run third inning that saw Kansas push the lead to 6-1.But defensive misplays victimized Frey. Errors from second baseman Derek Odell (who has a team-high six) and two by catcher Kyle Bacak (including a catcher’s interference) contributed to TCU’s sudden slump.“Offensively, I felt really good about the way we swung the bat,” Schlossnagle said. “... It’s the little things that our program’s been built on that I’m having trouble with — don’t field a bunt, don’t back up a base in one particular instance — so we’ve got to get better at those things.”Kevin Cron and Paul Hendrix each had two hits and an RBI for the Frogs. They doubled back-to-back in the fourth inning, and later in the inning, Keaton Jones doubled to make it 6-4.Carlos Mendez, 817-390-7407 Twitter: @calexmendez
