TCU home to start NCAA baseball regionals a fourth straight year

TCU is home again, and perhaps for a while.

The Horned Frogs learned they will play an NCAA regional at home for a fourth consecutive season after Lupton Stadium was named a host site, one of 16 announced Sunday night.

Monday morning, the Frogs are candidates to get one of the eight national seeds when the full bracket is announced at 11 a.m. That would mean they would play a Super Regional at home, if they advance out of the regional.

“We’re really excited to get home, sleep in our own bed, practice on our own field and get to the most important time of the season,” TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said.

TCU is hosting a watch party at 10:45 a.m. Monday at the Stuart Family Courtside Club at Schollmaier Arena for the release of the bracket on ESPN2. The club can be accessed through the south end zone concourse at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

TCU is one of two Big 12 schools named host sites. Texas Tech, which shared the regular season championship with the Horned Frogs, was also named a host site.

The Frogs have been on the road for 11 of their past 12 games, playing only a May 16 game against UTA at Lupton Stadium in the past three weeks.

They played three-game series at Oklahoma and Cal, going 3-3, and five games at the Big 12 tournament in Oklahoma City, going 3-2.

TCU hosted NCAA regionals in 2014, 2015 and 2016, advancing each year to play in a Super Regional.

TCU also hosted regionals in 2009, 2010 and 2011, winning in 2009 and 2010.

The Frogs do not underplay the importance of playing at home, where they are 107-23 (.823) the past four seasons. All-time in regionals at Lupton Stadium, the Horned Frogs are 17-3.

“When you’re home, everything is how it’s always been, whether it be in the fall, preseason, most of the spring – getting to be around each other and playing at your own complex,” pitcher Mitchell Traver said. “Lupton Magic is pretty special. I just think it helps us prepare really, really well.”

The regional round is a four-team, double-elimination tournament over four days, if necessary.

The Frogs are making their 15th playoff appearance in team history and 13th in 14 seasons under Schlossnagle.

TCU is 28-18 in regionals, 27-14 under Schlossnagle.

Also named host schools were Florida, Southern Miss, Houston, Kentucky, Long Beach State, Louisville, Stanford, Florida State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Arkansas, Oregon State, Clemson and LSU.

This story was originally published May 28, 2017 at 7:55 PM with the headline "TCU home to start NCAA baseball regionals a fourth straight year."