Sean Wymer joins a list of memorable TCU bullpen performances in CWS run

Where does Sean Wymer’s performance against Louisville at the College World Series on Thursday rank among TCU’s best relief outings?

TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle was asked and said, “Certainly, I have to think about a better one. I’m sure there’s been some out there.”

There have. A handful of performances comparable to the work of the Flower Mound sophomore come to mind from TCU’s four consecutive College World Series seasons.

The rundown, in no particular order:

Trey Teakell vs. LSU, June 18, 2015. The senior right-hander’s last victory at TCU came after 4.1 innings of relief in an elimination game at the College World Series. He entered with one out and one on in the fourth inning in relief of Mitchell Traver and got the two outs, starting a string of 13 consecutive outs — every batter he faced — against the country’s top team. He departed with two outs in the eighth inning and TCU leading 8-3. For the do-it-all four-year arm, it was his third victory that season and 13th at TCU.

Mitchell Traver vs. Texas A&M, June 8, 2015. Traver entered Super Regional Game 3 at Lupton Stadium in the 13th inning as just about the last option in the TCU bullpen. He was the second starter used in relief. Pitching in a 4-4 game, he pitched four hitless innings, giving up only two walks and striking out six to give the Frogs time to win on Garrett Crain’s mad dash to the plate in the bottom of the 16th inning. After two seasons stalled by injury, Traver dominated in a performance that energized the home crowd in a game that ended a minute shy of 1 a.m.

Preston Guillory vs. Texas A&M, June 8, 2015. Same game, just earlier. Guillory, a left-hander in his first year with the Frogs after two seasons at Panola College, entered with the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth inning and TCU leading 4-2. Facing the 3-4-5 hitters, the sidearm sinker-baller induced a ground ball to first, a ground ball to second and a lineout to second. Two inherited runners scored, but disaster was averted. In a scoreless 10th, Guillory struck out two and handed off relief duties to Brian Howard.

Sean Wymer vs. Texas A&M, March 4, 2017. Out of nowhere, TCU scored five runs in the ninth inning to tie a game at the Shriners College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Suddenly pressed into duty, Wymer entered in the 10th inning and recorded three outs in order. Then he pitched the 11th and did the same. Then the 12th and 13th and 14th — five perfect innings with nine strikeouts on 64 pitches. His performance got the Frogs to the 15th, where Durbin Feltman took over in time for an 11-10 victory on Ryan Merrill’s double in the bottom of the inning.

Brian Howard vs. Sam Houston State, May 31, 2014. The 22-inning game at Lupton Stadium at the Fort Worth Regional required 11 relievers combined from the Frogs and Bearcats. Trey Teakell had a 6.1-inning appearance for TCU. Ryan Brinley matched that with 6.1 for Sam Houston. Logan Boyd followed with three perfect innings for Sam. Howard, a freshman making only his ninth appearance, entered in the 16th inning with two out and two on and got a strikeout. He pitched until leaving with two on and two out in the 20th. Sam Houston was the home team. Any run would have meant the end of the game, dropping into the losers bracket and potentially no start to a four-year College World Series run.

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 9:19 AM with the headline "Sean Wymer joins a list of memorable TCU bullpen performances in CWS run."