Needing 18 innings at least to advance, TCU must turn to little-used arms at CWS

Mitchell Traver will start Friday for TCU against Florida, likely backed by relievers the Horned Frogs have yet to use at the College World Series.

Sean Wymer is unavailable until Saturday at the earliest, and probably not even then, after 4.1 shutout innings of relief in Thursday’s 4-3 victory against Louisville, coach Jim Schlossnagle said.

“We have other guys down there that have to pitch, and they know if we’re going to come out of this thing, some of those guys that haven’t been pitching will have to pitch,” Schlossnagle said.

TCU needs two wins against Florida to reach the championship series next week. The Frogs are on the wrong side of the odds, but both finalists did it last year, including national champion Coastal Carolina at TCU’s expense.

So the Frogs need 18 innings of pitching at least to stay alive.

“It’s going to take some other people to help along the line,” Schlossnagle said.

Available to back Traver on Friday are closer Durbin Feltman, freshman right-handers Jake Eissler, Austin Boyles, Trey Morris and Charles King, sophomore right-hander Dalton Brown, freshman left-hander Haylen Green and sophomore left-hander Dalton Horton.

Green pitched an inning Sunday against Florida. The others have yet to appear in a game in Omaha.

Of that group, only Feltman pitched in the Super Regional against Missouri State, recording his single-season school-record 17th save on June 10, his last appearance.

Freshman right-hander Cal Coughlin threw 11 pitches Thursday against Louisville and pitched two innings against Florida on Sunday.

Right-handed starter Jared Janczak, who missed four weeks in April and May with a shoulder strain, won’t pitch before Saturday, Schlossnagle said.

“No chance,” he said. “We’ll keep him on normal rest.”

In six previous NCAA Tournament appearances covering 34.1 innings, the senior right-hander Traver is 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA, 12 walks and 29 strikeouts. Schlossnagle considered him for Thursday’s start.

TCU pitchers struck out an NCAA Tournament-low six batters against Louisville, but it brought their season total to 620 — matching South Florida for second in the nation and extending the school record set during Game 1 of the Super Regional.

Thursday was only the second time in eight NCAA Tournament games TCU allowed more than two earned runs. The Frogs’ tournament ERA is 2.15.

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 1:13 PM with the headline "Needing 18 innings at least to advance, TCU must turn to little-used arms at CWS."