TCU baseball opens the Kirk Saarloos era with a victory in the MLB4 Tournament
The Kirk Saarloos era is off to a winning start. TCU baseball opened the 2022 season by taking two of three games in the MLB4 Tournament in Arizona over the weekend.
Friday’s opener, a 5-3 win over San Diego State, came in thrilling fashion with the Frogs rallying for the victory with a three-run ninth inning.
Trailing 3-2 going into the ninth, TCU’s Logan Maxwell drew a five-pitch walk to start the inning. Elijah Nunez then singled to put two on with no out. After Luke Boyers flew out, Brayden Taylor delivered the game-tying hit with a RBI double to right. Freshman David Bishop followed with a single to center to drive in the go-ahead run. Taylor later scored on a wild pitch.
Reliever River Ridings closed it out with a scoreless ninth to earn the save. Marcelo Perez, who threw two scoreless innings of relief, was credited with the win.
Taylor had two doubles and drew two walks in his five plate appearances, while Bishop went 2 for 4 with a team-leading two RBIs in his college debut.
TCU lost to Cal 7-6 on Saturday afternoon. The Frogs had a four-run lead early but ended up losing on a wild pitch that brought in the go-ahead run for the Bears in the ninth.
On Sunday, the Frogs cruised to a 10-0 mercy win over Houston with the game being halted in the bottom of the eighth after TCU plated four runs. Brett Walker went seven innings, striking out five and inducing two double plays. TCU took a 2-0 lead on bases-loaded walks, and tallied 12 hits and five stolen bases in the balanced attack. Taylor and Tommy Sacco each had three hits.
TCU’s home opener is set for Tuesday night against Stephen F. Austin.
This story was originally published February 19, 2022 at 10:10 AM.
