Charting TCU’s potential path to the College World Series
TCU’s path to Omaha for the College World Series is set with the first step for the Horned Frogs is to make it out of a tough Fayetteville Regional.
TCU opens NCAA Tournament play on Friday, taking on Arizona at 8 p.m. while host Arkansas will battle Santa Clara earlier on Friday at 2 p.m.
For a team that was on the bubble entering May, the Horned Frogs have to like their chances even in a quality regional. Here’s a quick preview of the teams in the regional plus how you can watch all the games.
Scouting report
Arkansas: The Razorbacks were pummeled by TCU 18-6 in their second game of the season, but rebounded nicely. Arkansas has relied on a deep, talented bullpen to pile up 41 wins. First team All-SEC selection Hagen Smith has a top-25 ERA nationally. Arkansas has two more starters that were among the leaders in win in the SEC.
Offensively, the Razorbacks are led by designated hitter Kendall Diggs, who has 11 home runs and a team-high 58 RBI. Jace Bohrofen and Jared Wegner also have double-digit home runs.
TCU: There aren’t many teams nationally playing better than the Horned Frogs, who went 14-2 in May and won the Big 12 title. Brayden Taylor was one of the catalysts during the run as he became the program’s all-time leader in home runs and has 21 on the season. Taylor isn’t alone as TCU has a potent lineup with studs like Tre Richardson, Anthony Silva and Austin Davis.
As for the pitching staff, Kole Klecker posted a solid 9-4 record this season. Consistency with the rest of the pitchers will be key for TCU’s chances to advance.
Arizona: If you like offense then the Wildcats are the team for you. Arizona has one of the top slugging percentages in the country with six batters with eight home runs or more. Chase Davis leads the team with 21 while Kiko Romero has 19. Davis and Romero were All-Pac 12 selections.
Shortstop Nik McClaughry was voted conference Defensive Player of the Year and helps lead a defense that makes up for a lackluster pitching staff. The Wildcats struggled in conference play, but shouldn’t be underestimated.
Santa Clara: The WCC champs will be viewed as big underdogs in most of their games, but don’t sleep on the Broncos. Led by Efrain Manzo’s 17 home runs, Santa Clara quietly has a potent lineup and is hitting .300 as a team, one of the top batting averages in the country. Michael O’Hara is another name to watch.
The Broncos have two relievers that earned all-conference honors, but have a shaky starting rotation that could be in trouble against teams like Arizona or TCU. Santa Clara enters the regional on an eight game winning streak.
Format
The Fayetteville Regional will be double elimination with the loser of TCU’s game vs. Arizona facing the loser of Arknasas vs. Santa Clara for a chance to remain in the postseason.
The winner of regional will then advance to face the winner of the Terre Haute (Indiana State) Regional in a best of three series in the Super Regional for the chance to advance to the College World Series.
How to watch
Game 1: No. 1 Arkansas vs. No. 4 Santa Clara, 2 p.m. Friday on ESPN+
Game 2: No. 2 TCU vs. No. 3 Arizona, 8 p.m. Friday, ESPNU or ESPN+
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 2 p.m. Sunday, ESPN+
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 8 p.m. Sunday, ESPN+
Game 7 (if necessary): Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 11:05 a.m. Monday, ESPN+
This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 1:36 PM.
