Three things to watch in TCU’s Super Regional series vs. Indiana State
The TCU Horned Frogs are two wins from the College World Series and thanks to some logistical luck, TCU will try to secure them at home at Lupton Baseball Stadium.
Indiana State was unable to host the Super Regionals despite being the higher ranked seed because the school is hosting the state Special Olympics. It’s unfortunate for the Sycamores as it’s the school’s first Super Regional appearance.
However, it is an advantage for TCU as both programs will enter Friday’s game as two of the hottest teams in the country. Indiana State has won 37 of its last 41 games while TCU has gone 17-2 since the May 1 including being undefeated in postseason play.
One of these hot streaks has to come to an end and the Horned Frogs hope it won’t be theirs.
Here are three things to watch in this weekend’s Super Regional:
Step up in competition
Indiana State is a good team, but as a mid-major there have been some struggles with quality competition. The Sycamores are just 4-9 in games against top-50 opponents like TCU. Indiana State advanced from the Terre Haute regional with an undefeated record, but the games were extremely close.
Indiana State trailed in its first two games before rallying in the eighth inning to escape Wright State and Iowa. The regional title game rematch vs. Iowa was another tough outing with the Sycamores needing three runs in the seventh to pull away.
While the Sycamores were having close calls, the Horned Frogs were pounding away at what many believed was one of the toughest regionals in the NCAA Tournament. TCU captured the Fayetteville Regional with an average run difference of 10.3.
The Horned Frogs are also 10-6 against top-25 teams with wins over Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Texas. TCU has experienced tougher battles and have been more successful than Indiana State.
Battle of strengths
This weekend will feature one of the nation’s top offenses vs. one of the country’s best defenses. Let’s start with TCU. The Horned Frogs have scored double digits in six of its last seven games including scoring 20 runs in last week’s win over Arkansas.
Brayden Taylor, Tre Richardson, Austin Davis, Cole Fontenelle and Kurtis Byrne have all major outings during the postseason and give TCU one of the more potent hitting lineups left in the tournament. As for Indiana State, the Sycamores rely on a fundamentally sound defense and strong bullpen.
Indiana State is third in field percentage, fourth in earned run average, fifth in shutouts and are in the top-20 in a host of other pitching categories. The Sycamores aren’t accustomed to giving up a lot of runs led by ace pitchers Connor Fenlong and Matt Jachec. The two have combined for 17 wins and seven complete games this season.
Can Taylor and company get the better of Indiana State’s deep bullpen?
TCU’s rising bullpen
Pitching was a big question mark mid-season, but since the Big 12 Tournament the Horned Frogs’ pitching has become a strength. It gets overlooked a bit when your offense is blasting home runs, but the arms of TCU are a big reason the Horned Frogs advanced to the Super Regionals too.
TCU only allowed an average of 3.5 runs per game in the Fayetteville Regional and 3.8 in the Big 12 Tournament. The combination of Kole Klecher, Cam Brown and others has come alive at the right time. It certainly helps to have the run support the offense has been able to provide.
Indiana State hasn’t had issues scoring on offense and have a solid lineup, but TCU will have seen stronger ones. Third baseman Mike Sears is the ultimate feast or famine hitter. He leads Indiana State with 19 home runs, but also has a team-high 95 strikeouts. Adam Pottinger and Randal Diaz also have double digit home runs as well.
The Sycamores can get hot, but if TCU’s pitching remains at the level it has been all postseason, the Horned Frogs have enough to slow them down.
This story was originally published June 7, 2023 at 1:19 PM.
