Omaha bound: TCU beats Indiana State 6-4 to advance to the College World Series
Using a five-run fourth inning, TCU beat Indiana State 6-4 on Saturday to sweep their best-of-three Super Regional series and advance to the College World Series for the first time since 2017.
The Horned Frogs will begin play in Omaha on Friday or Saturday.
TCU’s fans set a Lupton Stadium attendance record for the second day in a row with a crowd of 8,994 on Saturday. It’s also set the record for the largest crowd on a college campus for any school in Texas
Series MVP
TCU first baseman Cole Fontenelle went 5-for-7 with one walk, two home runs, three RBIs and four runs. Fontenelle led the Horned Frogs in hits, RBIs and runs for the Super Regional Series.
“Before the season started I was kinda was talking to our staff and said if we’re gonna get to where we want to get to, Coles gonna have to have a pretty good year,” said TCU head coach Kirk Saarloos, “He hit his 14th home run tonight, I don’t know what he’s hitting but it’s pretty special to be able to see that.”
Saarloos said Fontenelle was starting to show his personality more and more on the field and that he could tell the first baseman was having fun.
Fourth inning’s the charm
Indiana State pitcher Connor Fenlong baffled TCU batters allowing zero hits through the first three innings.
TCU’s hitters erupted for a five-run fourth inning, kick-started by infielder Tre Richardson’s RBI single.
“We found some holes and ran the bases extremely well and guys took some good at-bats,” said Saarloos.
The Baylor transfer said moments like these are why he came to TCU.
“This is exactly why I came to this program, this university, and I couldn’t be happier,” said Richardson, “ It’s a dream come true.”
Slow start
Pitcher Sam Stoutenborough got off to a rough start for the Horned Frogs, giving up two runs in the first inning of the game. However, the Cal transfer settled down after the first inning only allowing one run for the remainder of the game.
“I was moving a little quick on the mound In the first inning, my command wasn’t as good as I liked but I reminded myself I’ve been in this situation before in an atmosphere like this and it’s still just baseball,” said Stoutenborough
Stoutenborough gave up three runs and one walk in 5.1 innings with two strikeouts.
Turning point
In the top of the seventh with a runner on second base while trailing by two runs Indiana State left fielder Adam Pottinger made a base running mistake getting picked off to end the inning.
“Changed the game,” said Saarloos, “I thought, that right there, I think is a microcosm of why we’re able to go to Omaha ... for us to be able to back pick that runner, that’s baseball.”
The Sycamores would’ve had men on first and second with two outs if Pottinger hadn’t been thrown out. The Sycamores wouldn’t put an
“It’s so awesome to win a Super Regional and go to the College World Series,” said Saarloos, “There’s no better week or two weeks than Omaha.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2023 at 10:04 PM.
