Three takeaways from TCU’s Big 12 baseball game against Utah
The Horned Frogs started their series with the Utah Utes with a shutout Friday and continued that trend in a 3-1 win Saturday at Lupton Stadium.
The team was coming off a sweep at the hands of Oklahoma State that broke its seven-game winning streak and saw manager Kirk Saarloos ejected and take a memorable stroll through center field.
He talked about his team bouncing back and having a chance to sweep the Utes after being swept.
“We lost three games. We could have won one game, could have won two. I mean, the games were we just didn’t make plays when we needed to make plays in that series,” said Saarloos. “I was kind of worried, because usually you want that midweek game to get the sour taste out of your mouth before the weekend. But, you know, they were great all week in practice. And I think they’re super excited that finals are over, and they’re playing baseball, so I think that’s a big deal too. That probably flushed that more than anything.”
Lance Davis continues hot pitching
Lance Davis pitched the first complete game of his college career. He came into Saturday having pitched at least six innings in each of his last four starts and given up more than two runs only once over that span.
In the ninth inning with two outs, Saarloos came to the mound to talk to Davis as fans clamored for the head coach to leave the pitcher in the game. Davis talked about that visit.
“I didn’t really think he was gonna take me out. I probably would have given it to him a little bit. But the first thing he said was, ‘I’m not taking you out.’ So kind of let that go and try to get the next guy out,” said Davis.
Davis gave up the first run of the game, a 412-foot solo home run by Cameron Gurney in the top of the fourth inning, that was followed by a double that could have started a crooked inning for the Utes, but Davis picked off the runner at second base.
The Utes had a chance to tie the game in the sixth inning with a runner on second and first with two outs and outfielder Jet Gilliam up to bat, but the junior popped up to end the inning.
The Arkansas transfer was hard on himself, saying he allowed too many hits in bad counts and didn’t think he really settled in until the sixth or seventh inning and explained how he kept runners off the board.
“Look at the box score, you’re gonna see like, four or five 0-2 hits, which is just not good, like gotta get guys out with two strikes, I think … but it was good at the end,” said Davis. “I think some of it’s sort of what we’ve been working on is with two strikes, two outs, guys in scoring position, maybe locating a little better.”
Locate better he did. While Davis had some traffic on the base path throughout the game, he wouldn’t allow the Utes to capitalize, holding the team 0-5 with runners in scoring position and 0-9 with runners on base.
Davis gave up one run off six hits with four strikeouts in nine innings of work, and Saarloos praised his pitcher.
“He just keeps getting better. Keeps learning, for his first full season … so just phenomenal in terms of what he’s learned,” said Saarloos. “Each time he gives us a great chance to win, and obviously, today, pretty spectacular.”
TCU scores in three straight innings after slow start
After Chase Brunson and Nolan Traeger were hit by pitches to start the second inning, the next three batters were retired as TCU remained hitless over the game’s opening three frames.
Sawyer Strosnider got the scoring — and hits — started, answering the Utes’ solo home run with one of his own in the fourth inning to tie the game 1-1.
The Horned Frogs would take the lead in the next inning when Cole Cramer hit a single with two outs to score Jack Bell.
Cramer talked about the team’s offense through the series’ first two games and how they’ve done enough to get the job done.
“I think we’re still working through a couple things, but I think at the same time we’re finding ways to win, and that’s how baseball is. There’s going to be days where you’re going to put up 15 hits and 15 runs, and there’s going to be days where you put up seven hits and you put up three runs. So as long as we have one more than they do at the end of the day, I really don’t care how it gets done,” said Cramer.
TCU had scored in back-to-back innings and made it a third after singles by outfielder Chase Brunson and designated hitter Nolan Traeger put runners on first and third with no outs, and Rob Liddington immediately took advantage with a single to pad the lead.
TCU jockeys for Big 12 positioning
TCU will play four more Big 12 games to finish the season, ending with a three-game series against West Virginia. The team entered Saturday’s game with a 14-11 conference record, good for sixth place.
However, the Mountaineers sit at second place with a 17-8 record, and a strong final series could push the Horned Frogs up the standings with only three games separating the programs as the Big 12 tournament approaches.
Liddington talked about the Horned Frogs’ game plan over these last four games before the Big 12 tournament.
“I know, before the week started, we said we’re shooting for 4-2, I mean, that would be huge for us. We get a sweep here and take one in West Virginia. But I mean obviously the goal’s to go 6-0, but if we can get there, we’ll feel really confident and comfortable,” said Liddington. “This whole series, these next two series, are huge for us, just to set us up for the playoffs.”
The Horned Frogs will finish their series with Utah at 1 p.m. Sunday at Lupton Stadium, looking to finish the series sweep.
This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 4:57 PM.
