TCU baseball faces final series with Big 12 and NCAA Tournament implications
TCU baseball responded to a sweep at the hands of Oklahoma State with a sweep of Utah to set up a critical final series this week against West Virginia — giving the team one last chance to rise up the Big 12 standings and solidify an NCAA Tournament bid.
The Horned Frogs (32-18, 16-11 Big 12) play at No. 9-ranked West Virginia (35-12, 19-8) starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Morgantown. The series continues at 5:30 p.m. Friday and concludes at noon Saturday. The games can be streamed on ESPN+ or heard on KTCU 88.7 FM.
The Big 12 standings are tight headed into the final weekend, with second and sixth place separated by three games.
The top six seeds receive a bye to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament on May 19-23 in Surprise, Arizona. The Horned Frogs are a game ahead of seventh-place Cincinnati.
TCU first baseman Rob Liddington talked about how critical the West Virginia series would be after his team’s 3-1 win over Utah on Saturday.
“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 [against Utah] and take one in West Virginia,” Liddington said. “But, I mean, obviously the goal’s to go 6-0, but if we can get there, we’ll feel really confident and comfortable. This whole series, these next two series, are huge for us, just to set us up for the playoffs.”
NCAA Tournament projections
TCU appears to be on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble — for now.
The Horned Frogs are in the field in the latest projections from USA Today, D1 Baseball and Baseball America, but they are listed as one of the last four teams in by USA Today and D1 Baseball and with “work to do” by Baseball America.
“TCU closes the regular season with a road series at West Virginia, and a series win there would likely cement its place in the field,” Jacob Rudner of Baseball America writes. “Anything less leaves the Horned Frogs vulnerable entering Selection Monday.”
Final Big 12 matchups
Out of all the Big 12 teams jockeying for position, TCU will face the toughest opponent in its final regular-season series. The other teams in the top seven of the league standings all face teams in the bottom seven.
No. 14-ranked Kansas (37-15, 20-7) is clinging to a one-game lead over West Virginia and plays at BYU (26-25, 13-14) to end the regular season.
No. 22 Arizona State (34-17, 17-10), tied with Central Florida for third place, will play at Houston (23-29, 6-21), the team with the worst record in the Big 12, while UCF (29-19, 17-10) hosts Kansas State (27-24, 10-17).
No. 21 Oklahoma State (34-18, 16-11), tied for fifth with TCU, will host Arizona (18-32, 8-19).
No. 25 Cincinnati (35-18, 15-12), chasing a top-six spot, will host Texas Tech (26-25, 9-18) in its final series.
Big 12 baseball standings
Kansas 20-7 (37-15 overall)
West Virginia 19-8 (35-12)
Arizona State 17-10 (34-17)
Central Florida 17-10 (29-19)
Oklahoma State 16-11 (34-18)
TCU 16-11 (32-18)
Cincinnati 15-12 (35-18)
BYU 13-14 (26-25)
Baylor 12-15 (26-25)
Utah 11-16 (25-22)
Kansas State 10-17 (27-24)
Texas Tech 9-18 (26-25)
Arizona 8-19 (18-32)
Houston 6-21 (23-29)
