TCU, Schlossnagle resume Big 12 play, eager to ‘get back in that race’

It has been almost two weeks since TCU played a Big 12 game, so it felt good to coach Jim Schlossnagle to put his team on a plane for Lawrence, Kan.

“Excited to get back in that race,” he said. “I wish we never had to leave it.”

Texas Tech is out of the gate fast. The Red Raiders have opened a 2 1/2 -game lead on the field in the Big 12, having played three series in three weekends and winning eight of the nine games.

TCU and Oklahoma State are each 4-2 in the league with two series played, West Virginia is 4-4 with three series played. Baylor and Texas are both 3-3 with two series played.

“Texas Tech’s really good — big series in Stillwater this weekend, that’s for sure,” Schlossnagle said. “Oklahoma’s playing better. Oklahoma State, top to bottom, has the most talented team when you combine talent and experience.”

He smiled.

“And TCU’s not bad, either.”

The Frogs play host to Oklahoma for a three-game series next weekend, go to Oklahoma State the following weekend, then host Texas Tech.

Long plan

TCU will continue to have long relief available when Luken Baker and Dalton Horton make their starts.

“As of right now, we’re kind of going with the old spring training or minor league ‘piggy-back’ system,” Schlossnagle said.

“At least at this point, that’s how we’re going to manage our pitching staff,” Schlossnagle said. “We’re OK with that.”

Jared Janczak pitched four innings out of the bullpen last week at Wichita State in Baker’s start. Janczak, a redshirt freshman right-hander, has made 12 appearances, all in relief, and is 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA.

“Janczak, shoot — he might be the most valuable pitcher we’ve had,” Schlossnagle said. “Kind of in the role Trey Teakell played for us the last couple of years.”

High compliment

The home run that Josh Watson hit last week at Wichita State, out of the park and across the street, got a high compliment — it impressed former longtime Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson.

“He told me that home run was the longest one he’s ever seen hit by a left-handed hitter to right field in the history of that park,” Schlossnagle said. “Which dates back to the early ’70s. It’s pretty impressive.”

Watson’s shot cleared the right field seats, landed in the parking lot and bounced across the street.

It was the team-leading sixth home run for the freshman outfielder from Arlington Martin.

“He’s the strongest player on our team,” Schlossnagle said. “He’s been striking out more than he wants, but the flip side is the power and the extra-base hits. Really good player.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2016 at 1:20 PM with the headline "TCU, Schlossnagle resume Big 12 play, eager to ‘get back in that race’."