Baseball: Young pitchers step up as TCU sweeps UTRGV

Trever Baumler and Zack James shined as the Horned Frogs took both of their midweek games against the Vaqueros.

TCU freshmen Trever Baumler and Zack James delivered back-to-back stellar performances on the mound this week, leading the Horned Frogs to a two-game midweek sweep against UTRGV. Baumler took the ball for the series opener on Tuesday, throwing seven innings and striking out six batters while holding the Vaqueros to one unearned run on two hits. James followed with five shutout frames on Wednesday, striking out four batters and limiting UTRGV to three hits. TCU (19-7, 3-3 Big 12) will resume Big 12 play at Houston this weekend.

Tuesday: TCU 4, UTRGV 3

Despite a throwing error leading to one run for the Vaqueros in the top of the second inning, the Horned Frogs answered with four runs in the bottom half of the frame, taking the lead on a bases-clearing, three-RBI triple from infielder Jack Bell and an RBI single from catcher Karson Bowen. Leading 4-1, TCU held UTRGV scoreless until the top of the ninth inning, where an RBI groundout and and RBI double off reliever Louis Rodriguez led to two unearned runs for the Vaqueros. Gianluca Shinn entered the game and recorded the final out for the Horned Frogs, ending the game with a strikeout for his first save at TCU.

Baumler upped his record to 2-2 for the Horned Frogs, who finished with six hits and overcame three defensive errors in the victory. Isaac Cadena went 2-for-4 from the leadoff hole, while Chase Brunson stole one base. The win was Baumler’s longest outing this year.

Wednesday: TCU 4, UTRGV 0

The Horned Frogs broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, where freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider ripped a two-run double into left-center field and infielder Cole Cramer followed with an opposite-field RBI single to the right side. Brody Green reached on a fielder’s choice to bring home another TCU run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kaden Smith, Nate Stern and Mason Bixby combined to fire four shutout frames of relief for the Horned Frogs, with Stern striking out three and Bixby fanning two. James improved his record to 3-0 on the season in what was his longest outing this year.