:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54206313/Traver.0.0.jpeg)
Mitchell Traver was brilliant tonight, for the first time this year looking like the ace that we all know he can be. He retired the first 11 batters he faced, giving up just one hit through his four innings of work. His fastball was hitting 94-95 and he threw 33 of his 53 total pitches for strikes and struck out five batters without issuing a walk. While clearly still on a pitch count, there was a lot for fans to be excited about for, and about Traver.
On top of that good news, the Frogs won their 13th straight game tonight. That pushes their record to 27-5 overall (8-1 in Big 12) with the toughest part of their conference schedule coming up over the nest few weeks.
Luken Baker opened up the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning, his seventh of the year, and the 1-0 TCU lead held until the fifth inning. Nolan Brown, who was 2 of 4 on the night, led off the fifth with a double down the left field line. He proceeded to steal third and got home on a ground out by Barzilli. Ryan Merrill, 2 of 3 in the game, singled with one out and advanced to second, third and home on three separate wild pitches to make it 3-0.
Warner and Skoug had back-to-back singles to start the sixth inning and after a strike out and a fielder’s choice that moved Warner to third, that Aussie scored on a throwing error by Dallas Baptist to make it 4-0 Frogs. The Patriots got two back in the bottom of the sixth, although only one was earned, off Trey Morris who pitched 1 2⁄3 innings in relief of Traver, but TCU turned right around and scored two more of their own in the seventh to make it 6-2.
DBU would score one more run in the bottom of the seventh off Sean Wymer who pitched 1 1⁄3 innings allowing just one hit, issuing one walk and striking out two. That run made it 6-3, but after that the Frogs pulled away.
With one out in the eighth Nolan Brown hit his second double of the game and advanced to third on a passed ball. Back-to-back singles by Barzilli and Merrill scored Brown and Landestoy was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Wade followed that up with a two RBI single to put the game out of reach for DBU at 9-3 Horned Frogs. Dalton Brown and Durbin Feltman closed things out with one scoreless inning a piece.
TCU will travel to Morgantown, West Virginia this weekend to take on the Mountaineers who sit at second place in the Big 12 with a 6-3 conference record, two games back from TCU.