TCU Baseball Preview: Virginia

TCU Horned Frogs (0-1) vs Virginia Cavaliers (0-1)

Date: Saturday, February 16th

Time: 6:00 PM CST

Location: Salt Rivers Satadium (Scottsdale,AZ)

Radio: 88.7 FM KTCU

Streaming: MLB.com

Virginia: RHP Mike Vasil (n/a)

TCU: RHP Jared Janczak (1-1, 3.00 ERA, 42 IP, 12 BB, 41 SO)

Neither TCU or Virginia got it done in their season openers Friday, as the Cavs fell to #2 Vanderbilt while the Frogs came up short against #18 Fullerton. But the two losses were strikingly different; TCU couldn’t get the big hit in getting blanked 2-0, while UVA’s pitching failed to slow down the potent Commodores O.

Today, the Frogs will looks for another excellent pitching performance, as redshirt Jared Janczak makes his return to the mound. JJ hasn’t pitched since April of last year, but by all accounts is healthy and ready to finish his final year in Fort Worth strong. He will need more support Saturday night from a lineup that produced nine hits but no runs in the season-opener, due in part to eight strikeouts and running themselves out of several scoring opportunities - a refrain Frog fans would rather avoid in 2019.

Meanwhile, Virginia and Vandy trader barbs the first two frames, matching each other punch for punch until the fourth. In that inning, the Commodores exploded for an eight-spot, Chesdin Harrington for eight runs, five earned, on seven hits on their way to a 15-9 drubbing.

The Frogs offense saw five players earn their first career hit, led by first baseman Jake Guenther’s three hit day. But returners Josh Watson and Zach Humphreys were held out of the box score, with two walks and two strikeouts between them. They will need more from their veterans this evening to get the season goose egg off the board.

It will be the wily veteran Janczak against the true freshman Mike Vasil - a highly decorated high school player making his first career collegiate start. Should be a fun one out in the desert.