Charles King delivers in TCU’s 4-2 win over Oklahoma Baseball in Norman

TCU found itself trailing Oklahoma Baseball once again Saturday, down 2-0 heading into the sixth inning. The Sooners had a series win on their mind, but once again the Horned Frogs’ centerfielder was Johnny on the spot, as Rizer delivered the tying hit, this time a single to right that scored Jake Guenther. Guenther himself would prove the hero an inning later, when he too singled to right, scoring a pair and giving TCU a 4-2 advantage.

Heading into Saturday, TCU Baseball was still likely stinging from Friday night’s walk-off win, a heartbreaking result after they had battled back to tie things up in the top of the ninth. But a dose of intestinal fortitude and a strong performance from their starting pitcher helped them bounce back and potential salvage a series win.

Charles King made a case to be in Jim Schlossnagle’s weekend rotation with his 7.0 innings of work Saturday, something the Frogs’ skipper has been loathe to do. And that’s no fault of King’s - in fact, it’s because the junior has been so crucial to a bullpen that has been struggling all season long that he has hesitated to put him in the starting lineup. That probably will change now, though, as King limited the Sooners to just two runs on ten hits with five strikeouts and just one walk. King delivered when he needed to, holding Oklahoma to one run each in both the second and third frames before shutting them down for the next three innings.

That gave the Horned Frogs time to rally, and rally they did.

After being held to just two hits through the first five, the TCU offense got to work in the sixth. Josh Watson got the hit parade started with a one out single, advancing to second on Guenther’s base hit up the middle on a 3-0 count. Austin Henry brought the first run home with the Frogs’ third consecutive single, giving Rizer the opportunity to tie things up with base hit number four of the frame. TCU got three more base hits in the fourth to tie things up at two apiece; Adam Oviedo and Bobby Goodloe got things started with back to back singles, advancing on Hunter Wolfe’s sacrifice groundout a batter later. Josh Watson drew a walk to load them up, giving Guenther a chance with one out and the bases juiced.

He delivered.

Freshman Marcelo Perez came on in the eighth, as Schloss gave his closer a chance for the six out save. A two out walk was all he allowed in his first inning of work, but he made things interesting in the ninth, putting two on with no outs by way of a single, a wild pitch, and a walk. But he kept the Sooners off the board, getting a key strikeout after a sac bunt and inducing a fly out to left to end the ball game and give the Frogs a 4-2 win in game two of the three game conference set.

It will be a Series Sunday in Norman tomorrow, as the Frogs look to pick up their second series victory of conference play. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm with Brandon Williamson on the mound.