The Road to Omaha started in February for TCU, but it makes a pit stop in Oklahoma City this week.
The Horned Frogs, 38-14 during the regular season, enter the Big 12 baseball tournament Wednesday as the No. 3 seed and will face No. 6 seed Baylor in the first round. TCU was 1-2 against the Bears this season.
Head coach Jim Schlossnagle's squad enters the tournament with a little momentum, closing out the regular season on a five-game winning streak, three of which were by one run. The streak started earlier this month in Waco.
TCU paces the Big 12 in batting average at .301 and ERA at 3.19.
Leading the way is Big 12 Freshman of the Year Luken Baker, the first player in league history to earn first-team honors at multiple positions. Appearing in all 52 games, Baker finished with a .340 batting average with four home runs and 43 RBI at the plate. On the mound, he went 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 47.2 innings.
Junior infielder Elliott Barzilli put together a career year for TCU, finishing fourth in the Big 12 in batting average at .372. He led the Frogs with 71 hits, including seven home runs, 14 doubles and three triples and joined Baker as a first team all-conference selection.
Freshman Dalton Horton led the Frog pitchers with an 8-0 record in 12 appearances on the mound. His 2.35 ERA was second on the team behind redshirt-freshman Jared Janczak’s 2.28. The Frogs were 10-1 in games Horton started this season.
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The path to the Big 12 Championship game won’t be easy. TCU must win a pool against Baylor, No. 2 seed Oklahoma State and No. 7. seed Texas.
First pitch Wednesday is set for 4 p.m. from Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.
