April 6, 2011
Final Stats
FORT WORTH, Texas - Freshman right-hander
Nick Frey found out three hours before game time he was TCU's starter on Wednesday. He dominated for four innings to set the Horned Frogs on the path to a 5-1 victory over UT Pan American, their fifth straight. TCU improves to 8-2 on the current 13-game homestand.
Nick Frey was outstanding in his first collegiate start. The freshman threw four shutout innings, gave up three hits and tallied two strikeouts. Trent Appleby surrendered a run on three hits, walked one and struck out one in three innings of work. Stefan Crichton retired all six batters he faced in two innings of work. He racked up a pair of strikeouts.
The Horned Frog bats came to life in the third inning as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. With two outs, Jimmie Pharr was hit by the Kyle Kotchie offering. Brance Rivera followed with a bunt single and Aaron Schultz blooped a single into right field to give the Frogs the early advantage.
TCU added to its lead with a run on two hits in the fourth inning. Jason Coats lined a single up the middle and moved to second on a sac bunt from Jantzen Witte. Zac Jordan bounced a single up the middle, just past the outstretched arm of the second baseman to drive in Coats, giving TCU a 3-0 lead.
UT Pan American finally scratched across a run against the Frog pitching staff in the fifth inning. With two outs, Brandon Roush singled and scored on a double to the gap in right center off the bat of Adrian De La Rosa to cut the Frog lead down to 3-1.
The Frogs got the run right back after another hit by pitch. Kotchie plunked Weik, his second hit batter of the night, to lead off the fifth inning. A passed ball moved Weik to second and he advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Pharr. Rivera drove in Weik with a hot shot to third that the infielder threw away, giving TCU a 4-1 lead.
Coats got the Frogs rolling again in the sixth as they pushed across a run for the fourth straight inning. He led off the frame with an infield single and moved to second on a walk to Witte. Jordan sacrificed the runners up 90 feet, forcing the Broncs to issue an intentional walk to Jerome Pena. Weik battled from down 0-2 in the count to line a single through the left side to make it a 5-1 contest.
TCU improves to 20-9 on the season. The Frogs will wrap up the season-long 13 game homestand with a three-game series against conference foe New Mexico. Game time for the series-opener on Friday is 6:30 p.m.
Postgame Quotes:
TCU Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle
On the win:
"I think the story of the last two nights has been outstanding starting pitching from two guys who weren't even projected starters coming into this season, along with great defense. We had one error tonight, but I thought we played really good defense in the infield. Nick Frey wasn't in the discussion for anything 36 hours ago, we had planned on redshirting him and he comes out and gives us a great effort today and is now firmly in the mix."
On why Frey started over projected starter Kyle Starratt:
"Starratt came down with a sprain in his elbow yesterday, we don't think it is serious, but it means seven to ten days of not picking up a ball. We had a couple guys who had pitched some for us, but they hadn't pitched great. A guy like Nick has been pitching better than those guys in practice, but we didn't want to burn his redshirt unless we felt like we really needed him. We went ahead and decided once Starratt was out we would run Nick out there."
TCU Pitcher Nick Frey
On the lead up to his first start:
"They hinted I might start last night, I had it on my mind though. They told me after team meetings today and it was definitely a surprise. I was so surprised I didn't even think to tell my parents until it was too late, but they watch the games so they know by now. I felt good today, just tried to work quick which is what I am comfortable with."
TCU Outfielder Aaron Schultz
On his big hit early in the game:
"It seems like at the beginning of the year everything we hit was being caught, whether it was hard or soft. Today to get my hit to fall was lucky, but it scored a couple runs and put us on the board and we got rolling from there."
Game Notes:
• Nick Frey is the fifth freshman to make his debut on the mound this season.
• Jason Coats extended his season-long hit streak to nine games. Coats finished the night 2-for-3.
• Jantzen Witte reached base safely for the 15th consecutive game and also stretched his hitting streak to six games with a 1-for-2 night at the plate.
• The five straight victories matches a season-high winning streak for TCU (March 4-11).
• TCU held the Broncs to just one run over the span of 18 innings.
