# 2018 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team

The 2018 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team represented Texas Christian University during the 2018 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Horned Frogs played their home games at Charlie & Marie Lupton Baseball Stadium as a member of the Big 12 Conference. They were led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the winningest coach in TCU baseball history, in his 15th year at TCU.

## Previous season

The Horned Frogs entered the 2018 season on the heels of four consecutive trips to the College World Series. The 2017 TCU Horned Frogs baseball team entered the season as the unanimous preseason #1 team, and the favorite to win the Big 12 regular season championship. They notched a 39–14 (16–8) regular season record, and won a Big 12 Conference championship for the fourth-straight season, sharing the regular season co-championship with Texas Tech. In the postseason, the Horned Frogs advanced to the Big 12 tournament semifinals, before being eliminated by Texas. TCU was selected as the #6 National Seed the NCAA tournament, the Horned Frogs' highest-ever national seed. Star-first baseman/designated hitter Luken Baker was unavailable for the Tournament after a late-regular season injury. The Frogs coasted to a 3–0 record in the Fort Worth Regional, with wins over Central Connecticut, #11 Virginia, and #20 Dallas Baptist, and a 2–0 sweep of #8 Missouri State in the Fort Worth Super Regional to advance to the College World Series for the fourth-straight year. In Omaha, the Frogs fell in their opener to eventual-national champion, Florida, an 0–3 loss at the hands of Gator starting pitcher Alex Faedo. TCU then eliminated #8 Texas A&M and #4 Louisville to advance to a rematch with Florida in the national semifinals. The Frogs' win over the Aggies marked the third consecutive season, and the fourth in the past six seasons, that TCU eliminated Texas A&M from the NCAA tournament. The Frogs then beat #3 Florida 9–2 in the teams' first rematch before falling to the Gators in a decisive national semifinal game, again an 0–3 loss to Alex Faedo. The loss marked the third-straight year that TCU's season ended in the national semifinals. TCU finished the season ranked #4 in every final poll, with a 50–18 record (the Frogs' third 50-win season).

## Preseason
### MLB draft

The following Horned Frogs on the 2016 roster were selected in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft:
List of Drafted Players :
| Name | 2017 Class | Pos. | Team | Round | Signed/Returned |
| Austen Wade | Junior | OF | Cleveland Indians | 5th | Signed |
| Evan Skoug | Junior | C | Chicago White Sox | 7th | Signed |
| Brian Howard | Senior | RHP | Oakland Athletics | 8th | Signed* |
| Mitchell Traver | Senior | RHP | Los Angeles Angels | 20th | Signed* |
| Cam Warner | Senior | INF | Detroit Tigers | 28th | Signed* |
| Elliott Barzilli | Senior | INF | Miami Marlins | 32nd | Signed* |
* indicates draftee had no more college eligibility

### Departed Players

The following Horned Frogs on the 2017 roster departed the program prior to the 2018 season:
List of Departed Players :
| Name | 2017 Class | Pos. | Reason |
| Elliott Barzilli | Senior | 3B | Graduated, Drafted/Signed |
| Alec Creel | Freshman | RHP | Departed |
| Nolan Brown | RS Senior | CF | Graduated |
| Trent Franson | Sophomore | INF | Transferred to Houston Baptist |
| Mason Hesse | Senior | SS | Graduated |
| Dalton Horton | Sophomore | LHP | Transferred to Louisiana |
| Brian Howard | Senior | RHP | Graduated |
| Austin Ingraham | Junior | OF | Transferred to Texas A&M–Kingsville |
| Ryan Merrill | Senior | SS | Graduated |
| Evan Skoug | Junior | C | Drafted/Signed |
| Bryan Sturges | Freshman | U | Transferred to Howard College |
| Mitchell Traver | RS Senior | RHP | Graduated, Drafted/Signed |
| Austen Wade | Junior | RF | Drafted/Signed |
| Cam Warner | Senior | 2B | Graduated, Drafted/Signed |
| Evan Williams | RS Senior | OF | Graduated |

### Recruiting Class

The Horned Frogs added the following players to the roster as part of their 2017 recruiting class:
List of 2017 Recruits :
| Name | 2018 Class | Pos. | Previous School | Hometown |
| A.J. Balta | SR | OF | Oregon | Valencia, CA |
| Coby Boulware | FR | INF | Boulder Creek H.S. | Anthem, AZ |
| Danny Crews | JR | INF | Fort Scot C.C. | Springfield, MO |
| Brad Czerniejewski | FR | OF | Lake Forest H.S. | Lake Forest, IL |
| Tristan Hanoian | FR | INF | Orange Lutheran H.S. | Costa Mesa, CA |
| R.J. Lan | FR | OF | La Mirada H.S. | La Mirada, CA |
| Augie Mihlbauer | FR | LHP | Mukwonago H.S. | Mukwonago, WI |
| James Notary | FR | RHP | Broomfield H.S. | Westminster, CO |
| Adam Oviedo | FR | INF | Alvarado H.S. | Grandview, TX |
| Colton Parrish | JR | C | Blinn College | La Vernia, TX |
| Johnny Rizer | JR | OF | Blinn College | Cypress, TX |
| Conner Shepherd | RS SO | INF | Mt. San Antonio College | Upland, CA |
| Caleb Sloan | FR | RHP | Regis Jesuit H.S. | Centennial, CO |
| Dylan Smith | JR | RHP | Weatherford College | Southlake, TX |
| Russell Smith | FR | LHP | Midlothian H.S. | Midlothian, TX |

### Season Projections

Coming off four-straight College World Series appearances in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, returning anticipated starting pitchers Jared Janczak, Rex Hill and Nick Lodolo, and adding a highly ranked recruiting class, the 2018 Horned Frogs were projected as one of the "Eight for Omaha" in July 2017 by Baseball America, D1 Baseball, and Perfect Game.
The Horned Frogs were ranked in each major preseason poll and ranking. TCU was ranked #3 by Perfect Game, #4 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, #5 in the NCBWA Poll, #7 by D1 Baseball and Baseball America, and #9 by Collegiate Baseball.
Big 12 coaches predicted TCU would finish second in league play, with 4 of the 9 coaches picking TCU to finish in first place.

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

TCU will return its entire coaching staff from the Frogs' 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 College World Series seasons. Pitching coach Kirk Saarloos, a California native, was reportedly courted by Stanford to replace 31-season head coach Mark Marquess, but Saarloos opted to remain at TCU.
| Name | Position | Season at TCU | Alma Mater |
| Jim Schlossnagle | Head coach | 15 | Elon University (1992) |
| Bill Mosiello | Associate head coach | 5 | Fresno State University (1986) |
| Kirk Saarloos | Assistant coach | 6 | California State University, Fullerton (2001) |
| Zach Etheredge | Volunteer Assistant Coach | 5 | University of Texas at San Antonio (2008) |

### Roster

The Horned Frogs' 2018 roster consists of 17 returners and 15 new players. Nearly half of the roster (15 of 32 players) are from outside the State of Texas. Sophomore catcher Zach Humphreys and freshman pitcher Russell Smith were high school teammates at Midlothian High School, and sophomore pitcher Cal Coughlin and freshman outfielder Brad Czerniejewski were high school teammates at Lake Forest High School in Illinois. Junior catcher Colton Parrish and junior outfielder Johnny Rizer were teammates at Blinn College before transferring to TCU prior to the 2018 season.

## Schedule and results

2018 TCU Horned Frogs Baseball Schedule & Results :
Regular season :
February
DateTime (CT)TVOpponentRankStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverallBig 12
February 167:00 pmESPN3at Grand Canyon*#9Brazell Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 3–2Coughlin {1–0)Vorhof (0–1)Feltman (1)3,4791–0–Stats Story
February 173:00 pmat Grand Canyon*#9Brazell Stadium • Phoenix, AZW 14–6Lodolo (1–0)Lundin (0–1)–2,0122–0–Stats Story
February 182:00 pmat Grand Canyon*#9Brazell Stadium • Phoenix, AZL 8–9$^{12}$Smith (1–0)King (0–1)–1,9342–1–Stats Story
February 242:00 pmLong Beach State*#9Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXL 2–3Baayoun (2–0)Janczak (0–1)Rivera (2)4,1202–2–Stats Story
February 245:30 pmLong Beach State*#9Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW 8–3Lodolo (2–0)Castro (0–1)Notary (1)4,0053–2–Stats Story
February 251:00 pmFSSWLong Beach State*#9Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW 5–2Green (1–0)Andrews (0–2)Feltman (2)4,3434–2–Stats Story :
March
DateTime (CT)TVOpponentRankStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverallBig 12
March 16:30 pmTexas–Arlington*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW 14–1$^7$Smith (1–0)Moffat (0–2)–4,0135–2–Stats Story
March 26:30 pmUC Irvine*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW 4–3Eissler (1–0)Bocko (0–1)–4,6396–2–Stats Story
March 32:00 pmUC Irvine*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW 6–2Lodolo (3–0)Raymond (1–1)–4,7367–2–Stats Story
March 41:00 pmFSSWUC Irvine*#12Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXL 2–15Denholm (1–1)Smith (1–1)–4,0637–3–Stats Story
March 66:30 pmTexas–Rio Grande Valley*#14Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TXW 7–2Eissler (2–0)Carreon (0–1)–4,0218–3–Stats Story
March 98:00 pmat USC*#14Dedeaux Field • Los Angeles, CAW 10–1Janczak (1–1)Clarke (1–3)–1,1059–3–Stats Story
March 1112:30 pmvs #10 Vanderbilt*#14Dodger Stadium • Los Angeles, CAL 4–79–4–
March 136:30 pmat Rice*Reckling Park • Houston, TX–
March 166:30 pmMinnesota*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 175:00 pmMinnesota*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 1812:30 pmFSSW+Minnesota*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 206:30 pmArkansas–Pine Bluff*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 236:30 pmKansas StateLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
March 242:00 pmFSSWKansas StateLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
March 251:00 pmFSSW+Kansas StateLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
March 276:30 pmDallas Baptist*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
March 308:00 pmESPNUat Oklahoma StateAllie P. Reynolds Stadium • Stillwater, OK
March 316:00 pmESPNUat Oklahoma StateAllie P. Reynolds Stadium • Stillwater, OK :
April
DateTime (CT)TVOpponentRankStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverallBig 12
April 112:00 pmFSSWat Oklahoma StateAllie P. Reynolds Stadium • Stillwater, OK
April 36:30 pmat Dallas Baptist*Horner Ballpark • Dallas, TX–
April 66:30 pmOklahomaLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
April 77:00 pmESPNUOklahomaLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
April 81:00 pmOklahomaLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
April 106:30 pmTexas–Arlington*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
April 136:00 pmESPN3at KansasHoglund Ballpark • Lawrence, KS
April 142:00 pmESPN3at KansasHoglund Ballpark • Lawrence, KS
April 151:00 pmESPN3at KansasHoglund Ballpark • Lawrence, KS
April 176:30 pmAbilene Christian*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
April 186:30 pmat Texas–Arlington*Clay Gould Ballpark • Arlington, TX–
April 206:35 pmat BaylorBaylor Ballpark • Waco, TX
April 213:05 pmat BaylorBaylor Ballpark • Waco, TX
April 221:05 pmFSSW+at BaylorBaylor Ballpark • Waco, TX
April 246:30 pmStephen F. Austin*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
April 278:00 pmFS1Texas TechLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
April 287:00 pmESPNUTexas TechLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
April 291:00 pmESPNUTexas TechLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX :
May
DateTime (CT)TVOpponentRankStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverallBig 12
May 16:30 pmat Abilene Christian*Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX–
May 46:30 pmLamar*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
May 54:00 pmLamar*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
May 61:00 pmFSSW+Lamar*Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX–
May 116:30 pmWest VirginiaLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
May 124:00 pmFSSWWest VirginiaLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
May 131:00 pmWest VirginiaLupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
May 156:30 pmat Stephen F. Austin*Jaycees Field • Nacogdoches, TX–
May 176:30 pmFS1at TexasUFCU Disch-Falk Field • Austin, TX
May 186:30 pmLHNat TexasUFCU Disch-Falk Field • Austin, TX
May 192:30 pmLHNat TexasUFCU Disch-Falk Field • Austin, TX :
Postseason :
Big 12 Tournament
DateTime (CT)TVOpponentRank/SeedStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverallBig 12 Tourn.
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark • Oklahoma City, OK
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark • Oklahoma City, OK :
NCAA tournament Regional
DateTime (CT)TVOpponentRank/SeedStadiumScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceOverallRegional :
Legend:        = Win        = Loss      Bold = TCU team member :
"#" represents ranking. All rankings from Collegiate Baseball on the date of the contest. "" represents postseason seeding in the Big 12 Tournament or NCAA Regional, respectively. :

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Final |
| Coaches' | 4 | 4* | 4* | 12 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Baseball America | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NCBWA† | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season. † NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season. * A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.