FORT WORTH — Starter by committee is no team’s Plan A.
But for two weeks, it’s been A-plus for the TCU Horned Frogs, who may have to operate that way for a while yet.
Dawson Barr, Spencer Arrighetti, James Notary and Augie Mihlbauer combined to strike out 12 and walk none in the Frogs’ 6-2 victory against UT Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday night at Lupton Stadium.
A week ago, Arrighetti led a string of six pitchers who fashioned a 5-3 victory against UT Arlington at Globe Life Park. The freshman right-hander from Katy got the win in both.
“I had a rough start to the season. Now I’m just ready to go every time they call my name,” Arrighetti said. “I’m actually sitting out in the bullpen praying they call my name, because I know I’m going to be the same guy every night.”
The performances from Arrighetti and company saved normal midweek starter Haylen Green for the weekend against Oklahoma State in some role. Meanwhile, Schlossnagle waits for two-time All-America Jared Janczak, who is slated to return the second week of April following extra work on the side.
“Barr, Arrighetti and Notary all made strides,” Schlossnagle said. “The key was they were throwing their breaking ball for strikes. We figured out pretty quick these guys can really handle a fastball in fastball counts and first-pitch fastballs. The game plan, Coach Saarloos told the staff, was spin to win — spin the ball in the strike zone. Last weekend, we were less than 30 or 40 percent of off-speed pitches for strikes. In college baseball, with aluminum bats, you’re not going to have a lot of success doing that.”
Speaking of aluminum bats
Jake Guenther wielded his with two on and two out in the first inning and lifted a three-run home run to right field, his third long ball, tucking it inside the foul pole. That produced a 3-1 lead after Barr gave up a sacrifice fly in the top of the inning.
“Two strikes, you’re just trying to compete,” Guenther said. “I had been swinging at stupid pitches in the dirt. Got one, tried to stay inside of it. It wasn’t a crazy day at Lupton today with the wind blowing all over, so it was able to sneak over the wall.”
In the fifth, Alex Isola served a two-run single to right for a 5-2 lead, and Zach Humphreys had an RBI double in the seventh.
As their pitching sorts out, the Frogs can use plate production from as many places as possible because right fielder Andrew Keefer (.272, 17 RBIs) is now out indefinitely. The junior sprained his ankle in batting practice Tuesday, leaving him questionable for the weekend.
Coincidentally, Keefer had been scheduled to have the day off, while shortstop Hunter Wolfe played right field, a bid by Schlossnagle to build versatility — an aim heightened by the loss of leadoff hitter Porter Brown to season-ending shoulder surgery last week.
Wolfe returned from his own injury last weekend. If the junior infielder can play some outfield, the Frogs can keep his speed in the lineup when Adam Oviedo plays shortstop and also open the designated hitter spot for Alex Isola or Zach Humphreys. In turn, Conner Shepherd (.356/.426/.644) can stay in the lineup at third base.
So there are moving parts for TCU and Schlossnagle as the second Big 12 weekend approaches. On the mound, the moving parts clicked for a second Tuesday in a row.
That plan is 2-for-2.
“If we can get some version of that throughout the rest of the season, we can put together some games,” Schlossnagle said.
Thank the committee for its work so far.