FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The knowing glances at overhearing a Central Connecticut State radio broadcaster tell his audience that the weather for Sunday’s game with TCU was expected to be “very warm” were many.
“Temperatures expected to top 85,” he said without enjoying the knowledge of most of those around him.
Mother Nature was providing a very lovely gift for June 2 in these parts, as well as ours.
That was the only indication that Central Connecticut State didn’t belong here.
The Blue Devils, a six-time NCAA tournament qualifier who won the school’s first postseason game on Saturday, aren’t TCU. The Northeast Conference – its membership includes Bryant, Wagner, Sacred Heart, Long Island Univeristy Brooklyn, Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary’s of Maryland — doesn’t present the quality of competition of the Big 12.
But it can happen to anybody, just ask the new former heavyweight champion.
Getting beat is the easiest thing to do, especially in baseball, perhaps the most egalitarian of mainstream American sports.
The frailties of the human condition are on constant display. It’s difficult for most everybody to catch up to a well-located fastball or hit a curve, and a bad hop doesn’t discriminate.
TCU got everything it wanted out the Blue Devils (31-23), needing a three-run sixth inning, keyed by Austin Henry’s two-run single, to win 9-5 in an elimination game at the Fayetteville Regional at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The Horned Frogs (34-27) survived for another few hours at least.
With the victory, TCU moved on to the championship round against Arkansas. TCU task is a tall one, defeating the nation’s fifth-ranked team – and top seed here – twice to advance to the Super Regionals next week.
Sunday night’s game is set for 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
A TCU victory on Sunday night would necessitate another game between the two on Monday.
A TCU loss on Sunday night would end its season.
Right-hander Jared Janczak (0-3, 5.71 ERA), once an All-American before injury (thoracic outlet), will go for the Frogs on Sunday night against Razorbacks freshman lefty Patrick Wicklander (5-2, 4.65).
“He’s pitched in as big of games as you can pitch in, short of a national championship series,” coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “He’s started four games in the College World Series, the super regionals on the road, he pitched against an unbelievable Virginia team in the regional a couple of years ago.
“Nobody on our team, including [Nick] Lodolo, is more prepared to pitch in this game than Jared. It’s whether he’s healthy enough to do it. If he feels like he did last week, it gives us a good chance.”
In the Big 12 tournament last week, Janczak had his best outing of the season, working a season-high six innings and surrendering two runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out 12.
Fatigue could be a factor. TCU played a more-than three-hour game under the blazing Connecticut sun.
The Frogs got a scare in the second inning. Left fielder Josh Watson and center fielder Johnny Rizer collided while tracking down Sam Loda’s drive to the wall.
Rizer caught it, saving what turned out to be three crucial runs. A bloody nose was the only injury.
Schlossnagle elected to go with right-hander Dawson Barr in the first game. The freshman from Flower Mound gave up two runs on four hits in two innings. He was relieved by winning pitcher Jake Eissler, who surrendered three runs on nine hits over 52/3 innings.
Dalton Brown worked one-third of an inning before Schlossnagle called for Cal Coughlin, something he didn’t want to do.
“Almost went according to script,” Schlossnagle said. “Jake did a nice job. Really good pitcher for us but hasn’t had the greatest season. But it really matters how you pitch here.
“He made some really nice pitches in the middle innings in a small ballpark that is playing really small this weekend.”
The teams exchanged leads three times in the first three innings. Tied at 4-all in the sixth, Henry drove a single to center that scored Adam Oviedo and Jake Guenther with the go-ahead runs.
Henry was 2 for 5 with four RBIs. He added a two-run home run in the third.
Guenther was 3 for 4 with a two-run home run in the first and three runs scored. He also had a triple in the third. Hunter Wolfe’s two-run homer in the eighth finished the scoring. He also had a run-scoring single in the sixth.
Arkansas will enter Sunday night’s game 2-0 in the tournament after topping TCU 3-1 on Saturday night with their ace right-hander Isaiah Campbell on the mound.
