Baseball: Kirk Saarloos ejected, suspended as TCU suffers sweep at Oklahoma State

Entering the weekend on a seven-game winning streak, TCU baseball had another opportunity to keep climbing the Big 12 standings with a good result against Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs had anything but good results, as the team suffered a three-game sweep to the Cowboys and dropped to seventh in the conference. To make matters worse, head coach Kirk Saarloos was ejected during Saturday’s loss and received a two-game suspension, meaning he’ll be sidelined when TCU (29-18, 13-11 Big 12) opens its Big 12 series against Utah on Friday.

Friday: Oklahoma State 7, TCU 6

Kollin Ritchie bashed three home runs, including a walk-off shot in the bottom of the ninth, to lift the Cowboys over the Horned Frogs in the series opener. TCU held a 6-3 lead, but the Horned Frogs allowed two runs in the fifth, one run in the seventh and one run in the ninth to lose the game. Nate Stern took the loss in relief.

Trever Baumler started in place of Tommy LaPour, who had been slotted to start before being made available out of the bullpen only. Baumler pitched four innings and struck out four while allowing four runs on four hits. Lefty Mason Brassfield entered in relief, firing three and one-third innings and striking out five. Brassfield, who held the Cowboys to one earned run, handed the ball to Stern, who finished the eighth and took the loss in the ninth.

Nolan Traeger, Chase Brunson and Brady Dallimore all launched home runs for the Horned Frogs, who had seven hits in the loss. Brunson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Jack Arthur went 2-for-4 atop the TCU order.

Saturday: Oklahoma State 9, TCU 2

Chase Brunson’s two-run double in the first inning was all for the Horned Frogs, who had just five hits in their loss Saturday. The game was tied 2-2 after six, but the Cowboys rallied for seven runs over the seventh and eighth innings to put it out of reach. Cole Cramer went 3-for-3 with three singles to lead TCU at the plate.

Lance Davis spun a quality outing for the Horned Frogs, throwing six innings and limiting the Cowboys to two runs on four hits while striking out four. Tommy LaPour entered in relief, but the right-hander struggled big time, giving up five earned runs on four hits and walking two to take the loss. Walter Quinn pitched the eighth inning and also had a tough time, allowing two runs on three hits.

Sunday: Oklahoma State 11, TCU 10

Home runs from Chase Brunson, Jack Arthur, Brady Dallimore and Rob Liddington weren’t enough to lift the Horned Frogs over the Cowboys in Sunday’s finale. Liddington and Cole Cramer each had three hits for TCU, which compiled 13 hits and seven extra-base hits in the loss. Arthur and Dallimore each recorded a pair of hits to aid the Horned Frogs, who scored seven runs in the top of the second inning and led 8-1 entering the bottom of the third. TCU allowed two runs in the third, three runs in the fourth and four runs in the sixth.

All five pitchers who entered for the Horned Frogs allowed at least one run. Nate Stern took the loss in relief, his second loss of the series, after surrendering a run in the sixth. Tanner Sagouspe struck out four batters over the seventh and eighth innings, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Cowboys, who finished with 12 hits. Zack James started on the mound, allowing six runs over three and two-thirds innings pitched.