Baseball team gets underway, wins two
Bates, Olmstead each compile six RBIs

By Colleen Casey
Skiff Staff

After the first inning of TCU baseball’s season-opening doubleheader Tuesday, observers might have come to the conclusion that Prairie View A&M had been scheduled only to allow the Frogs to start the season with a 2-0 record.

TCU scored 34 runs in just 12 innings.

Erin Munger/SKIFF STAFF Junior pitcher Justin Crowder throws a pitch during the Horned Frogs’ 17-0 win in game one of Tuesday’s double header against Prairie View A&M. Crowder is a transfer from Galveston Junior College.

In the first game, TCU sent 16 batters to the plate and scored11 times on 8 hits in the first inning.

Head coach Lance Brown said it still feels good to start with a win, despite it coming against Prairie View.

“We really couldn’t schedule anyone else to play us at this time,” Brown said. “We needed to do something on the field before next weekend.”

This weekend, the Frogs play in the Astros College Classic at Enron Field in Houston. The competition should prove tougher against the likes of Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas and Rice.Junior shortstop Erick Macha said he believes the doubleheader gave them some confidence that they’ll need for the Classic. “Starting off the season with losses is not what we want to do,” Macha said. “This weekend will be a test for us, and we feel we have a pretty good chance to get some more wins.”

Brown said he also expects the team to continue to perform well offensively.

Sophomore first baseman Walter Olmstead led the TCU offense during the doubleheader. He went 6-for-8 with a home run and six RBIs. Outfielder Tom Bates got his senior season off on good note, collecting three hits, including his first home run and six RBIs in five at bats.

The pitching staff pitched almost flawlessly, allowing just two runs in 12 innings of work. Senior pitcher Chad Durham allowed both runs in three innings of the second game.

Sarah Kirschberg/PHOTO EDITOR Players and coaches gather around an injured Prairie View A&M player after he was hit by a foul ball in the second game of TCU’s opening-day double header.

Senior pitcher Chad Durham said it was easy to see that TCU dominated Prairie View.

“Our pitchers threw well,” Durham said. “We didn’t have any errors, and we really were able to play good defense.”

Senior pitcher Chris Bradshaw started the first game and threw three scoreless innings before yielding to junior Justin Crowder and freshman Clayton Jerome, who were making their first appearances as Horned Frogs.

Crowder and Jerome combined for four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five.

“It’s a good game to build from,” Durham said. “I think we came out and played well.”

Prairie View had pitching problems from the very first pitch of game one. Panther starter Marcus Green allowed 16 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings on 13 hits. Miguell Caesar threw the final 4 1/3 innings, giving up just one unearned run.

Keith Roy started the second game for Prairie View, but provided no defense to the TCU offense.

Through 2 1/3 innings, Roy allowed 14 earned runs on 12 hits and walked five.

After more than four hours and 34 runs scored, Durham said the main goal of the game was met.

“It was a good first day,” Durham said. “It was good for everyone to get back on the field.”

Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu