By Rusty Simmons staff reporter When junior outfielder Tom Bates rounded third base Saturday, he changed the outlook of the game for the Frogs. Seconds later, he touched home plate with a force that may have changed the outlook of the season for TCU. Bates' three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning pushed TCU past Hawaii-Hilo for the third consecutive day. The three-game sweep upped the Frogs' Western Athletic Conference record to 8-9, and they can move within 1/2 game of conference-leading San Jose State with a sweep of the Spartans in a series beginning Thursday. "That was the first time I can remember that we came back after being down by so much," sophomore shortstop Erick Macha said. "It was huge to wrap up the sweep because now we have a real shot at winning the WAC." The home run gave TCU a 9-7 lead, its first in the series finale. With one run already scored in the ninth inning, senior first baseman Mark Hamilton drew a walk. Senior catcher Brad Rogers followed with a single, setting the stage for Bates' heroics. Bates wasted no time as he hit the first pitch offered by Spartans' closer Ben Siff over the fence. Down 7-1, the Frogs scored eight runs in the last three innings to rally for the win. Bates finished the day a single short of the cycle, and Hamilton tied the TCU's single-game record with three doubles. Senior third baseman Levi Groomer was hit by two pitches in the game, raising his single-season school-record to 21. A day earlier, senior pitcher Shawn Thompson led TCU to a 2-1 win as he pitched the Frogs' first complete game of the season. But Macha said none of the personal accolades are pertinent if the Frogs do not continue winning against San Jose State this weekend at Municipal Stadium. The Spartans sport an intimidating 14-6 record this season at home. TCU is 5-16 on the road this season, but Macha said the Frogs have confidence they can win. San Jose State is coming off two losses in three home games versus Rice, and TCU beat the Spartans two of three games March 3 to 5. Much of TCU's success in the first meeting against San Jose State was the Frogs' pitching which shut down the Spartans' top two hitters. Sophomore infielder Junior Ruiz, who is hitting a team-leading .351, was only two for nine at the plate with one RBI in TCU's two wins over San Jose State. Junior outfielder John Fagan supplies most of the run production for the Spartans, .559 slugging percentage, 27 runs, 33 RBIs and eight home runs, but was a non-factor against TCU. Macha said junior pitcher Chris Bradshaw and Thompson have shut down all hitters this season. "It is up to our offense to score runs," he said. "They have pitched well enough to win every game, but we just have to score runs and play defense." The Frogs have had success against the Spartans' right-handed pitchers, juniors Joey Baker and Chris Sherman. Baker, who has a 3.36 earned run average in 11 starts, gave up six runs in eight innings, and Sherman, who has a 4.02 earned run average in eight starts, gave up seven runs in two 2/3 innings. The TCU offensive success ends when the Spartans throw a left-handed pitcher. Senior Chris Key, who has a 2.55 earned run average in nine starts, gave up only two earned runs in seven and 2/3 innings. Senior Tim Adinolfi, who has a 2.73 earned run average in 17 appearances, threw a perfect ninth inning in his only save opportunity against TCU. "We were 0-13 against left-handers before we beat Hilo in the second game," Macha said. "We did it against Hilo, so now we know we can do it against anyone."
Rusty Simmons
By Chris Ray Skiff staff The men's tennis team was coming off an upset victory over No. 11 Southern Methodist when it faced off against No. 5 Baylor last weekend. Head Coach Michael Center said college tennis is a game of ups and downs, and no one knows that better than his team. The No. 14-ranked Horned Frogs could not hold off the No. 5-ranked Baylor as the Bears shattered the Frogs' perfect 8-0 record at home, 5-2. The Frogs hosted the Bears in a championship-like atmosphere at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. The Frogs looked to avenge the February loss to the Bears with the backing of an intense standing-room-only crowd. The Bears captured the doubles point and then won four of six singles matches en route to the win. The only bright spot for the Frogs was at the No. 3 and 4 positions, as junior Scott Eddins and freshman Antonio Gordon picked up straight-set wins. Eddins, ranked No. 95, defeated Zoltan Papp 6-3, 6-2. The Frogs managed to win only one other singles victory when Gordon defeated Pawel Gajdzik 6-4, 6-2 in straight sets. The loss dropped the Frogs to 16-4 on the season and 7-2 in Region VI action with both region losses coming at the hands of the Bears. "Our fan support was great, and the guys played hard," Center said. "I am not disappointed in their effort at all. We will take this as a learning experience and move on to Tulsa next Saturday and the WAC tournament in two weeks." Junior Trace Fielding said the match was tight throughout, and the crowd made it take on a different atmosphere. "The match was similar to that of a championship matchup," Fielding said. "Both teams fought hard, and we just came up short (Saturday)." The Frogs were fresh off an upset-victory over cross-town rival and No. 11-ranked SMU. The Frogs defeated the Mustangs for the first time in almost three years, spanning five matches. The No. 14-ranked Frogs slipped by the Mustangs 4-3, ending a 10-match winning streak at home for SMU. The Frogs last beat SMU April 19, 1997, at the first WAC Championships after TCU and SMU joined the WAC. The Frogs began by losing the doubles point, as SMU took two of three matches in doubles action. The duo of Fielding and junior Esteban Carril defeated Dustin Mauck and Genius Chidzikwe 8-6. Carril and Fielding improved to 12-6 with the win. In single's action, the Frogs took four of six singles matches picking up the win. All-American and No. 6-ranked Carril defeated No. 17-ranked Toby Hansson 2-6, 7-6, 6-2. After dropping the first set 2-6 to Hansson and falling behind 2-3 in the second set, Carril fought back and took the second set. Carril later captured the third set 6-2. He improves to 23-4 on the season and 13-2 in dual-match play. "This was a huge win for us as a team and for the program," Carril said. "This gives us confidence going into the WAC Tournament in two weeks. This team has the ability to rise to the occasion, and against SMU we just did it." Carril along with Gordon, redshirt freshman Jimmy Haney and junior Petr Koula, picked up wins for the Frogs. Haney pulled off the upset win of No. 55 Jon Wallmark of SMU 6-1, 6-2. Center said the Frogs walked away from the weekend stronger as a team. TCU will wrap up the regular season on the road 1 p.m. Saturday in Tulsa. The Frogs host the WAC Championships April 27 to 30.
Chris Ray
By Chris Ray Skiff staff The women's tennis team closed the book on the regular season Sunday with a 9-0 victory over California-Santa Barbara at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center.
"The girls are playing well at the right time," head coach Roland Ingram said. "It is all coming together at the end, and I look forward for the tournament. It is anybody's game, and only time will tell." The Frogs took all three doubles matches and all six singles matches in the win. TCU was led by No. 49 senior Lucie Dvorakova, as she improved to 26-9 on the season with a win over sophomore Cindy Ammann 6-4, 5-7, 6-1. Dvorakova is 16-7 at the No. 1 singles spot for the Frogs this season. "I like our chances," Dvorakova said. "We are playing well right now, and I think we will be in the thick of things in the end." Freshman No. 63-ranked Dorrit Huppes continued her bid for Newcomer of the Year in the WAC with a convincing win over junior Shannon Wilkins 6-0, 6-3. Huppes moves to 28-6 on the season and 16-3 at the No. 2 spot. Huppes has captured 25 of her 28 wins in straight sets. The Frogs were led in doubles action by the "Euro Duo" of Dvorakova and senior Daria Zoldakova, who dropped back to No. 6 in the latest ITA poll. Zoldakova and Dvorakova defeated the team of Ammann and Wilkins 8-6, improving to 27-2 on the year and 1-0 at the No. 1 position. "We have key players on the roster, and we depend on them to get us the points," Ingram said. "Lucie (Dvorakova), Daria (Zoldakova) and Dorrit (Huppes) are the ones we count on for the points, and they come through because they are winners. They are a point we have come to count on as the season has progressed." Friday the Frogs played host to WAC-rival Rice, and took the No. 57-ranked Owls 7-2. The Frogs swept doubles play and captured four of six singles matches en route to the win. Despite losing the top two singles matches on the day, the Frogs won the rest of the singles action. Dvorakova and Huppes fell in straight sets in the loss. Dvorakova lost to senior Elle Lewis 7-5, 6-3 for only her ninth loss of the year. In doubles, the "Euro Duo" once again came up victorious defeating the team of senior Charlotte Feasby and junior Erin Waters 8-4. The Frogs now have two weeks to prepare for the WAC Championships. Ingram said it is a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over on a brand new season, the postseason. "The title is everything you work for," Dvorakova said. "It is something everyone works for, and only one team gets it. I just hope we are that team." Dvorakova and Zoldakova will be trying for a NCAA berth in doubles and a WAC title for themselves and the Frogs as the duo closes out its tennis career at TCU. "Lucie and I will play our best, and the team has been working hard for this," Zoldakova said. "A WAC title would be great, and this team deserves it more than anyone. We have two weeks to prepare, and we will be ready."
Chris Ray |
The Frogs, ranked No. 24 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis
Association polls, are preparing for the upcoming WAC Championships April
27 to 30 in Fort Worth. TCU ended the season winning 11 of its last 12
matches, finishing 18-4 on the season. | The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |