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TCU Baseball Drops Final Shriners Showdown Game to UT Arlington
Late rally not enough as Horned Frogs fall 11-8 to Mavericks
Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:55am
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TCU Baseball faced UT Arlington in the final game of the Shriners Children's College Showdown, falling 11-8 despite a late comeback effort. The Mavericks jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first inning, chasing TCU starter Nolan Johnson and putting the Horned Frogs in an early hole. TCU battled back with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-6, but UT Arlington added two more unearned runs in the sixth to secure the victory.
Why it matters
The loss drops TCU's record to 3-2 on the young season, as the Horned Frogs were unable to complete the comeback against their in-state rivals. The early offensive outburst by UT Arlington proved too much for TCU to overcome, despite the Frogs' best efforts to rally late in the game.
The details
Senior Nolan Johnson got the start on the mound for TCU but struggled, allowing four runs in the first inning. Sophomore Tyler Phenow came in to relieve Johnson but also gave up five unearned runs in the opening frame, putting the Horned Frogs in a 9-0 hole. TCU responded with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-6, including a home run by graduate student Rob Liddington. However, UT Arlington added two unearned runs in the sixth to extend their lead, and the Frogs' late push fell short.
- The game was played on February 17, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
- TCU starter Nolan Johnson allowed four runs in the first inning.
- Sophomore Tyler Phenow gave up five unearned runs in relief in the first inning.
- TCU scored three runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-6.
- Rob Liddington hit a home run for TCU in the fifth inning.
The players
Nolan Johnson
Senior pitcher for TCU who started the game but struggled, allowing four runs in the first inning.
Tyler Phenow
Sophomore pitcher who came in to relieve Johnson but also gave up five unearned runs in the first inning.
Rob Liddington
Graduate student who hit a home run for TCU in the fifth inning to bring the Frogs within two runs.
UT Arlington
TCU's in-state rival who jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first inning and held on for the 11-8 victory.
TCU
The Horned Frogs baseball team who were unable to complete their comeback effort against UT Arlington, dropping to 3-2 on the season.
What they’re saying
“We battled back hard, but that early deficit was just too much to overcome. We'll learn from this and come back stronger.”
— Nolan Johnson, TCU Pitcher
What’s next
TCU will look to bounce back in their next game against Oklahoma State on February 21, 2026.
The takeaway
Despite the loss, TCU showed resilience in fighting back from a large early deficit, demonstrating the team's potential to compete with top opponents this season. The Horned Frogs will need to shore up their pitching and defense to avoid similar early holes moving forward.
