Frogs Drop Series Opener After Pitching Collapse vs. Baylor

The Bears Come From Behind to Take Series Opener From TCU

Apr. 18, 2026 at 3:42am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors that deconstructs a baseball game between TCU and Baylor, capturing the dynamic action and competitive spirit of the rivalry.A cubist interpretation of the intense rivalry between TCU and Baylor baseball, capturing the chaotic energy of their series opener.Waco Today

The TCU Horned Frogs dropped the opening game of their rivalry series against the Baylor Bears, losing 11-4 after a disastrous pitching performance. TCU jumped out to an early lead, but a big inning by Baylor flipped the momentum and the Bears were able to pull away late.

Why it matters

This loss puts TCU in an early hole in the series, and the Frogs will need to bounce back with strong performances in the next two games to have a chance at winning the series. Defensive mistakes and struggles at the plate have been issues for TCU all season, and they will need to clean those up if they want to turn things around.

The details

The Frogs struck first with an RBI single by Nolan Traeger in the 2nd inning, and then extended their lead to 3-1 in the 4th with a solo home run by Noah Franco and an RBI groundout by Jack Bell. However, Baylor's offense then erupted, scoring 10 runs over the next three innings to pull away. TCU used 5 different pitchers in the game, with starter Trever Baumler allowing 4 earned runs in 4 innings. The Frogs committed 2 errors that led to Baylor runs, and the offense struck out 11 times while struggling to generate scoring opportunities.

  • The Frogs took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 4th inning.
  • Baylor scored 10 runs over the next 3 innings to pull away.

The players

Trever Baumler

The TCU starting pitcher who allowed 4 earned runs in 4 innings.

Lucas Davenport

The Baylor ace pitcher who struggled early but settled in as his team's offense took over.

Travis Sanders

A Baylor player who led the Bears' offensive charge, combining for 6 hits and 4 runs.

Tyce Armstrong

Another Baylor player who contributed 6 hits and 4 runs to the Bears' offensive outburst.

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What’s next

TCU will look to bounce back in Game 2 of the series on Saturday at 2 PM, which can be watched on ESPN+ or heard on KTCU 88.7.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the ongoing issues that have plagued TCU all season - defensive mistakes, inconsistent pitching, and an offense that has struggled to find consistency. If the Frogs want to turn this series around, they'll need to clean up those areas and get production from their key hitters.