TCU Baseball Downs UTA
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FORT WORTH – Mitchell Traver’s first career start was a long-time coming, but he made it worth the wait as he turned in a masterful performance in leading No. 1 TCU to a 4-1 victory over UT Arlington. The victory helps TCU remain undefeated at 4-0.
Traver, who suffered through two years of injuries, allowed just four hits in six innings of work to earn his first career victory. The redshirt sophomore retired the first 10 batters he faced. He walked one and struck out five.
The offense gave Traver an early lead to work with as it picked up two runs in the first inning. Cody Jones got things going as he ripped a single through the left side. A walk to Connor Wanhanen put two on. With one out, the duo executed a double steal and both scored easily on a base knock from Evan Skoug for a 2-0 lead.
Traver allowed his first base runner of the night on a one-out single from RJ Williams in the fourth. With two outs, a walk to Jackson Morris put two on. A strong play up the middle from Keaton Jones ended the threat without any runs scoring.
TCU added to its lead in the fifth, picking up a run on two hits, a hit batter and a walk. Dane Steinhagen’s one-out single started a string of four straight to reach. After a Cody Jones single, Wanhanen was plunked on the back to load the bases. Derek Odell patiently watched four balls out of the strike zone to draw the bases-loaded walk for a 3-0 lead.
UT Arlington looked to have something brewing in the fifth after the
first two batters reached on singles. Traver worked out of the jam, retiring the next three batters he faced to end the inning.
The Frogs picked up their final run of the game in the seventh. Cody Jones tallied his third hit of the night with one out in the frame. After an errant pick-off throw had him standing on second with two outs, Odell ripped a double just inside the left field line to drive in Jones for a 4-0 lead.
Trey Teakell took over on the mound in the seventh. He allowed two hits and struck out three in his two innings of work. Riley Ferrell was touched for the lone run of the game after issuing a trio of walks in the ninth. A balk and a wild pitch aided the Mavericks’ journey around the bases.
TCU (4-0) will hit the road for the first time this season when it heads to Tempe, Ariz. for a match-up at nationally-ranked Arizona State. The Sun Devils are ranked as high as No. 8 in the polls. Friday’s series opener is set to start at 7:30 (CT).
