TCU’s stay in the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament came to an abrupt end Wednesday night as the Horned Frogs fell 9-4 to Kansas State in their tournament opener, marking a disappointing one-and-done appearance in postseason play. The defeat carried additional significance for TCU, as it marked the first time since 2015 that the program failed to win at least one game in the conference tournament.
The loss exposed several key issues for the Horned Frogs, ranging from inconsistent pitching to an offense that struggled to generate momentum early in the game. Here are three major takeaways from TCU’s postseason setback against Kansas State.
Tommy LaPour’s Return Shows Rust After Injury-Plagued Season
One of the biggest storylines entering the matchup was the return of right-hander Tommy LaPour to the starting role. LaPour entered the season projected to be TCU’s ace, but injuries significantly disrupted his campaign. After an impressive opening start earlier in the year, the Missouri native missed nearly two months with a flexor strain and was limited to only a handful of appearances throughout the season.
Against Kansas State, LaPour showed flashes of potential but struggled to settle in early. The Wildcats quickly capitalized on defensive miscues and aggressive baserunning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Dee Kennedy advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch and later scored on a double by Ty Smolinski, who eventually came home on an RBI single from AJ Evasco.
LaPour’s outing ended early after he allowed another single in the third inning, forcing TCU to turn to Mason Brassfield out of the bullpen. Overall, LaPour surrendered three runs on four hits across just two innings while recording two strikeouts.
The bullpen was unable to completely stop Kansas State’s momentum afterward. TCU relievers combined to allow six more runs on 10 hits over the remaining seven innings, as the Wildcats consistently applied offensive pressure throughout the night.
Slow Offensive Start Hurt TCU Early
While Kansas State’s offense came out firing, the Horned Frogs struggled badly at the plate against Wildcats starter Tazwell Butler. The right-hander dominated the early innings, keeping TCU hitters off balance with a combination of strikeouts and well-located pitches. Butler finished with seven strikeouts over 4.2 innings while allowing just two runs.
TCU head coach Kirk Saarloos expressed frustration during an in-game interview, pointing out the team’s poor approach against Butler. Saarloos noted that the Horned Frogs repeatedly chased breaking balls outside the strike zone while failing to attack hittable fastballs early in counts.
The offensive struggles became apparent quickly, as TCU managed only one hit through the first four innings. The breakthrough finally came in the fifth inning when Preston Gamster doubled to spark the offense. Consecutive hits from Noah Franco and Rob Liddington followed, allowing the Horned Frogs to finally get on the scoreboard.
Despite briefly building momentum, TCU could not fully capitalize on its opportunities. The team’s best chance to mount a comeback came in the seventh inning when multiple hitters stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. However, the Horned Frogs managed just two runs in the frame without recording a hit in those critical situations.
NCAA Tournament Outlook Now Uncertain
Entering the Big 12 Tournament, TCU was still projected by several major outlets, including USA Today and Baseball America, to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament field. However, the Horned Frogs likely needed a stronger conference tournament showing to improve both their résumé and potential tournament seeding.
Instead, the early exit leaves TCU in a more uncertain position heading into Selection Monday. Without a conference tournament run to strengthen their case, the Horned Frogs must now wait anxiously for the NCAA selection show to determine whether their regular-season body of work will be enough to secure an at-large bid.
While TCU still has a realistic chance of reaching the NCAA Tournament, the disappointing loss to Kansas State undoubtedly damaged the team’s momentum and added pressure heading into the final selection process.
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