Brayden Taylor shares plan to keep hot streak going for TCU

TCU has been one of the hottest teams in the country since May 1. The Horned Frogs have lost just three games since then and have won 11 in a row entering the College World Series.

But TCU also has a big test ahead in another hot team: Oral Roberts. The Golden Eagles won 21 consecutive games before blowing an 8-0 lead against Oregon in the Eugene Super Regional. But they bounced back to win the next two matchups and advance to the CWS for the first time since 1978.

That means something will have to give Friday as TCU and Oral Roberts kick things off in Omaha. Horned Frogs infielder Brayden Taylor said the key is simple. They just have to keep doing what they’ve done for the last month.

“I just think at that point in the season a lot of us got tired of playing the way that we were, so we realized that we needed to change something,” Taylor said ahead of the CWS. “So what that really was was just [going] out there and start having more fun, playing with our backs against the wall. I mean, we just haven’t stopped since. My plan is just to continue doing what we do, play our good baseball.”

Tre Richardson on Oral Roberts: ‘If you’re good enough to make it to the College World Series, you’ve got my respect’

Oral Roberts bounced back in an impressive way in the Supers. After losing to Oregon 9-8, the Golden Eagles responded with two wins to punch their ticket to Omaha. It’s been an impressive run, and TCU made it clear it has plenty of respect for what ORU has done.

Tre Richardson said as much during his press conference. As his head coach Kirk Saarloos said, seeding doesn’t matter once teams make the College World Series. Richardson said the Horned Frogs can’t take anything for granted, especially considering they’ve also rattled off an impressive run to the CWS.

“Yeah, if you are good enough to make it to the College World Series, you’ve got my respect. I mean, that’s the mindset,” Richardson said. “We heard the same thing about Indiana State and them being a mid-major. You’re playing deep in June, you’re a good ball club. That’s something we take into consideration.”

First pitch between TCU and Oral Roberts is set for Friday at 2 p.m. ET from Charles Schwab Field.