Kirk Saarloos explains TCU's offensive approach vs. Florida at spacious ballpark in Omaha

TCU has had success at the College World Series, finding different ways to win games at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Horned Frogs coach Kirk Saarloos says that’s not a coincidence.

TCU prides itself on not needing to rely on one specific strength to get a win. That has worked out well at the CWS, where home runs can be tough to come by.

“I think the big thing is when you get here, this ballpark plays a lot differently than pretty much every college ballpark that we play in. It’s a lot bigger. The dimensions are bigger. With the way the wind is, it plays bigger. The grass is long,” Saarloos said to ESPN during Wednesday’s broadcast. “A lot of times in college baseball now, it’s like professional baseball, ‘Hey, let’s wait for the three-run homer.’ Sometimes that’s not available here.”

With home runs tough to come by, it requires doing the little things right to score runs.

“You’ve gotta be able to run the bases. I thought we’ve done a really good job in terms of grinding through at bats and being patient but selective, making him throw it over the plate,” Saarloos said of Florida starter Jac Caglianone. “We’ve just got to do a better job when he does that of being ready to hit.”

TCU has had its chances against Florida, but so far it has been unable to capitalize on most of them.

The Horned Frogs scored one run in the first inning but left the bases loaded. In the fourth inning, Logan Maxwell came through with a big hit with a runner on second and one out. However, Kurtis Byrne hesitated before taking off from second and was thrown out at the plate. TCU failed to score that frame.

“I thought we should’ve had a little bit better jump just off the bat from second base. And it cost us obviously there at the end,” Saarloos said. “Off the bat I thought that ball was a for sure base hit and we just didn’t make the right read at second base, which cost us in the end.”

The Horned Frogs once again had a big opportunity in the fifth inning but squandered it. With the bases loaded and one out, Tre Richardson struck out, before Bryne popped up on the infield.

TCU will have to rally to keep its season alive. This is an elimination game for the Horned Frogs, who would have to beat Florida twice to advance to the national championship series.