March 5, 2008

Final Stats

Complete Houston-Sacred Heart Game Book (March 5, 2008) in PDF Format

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston baseball team erased an early six-run deficit for the second straight day, as the Cougars rallied to beat Sacred Heart 9-8 on Wednesday at Cougar Field.

The game also marked the third time this season that Houston has notched a win in a game in which it had been trailing by five or more runs.

Sacred Heart jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first half inning of play. Houston's bullpen came in and stopped the hemorrhaging, as Chris Wright, Barrett Bruce, Jimmy Raviele and Jared Ray tossed a combined 8.2 innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits.

With the Pioneers handcuffed at the plate, the Cougars scored two in the first, four in the third and two more in the fourth to take an 8-7 lead.

After Jeff Hanson scored the tying run in the top of sixth on a J.J. Edwards fielder's choice, Houston struck back in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the lead for good.

With one out in the frame, Matt Murphy ripped a single to right field before stealing second base. Catcher Chris Wallace followed with a single through the right side, plating Murphy and his career-best fifth RBI of the game.

Wallace finished 3-for-5 with a triple, a double and a run scored with five RBIs. First baseman Bryan Pounds continued to stroke a hot bat, as he doubled and drove in a pair of runs in three at-bats. He has recorded at least one hit in 10 straight games dating back to last season.

Bruce picked up the win after tossing 2.1 innings, fanning four and allowing only one run on one hit. Freshman right-hander Jared Ray notched his first career save, sending the Pioneers down in the ninth.

Matt Fitton picked up the loss after tossing four innings and allowing three runs on six hits.

The Cougars return to action at 6:30 p.m., Friday, as they continue their six-game homestand against UC-Santa Barbara. The three-game weekend series will continue at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, before wrapping up at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Fnas can hear all three games live at UHCougars.com by clicking the appropriate links. Jeremy Branham will call the play-by-play, while former UH letterwinner Pat Cauley provides the anlaysis.

Fans also can follow the live stats via the Internet by clicking the Gametracker link.

Sacred Heart struck first, plating six runs in the opening frame. The Pioneers scored two runs on two errors by freshman shortstop Blake Kelso. Paul Schmidt followed with a bases loaded walk, before Jeff Bardinini ripped a two-run double to right. Ryan Nemcek delivered the sixth run of the inning on an RBI-single to center.

Houston responded in the bottom half of the inning, as it got on the board scoring two runs. With two outs and runners on second and third, Pounds doubled to deep left center, driving in Ryan Lormand and Jake Stewart.

The Cougars would even the score in the fourth as they drove home four runs in the inning. Jimmy Cesario led off the inning with a walk before advancing to second when Pounds was hit by an offering from pitcher Eric Romanchuk. Matt Murphy advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt. After Felix Fanaselle was plunked, Wallace stepped to the plate and delivered a three-run triple to right center field. Wallace would then score on Zac Presley's RBI-groundout to second.

The Pioneers would reclaim the lead in the top of the fourth, as Hanson scored the go-ahead run on Tyler Santos' fielder's choice.

UH would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as the Cougars again would rally with two outs. Murphy singled to right and advanced to second on a balk by pitcher Matt Fitton. Fanaselle followed with an RBI-double to left center. Wallace would deliver his second extra-base hit of the game, driving in Fanaselle on a double.