March 13, 2008

Final Stats

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The University of Houston baseball team posted a season-best 18 hits in a 14-8 win over Sam Houston State, Wednesday at Don Sanders Stadium.

Houston (10-5) took the early lead with four runs in the second inning and never looked back, earning its third-straight win and sixth in the past seven games. Sam Houston fell to 9-6 on the season.

Matt Murphy led the way with a pair of two-run doubles. He finished with four RBI. Ryan Lormand also finished with four RBI, adding three hits.

Bryan Pounds' single in the third extended his hitting streak to a career-best 15 games, dating back to last season. Pounds has hit safely in each of his 13 games this year. He finished the game with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI.

The Cougars return to action Friday, opening up a four-game homestand against San Francisco at Cougar Field. The Cougars and Dons will square off at 6:30 CDT both Friday and Saturday before closing out the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Houston closes out the homestand against Lamar at 6:30 p.m. on March 18.

Fans can hear the game live at UHCougars.com by clicking the appropriate link. Jeremy Branham will call the play-by-play while former letterwinner Pat Cauley will provide color analysis.

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

Austin Goolsby's two-run double ignited a four-run second inning and Lormand blasted a two-run single to right field in the third to put the Cougars up 6-2.

Mark Wyatt sent a two-run double in the gap in left center to put Sam Houston on the board in the fourth inning. The double scored Keith Stein and Bobby Verbick who started the inning with a walk.

The Cougars lengthened their lead to 7-2 on a double by Lormand and two errors.

Verbick added another run for Sam Houston in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.

Houston added three runs in the top of the seventh to extend their margin to 10-3. Murphy doubled home Jimmy Cesario and Jake Stewart before stealing home himself for UH's third run of the inning.

Mark Wyatt, Seth Hammock, and Jamie Rohlmeier started the bottom of the eighth with three consecutive singles to add a fourth run to the Bearkats' total. With one out, Sebek walked to load the bases. Stein grounded out to score Hammock.

UH added three more in the eighth after an RBI double from Lormand scored Stewart and Murphy added his second two-run double that scored Lormand and Pounds. Zak Presley plated UH's final run in the ninth after an RBI single from Pounds scored him from second base.

The Bearkats added three more runs in the ninth after UH walked in a run and let two more score off a fielder's choice and an error.

Donnie Joseph made the start for the Cougars, going 4.1 innings, allowing three runs and striking out one in the no decision. Barrett Bruce came out of the bullpen, pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up two hits, striking out a pair and earning his second win of the season.

Taylor Hammack, Jimmy Raviele and Bryan Tully pitched the final two innings for Houston.

Cody Springer started on the mound, giving up six hits and si.x runs in two innings, striking out two. Dallas Gallant gave up only one hit in the next three innings. Spencer Parish, Matt Shelton, Adam Albright, Zac Baker, Jon Lindenberger , and Casey Springer also pitched in relief for the Kats.