University of Houston Athletics
Lucas' Grand Slam Lifts Houston Past Charlotte 6-2
4/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Houston, TX -- University of Houston true freshman Gabe Lucas blasted a one-out, walk-off grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the UH baseball team past Conference USA rival Charlotte by a score of 6-2 Sunday afternoon at Cougar Field. With the victory Houston completed a three-game sweep of the visiting 49ers in the weekend series and kept its two-game lead of sole possession of first place in the C-USA standings over nationally-ranked Tulane.
With both starting pitchers locked in scoreless duel for the first four innings, Charlotte struck first for a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Designated hitter Nick Blackmon led off with a single and the next batter, junior Brian Bowman, slugged his third career home run to make the score 2-0.
It was the only runs allowed by Cougar freshman pitcher Gene Flores, who threw one of the best games of his young career. Flores allowed only seven hits and three walks while striking out six in working a career-long 8.0 innings. His lone offensive support was one run in the bottom of the sixth when Michael Bourn led off with a walk, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, to third on a sacrifice bunt and across home on a sacrifice fly by Hyung Cho.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth and with both starters already lifted, leadoff batter Sam Mitchell was able to reach base on a fielding error. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on the second double of the day by senior Sean Allen to make the score 2-2. First baseman Thanos Papavasiliou was then intentionally walked to set up a possible double play, but freshman outfielder Michael Bourn also drew a walk that loaded the bases.
With the stage set, Lucas hit the second home run of his career to left field, capping a five-run Houston ninth inning and sealing a 6-2 win. The Cougars improved to 24-21 overall and remained in first place in Conference USA with a 15-3 league mark. Charlotte fell to 16-23 on the year and 6-12 in conference. Houston will next be in action on the road with a three-game weekend series at Louisville, April 27-29.
Conference USA Baseball LinescoreCharlotte 000 020 000 -- 2 7 1Houston 000 001 005 -- 6 7 0
Zachary Treadway, Justin Brown (6), Jacob Chaney (8) and Christopher Brake, Alex Derhak (6). Gene Flores, Nathan Mitchell (9) and Chris Snyder. WP- Mitchell (3-1). LP - Chaney (3-2). Save- none. 2B- UC: none; UH: Snyder, Klosterman, Allen 2. 3B- none. HR- UC: Bowman (1); Lucas (2). Time- 2:28. Att- 569. Team Records- Charlotte 16-23, 6-12; Houston 24-21, 15-3.
