University of Houston
Memphis
Baseball Swings Past Memphis, 8-5
4/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 19, 2009
Millington, Tenn. - The University of Houston baseball team scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back on their way to an 8-5 win over Memphis Sunday afternoon at USA Stadium to finish the series against the Tigers 2-1.
The Cougars got their bats rolling early in the contest. Taylor White led off with a single to the first baseman, beating out the toss to the pitcher in attempt to get the out. Blake Kelso followed that up with a single to left field and Caleb Ramsey plated White on a single to center field. With two runners on base, Chase Dempsay hit his first home run of the season over the left field fence to give Houston the 4-0 advantage.
Memphis broke into the run column in the second inning with two outs; Heith Hatfield hit a single to right field scoring Brett Bowen who led off with a walk.
Ramsey scored a second run for UH in the third inning. After reaching base on a single to left field, he scored on a fielder's choice from William Kankel. Memphis answered in the bottom of the inning when Adam McClain hit a leadoff home run to left field.
The Tigers pulled within one run in the sixth innings, scoring a single run when Tyler Huelsing scored on a Drew Martinez single after reaching base on a double.
With their lead at one run, Houston put together a three run eighth inning to extend their lead to four, 8-4. With two outs, Dempsay reached base on a fielding error by the Memphis second baseman and Chris Wallace followed that up reaching base on an error by the third baseman. Kankel doubled down the left field line, scoring Dempsay and Wallace would go on to score on a passed ball. Houston would add a third run when Zak Presley plated Kankel on a single up the middle.
But the Tigers wouldn't let Houston go home with the easy victory as Brett Bowen hit a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to three, 8-5. Despite the run in the eighth, Houston would hold off the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth to hold on for the win and the 2-1 series win.
With the win Houston improves to 17-21 and 7-5 in league play. Wes Musick improves to 4-5 on the mound, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and five strikeouts. Dempsay and Donnie Joseph pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit, one run, with two strikeouts.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the weekend series, the Cougars will play two mid-week games against Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday and Lamar on Wednesday at Cougar Field before traveling to Marshall for a three-game series on April 17-19. First pitch for both mid-week games is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
