University of Houston
UAB
Baseball Loses Game One of C-USA Championship, 8-3
5/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 20, 2009
Hattiesburg, Miss. - The University of Houston baseball team lost their opening round game of the Conference USA Championship, 8-3, Wednesday morning at Pete Taylor Park to the UAB Blazers.
The Cougars entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed but lost to the No. 6 seed UAB, playing in their third consecutive opening game of the tournament.
Blake Kelso scored the first run of the game, and the tournament, for the Cougars in the first inning. After reaching base on an error by UAB third baseman Andrew Manning, Kelso advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out by the next two batters and then scored on an infield single from Caleb Ramsey.
Jared Ray then pitched four innings without giving up a hit before the Blazers were able to put together a four run fifth inning to take the lead, 4-1.
UAB continued to score runs on the Cougars, posting three runs in the seventh inning to extend their lead to six, 7-1. A run in the eighth gave the Blazers their final total of the contest.
UH, however, was able to score two runs in their final two at bats. In the eighth inning, Chase Dempsay singled to center field and advanced to third on a Ramsey double. William Kankel then reached base on a fielding error by the UAB shortstop, scoring Dempsay.
In the ninth inning, with one out, Jake Runte walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a Kelso single to left field.
Ray finished the game pitching six innings, allowing five earned runs and four strikeouts. Frank Corolla, Jimmy Raviele and David McClain combined to pitch the final three innings of the game, allowing a combined three hits, one run and two strikeouts.
At the plate, Houston was led by Dempsay, Ramsey and Zak Presley as each recorded two hits in the contest.
Wednesday's game marks the seventh time in nine years and the third consecutive year that the Cougars have played the opening game of the Championship. Houston is 3-4 in those games.
With the loss, Houston will play the loser of the 12:30 p.m. game against Rice and Marshall at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning.
