University of Houston
Texas State
Houston Shutout in Series Finale
2/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2012
HOUSTON-The University of Houston baseball team never settled into an offensive groove on Sunday afternoon, falling 6-0 to Texas State in the series finale at Cougar Field.
The Cougars dropped to 4-3 on the season with the loss, while the Bobcats improved to 4-3.
"I thought we played really hard today. I told the team after the game that this game's first five or six innings was the effort and energy I've been looking for all year," said second-year head coach Todd Whitting. "If we play hard like we did today, we are going to win more than we lose."
"We are a young club and do things that young teams do," said Whitting. "I'm leaving here today knowing we gave everything we had."
Houston managed to only muster up five hits, all singles in the afternoon contest, while Texas State produced 13 hits, three of which came for extra bases.
Five different Cougars notched a base knock as juniors Jacob Lueneburg (1x4, SB), Casey Grayson (1x4), Chase Jensen (1x3), Wes Theiss (1x2), and freshman Zack Gibson (1x4) all landed in the hit column for Houston.
Freshman Aaron Garza (5.1,6,2,2,1,3) suffered the loss in just his second collegiate outing as a Cougar to fall to 1-1 on the season. The righty allowed two runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
"Garza was outstanding today," said Whitting. "He is just as good as any freshman in the country."
Relieving Garza on the bump were juniors Jordan Mannisto (0.1,2,1,1,0,0), Aaron Stewart (1.1,0,0,0,0,0), senior Mo Wiley (1.1,4,3,3,0,1) and junior Matt Hernandez (0.2,1,0,0,0,0).
It was a scoreless game until the sixth inning when Texas State struck first three runs on four hits and one error. Houston was never able to recover as the Bobcat pitching staff was retired in order over the next three innings, despite putting nice hardware of their hits.
"I wish we would have won," said Whitting. "The game was closer than the score dictated but all we need to do is keep working hard."
Texas State added three more insurance runs in the eighth and ninth frames to cap a 6-0 win. Houston had its chances as it stranded 11 base runners on the afternoon.
Bobcat starter Kyle Finnegan (6.0,5,0,0,3,4) picked up the win.
UP NEXT
Houston will begin the 2012 Silver Glove series on Tuesday when it hosts No. 5-ranked Rice at Cougar Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. The first 200 fans will receive an official Houston Cougars Baseball t-shirt.
