Garza's Complete Game Lifts Baseball to Win

March 21, 2014

COLLEGE OF
CHARLESTON
(16-5)
3

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
College of Charleston	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	7	1
Houston	0	4	0	0	2	2	0	0	x	8	7	1

No. 21 HOUSTON
(17-4)
8

PITCHING	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
W - Garza (6-0)	9.0	7	3	2	0	6
L - Clarke (4-2)	4.0	5	5	5	2	1

POSTGAME NOTES

3 - Sophomores Kyle Survance and Justin Montemayor drove in three runs a piece in Houston's 8-3 win.

6 - Houston's Aaron Garza became the first Houston pitcher since Keith Whatley in 2002 to register a win in his first six starts.

9 - Garza tossed his first career complete game striking out six and walking no batters in the full nine innings.

14 - After Garza's no-walk effort tonight, Houston pitching has surrendered one of fewer walks in 14 games this season.

21 - Caleb Barker has now reached base safely in all 21 games this season after his hit-by-pitch in the second inning.

HOUSTON - Houston Baseball used an all-around effort, led by a complete-game performance from junior starter Aaron Garza to lift the Cougars over College of Charleston, 8-3, at Cougar Field Friday evening to improve to 17-4 on the season.

To accompany the 17-4 start, Houston is now 13-1 at home. With the loss, College of Charleston fell to 16-5 on the year.

Just a reminder that Saturday's game time is now slated for 4 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m. due to expected inclement weather.

Garza (9.0,7,3,2,0,6) pitched his first career complete game, striking out six and allowing just two earned runs on seven hits for his sixth win of the year - making his season record 6-0.

Garza became the first Cougar since Keith Whatley back in 2002 to notch a win in his first six starts in one season.

He was dynamite in his performance as the Galveston, Texas native didn't allow a walk and tossed just 101 total pitches in the complete-game showing.

Houston's offense backed the righty, securing eight runs on seven hits and took advantage of eight walks in the win. Sophomores Kyle Survance (2x3, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB) and Justin Montemayor (1x3, 3 RBI, BB) drove in three runs each on RBI-hits, while freshman Jordan Stading (1x3, RBI, BB) drove in a run on his base hit. Senior Casey Grayson (1x4, R, BB), sophomore Josh Vidales (1x4, R), and junior Michael Pyeatt (1x4, R) each added a base knock and scored a run.

Houston used a four-run second inning to take a 4-0 lead early as Vidales opened up the scoring attack with a one-out single up the middle. Barker then walked to tally his 21^st straight game reaching base, which was followed by an RBI-single by Stading. A fielder's choice put Pyeatt at first and allowed Appling to load the bases with a walk. Survance then drove a 2-1 pitch down the left field line for a bases-clearing, two-out double for three more runs.

The Cougars then struck for two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth for an 8-0 lead. In the fifth, Survance opened the frame with a single. A walk by senior Frankie Ratcliff was followed by two singles, including a two-run single by Montemayor. In the sixth, Houston didn't record a hit, but took advantage of four walks, which included a bases-loaded free pass and a score on a wild pitch.

College of Charleston scored its first run of the game in the eighth on an RBI-single following a leadoff double. CofC went on to score two in the ninth for its three runs after a two-run homerun made it a five-run game.

CofC starter Taylor Clarke (4.0,5,5,5,2,1) took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the season after allowing five runs on five hits and two walks in 4.0 innings with one strikeout.

POST-GAME QUOTE
Todd Whitting
Opening Statement
"Really solid win over a really solid Charleston team. They're very well coached, and a pretty physical bunch. They like to attack the ball at the plate. They don't sit and wait long. (Aaron) Garza was lights out tonight. Same ole same ole with him, he did a good job of mixing up his pitches within the strike zone to keep them off balanced. We played pretty good defense behind him. (Kyle) Survance's double with the bases loaded was a huge boost for us to extend our lead."

Aaron Garza
On getting his first career complete game
"Yeah, there was two other games this year where I went into the ninth and I wasn't able to finish, so I figured third time was the charm. Even though I gave up the home run it's all about the win. I was a little upset about that, but you move on to the next pitch. A couple pitches later nine innings in the books."

On the difference from last season to this season
"Last year I felt like I was just throwing the ball at the plate, and seeing what happens. This year it's going out there with a purpose, and conviction wanting to get guys out. Instead of just basically seeing what happens. That's the biggest difference being a bigger competitor this year."

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UP NEXT
Houston and College of Charleston will continue its three-game series on Saturday with first pitch slated for 4 p.m., followed by an 11 a.m. Sunday start. Note: new time changes due to expected inclement weather.

TICKET INFORMATION
By visiting UHCougars.com, clicking the Tickets link, and then Purchase Tickets, while following the appropriate links to the Baseball page or by clicking here, fans can begin purchasing tickets for single games at Cougar Field this season.

COUGAR SPRING FLING vs. LOUISVILLE TICKETS
Tickets for the Cougar Spring Fling, good for general admission to both events, are just $5 prior to April 11 and $10 on April 11. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE COUGAR SPRING FLING.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through UHCougars.com or by calling the Houston Athletics Ticket Office at 713-462-6647. Tickets on the day of the event can be purchased at the Houston Athletics Ticket Office, located in the Athletics/Alumni Center at 3100 Cullen Blvd., or at the event's entrances beginning at 5 p.m.

All Houston Baseball season ticket holders and single game reserved seat ticket holders ($12-15) will be admitted into Cougar Spring Fling with their previously purchased tickets. All seating at the Houston Football Spring Game will be general admission.

Cash parking for the Spring Fling will be available in the Houston Football Stadium parking garage and in lot 16C located across from Cougar Field on Cullen Blvd.

FAMILY PLAN TICKET PACKAGE
Families can purchase the Family Plan for just $399, which includes two adult and two youth General Admission tickets to each of the 33 home games.

SEASON TICKETS
General Admission seats include 33 "Anytime Tickets". You may use one ticket to each home game, 33 tickets to one game, or any combination in between.

General Admission season tickets start for as low as $150 (33 home games/$4.50 per ticket), while Reserved season tickets start at only $200 (33 home games/$6.00 per ticket).

To purchase, visit the Tickets tab, Purchase Tickets, while following the appropriate links to the Baseball page under Season Tickets or by clicking here.

For questions or concerns, call or visit the Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or 877-COUGAR-5 (268-4275).

KIDS (8^th grade & younger) with CAMP T-SHIRT GET IN FREE
Kids who show up to Cougar Field in a UH Baseball Camp T-Shirt and are in the eighth grade or younger will receive FREE ADMISSION to any Houston Baseball home game.

STATS COMPARISON
Runs	8	3
AB	30	34
Hits	7	8
RBI	7	3
BB	8	4
LOB	8	5

	STAT LEADERS
Survance	2	H	2	x2
Survance	1	2B	1	x2
None

None

Glazer

RBI

Glazer

Appling

Survance

None

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Caleb Barker

Aaron Garza

Casey Grayson

Justin Montemayor

Michael Pyeatt

Frankie Ratcliff

Jordan Stading

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Josh Vidales

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