Houston Falls in Season Opener, 3-2

Friday, February 16

SCHROEDER PARK

6:30 PM

University of Houston

0-1

Holy Cross

1-0

Holy Cross

Houston

2/16/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 16, 2018

Final Stats | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery

HOUSTON -- Houston Baseball junior Trey Cumbie struck out a career-high 12 Crusaders, but the No. 21 Cougars weren't able to scratch across a late run, falling 3-2 in the 2018 season opener vs. Holy Cross at Schroeder Park Friday.

With the loss, Houston fell to 0-1 on the year, while Holy Cross improved to 1-0.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday: Houston vs. Holy Cross | 6:30 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.)
Sunday: Houston vs. Holy Cross | 1 p.m. (Gates open at 11 a.m.)

TICKET INFORMATION
Season Tickets, single game tickets and the Flex 20 plan are all available for purchase.
To purchase tickets, visit uhcougars.com/tickets or call 713-GO-COOGS.

FOLLOW ALONG
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio
Watch Live: Houston All-Access (paid subscription)
GAMEDAY Central: UHCougars.com/gameday

HOUSTON HITS

Trey Cumbie struck out 12 for a career-high, surpassing his previous high of 11, which came on May 13, 2017 at Tulane.
Cumbie struck out the side in back-to-back innings (2nd & 3rd).
Tucker Redden and Drew Minter each recorded their first hits as Cougars.
Six different Cougars recorded one hit each.
Joey Pulido tossed 3.0 innings in relief, tying his career-high in strikeouts with six.
Houston stranded 10 bases runners.
Cougar pitching struck out a combined 20 Holy Cross hitters -- the 20 are the most by a Houston staff in a 9-inning game since 19 vs. Memphis back in 2002.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Joe Davis | 1x3, RBI
Jared Triolo | 0x3, RBI, SF
Lael Lockhart Jr. | 1x3, R, SB
Connor Hollis | 1x4, R

Joe Davis and Jared Triolo each recorded an RBI, while Connor Hollis and Lael Lockhart Jr. scored the two Cougar runs.

PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Trey Cumbie | 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 12 K
Joey Pulido | 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Brayson Hurdsman | 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Starter Trey Cumbie struck out 12 in 5.1 innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk. He was issued the no-decision after the Cougars tied the game in the fourth inning.

Senior reliever Joey Pulido was dominant early out of the bullpen, fanning six, including striking out the side in the seventh. He allowed the go-ahead run, but only surrendered three hits with no walks. He was tagged with the loss, falling to 0-1.

Sophomore Brayson Hurdsman pitched the final two outs in the ninth, striking out a pair.

KEY INNINGS
1st | After Holy Cross jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Houston responded with a run on a Joe Davis' RBI-single, scoring Connor Hollis, who doubled in the at-bat prior.

4th | Lael Lockhart Jr. led off the fourth with a single up the middle, stole second and advanced to third on a balk, allowing teammate Jared Triolo to tie the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.

8th | Holy Cross took the lead in the eighth inning on an infield groundout to make it a 3-2 game.

HOLY CROSS NOTES
Holy Cross used seven pitchers on Friday to secure the win, moving to 1-0. Zane Hedaya earned the win, tossing 2.1 innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out four. The offense had six hits, led by Alex Volpi's two-run home run in the first inning.

ROTATION THE REST OF THE WAY
Saturday, February 17
Houston: LHP Aaron Fletcher
** Making first career start; was Houston's closer in 2017; was Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List
Holy Cross: RHP Pat McGowan

Sunday, February 18
Houston: RHP Ryan Randel
** JUCO transfer from Orange Coast College; will make Houston debut on Sunday
Holy Cross: RHP Declan Cronin
OPENING WEEKENDS

The Cougars own a 20-2 record under head coach Todd Whitting during Opening Weekends

ON DECK
Following Opening Weekend at Schroeder Park, Houston will hit the road for the next four games, beginning with a midweek tilt at Sam Houston State -- Game 1 of the Don Sanders Cup on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Cougars will travel then to Fullerton, Calif. to take on 2017 College World Series opponent, Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series.

$2 TUESDAYS | $2 tickets and $2 hot dogs every Tuesday home game
SEASON LONG PROMOTIONS

FRIDAY FRENZY | Every Friday night at Schroeder Park ($1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beer)
SUNDAY KIDS DAY | Every Sunday at Schroeder Park, kids will be able to run the bases following the game and enjoy postgame autographs

STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /UHCougarBB. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.