University of Houston
2-0
Northwestern State
0-2
Lovelace, Houston Walk Off Northwestern State, 5-4
2/16/2019 11:48:00 PM | Baseball
Sophomore hits walk-off single in bottom of ninth
HOUSTON -- Déjà vu. For the second straight night the University of Houston Baseball team won in walk-off fashion, downing Northwestern State, 5-4, on Saturday night at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
Similar to Opening Day, the Cougars (2-0) rallied from a 3-0 deficit and won in the bottom of the ninth inning. This time, sophomore catcher Kyle Lovelace exclamation-pointed the win with a walk-off single up the middle against the Demons (0-2).
Junior right-handed pitcher Devon Roedahl (2-0) claimed his second win in relief in as many days.
KEY INNINGS
6th | After a three-run top half from Northwestern State in the sixth inning, Houston answered with a two-out, two-run home run from junior left fielder Tyler Bielamowicz.
7th | The Cougars followed with two more runs in the seventh. After, junior third baseman Jared Triolo (single) and senior first baseman Joe Davis (walk) each reached to lead things off, junior Landon Etzel advanced the pair into scoring position with a pinch-hit, sacrifice bunt. The small-ball tactic paid immediate dividends in the next at-bat, as junior shortstop Kobe Hyland singled in no-man's land on the right side of the infield to tie the game. Two batters later, freshman second baseman Brad Burckel added a RBI single down the left field line to take a 4-3 lead.
8th | The Demons retied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth.
9th | In the bottom of the ninth, freshman Craig Yoho made his collegiate debut leading off with a pinch-hit single. With two outs, Burckel singled to second base, and heads-up base running by Yoho aided a miscue from Northwestern State's defense to put runners at the corners. In the next at-bat, Lovelace walked things off with a single up the middle to deliver the 5-4 final as well as clinch the series.
HOUSTON NOTES
Offense:
• Lovelace's walk-off single is the second for Houston is as many days. Hyland hit a two-run, walk-off home run against the Demons on Opening Day. Lovelace finished 2-for-4 with two singles, one RBI and one run scored.
• In total, four Cougars turned in multi-hit games. Joining Lovelace, Hyland and Burckel each went 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Triolo went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Bielamowicz's two-run home run was his first hit of the season and marked Houston's third home run of the season, all multi-run home runs.
• Yoho collected the Cougars' first pinch hit of the season.
Pitching:
• Roedahl tossed one and two-thirds innings of scoreless, no-hit relief, striking out one and walking one in the win.
• Senior Ryan Randel tossed five scoreless innings in his start, before surrendering two runs in the top of the sixth. He finished with three strikeouts, two walks and two hit by pitch in the no-decision.
• Cougars Carter Henry, Tristen Bayless and Brayson Hurdsman also pitched in relief. Bayless gave up just one hit and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning for his Houston debut.
ON DECK
The Cougars go for the series sweep at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
PARKING IN 2019
Gameday parking is offered in a different capacity than in prior years. Anyone entering Lot 16B (across the street from right field) will be subjected to paying a third party company employed by campus. This lot will no longer be an option for free parking on gamedays. All other lots surrounding the stadium will be free of charge two hours prior to first pitch.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarBB, and "Like" UHCougarBB on Facebook.
JOIN DUGOUT CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Baseball program by joining the Dugout Club. To find out more information about the Dugout Club, visit UHCougarPride.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roedahl, Devon (2-0)
L: Hodo, David (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Ricca, Caleb 1 ; Smith, Tyler 1
RBI: Skinner, Marshall 1 ; Davis, Peyton 3
SF: Davis, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ricca, Caleb 1 ; Watson, Luke 1 ; Lagreco, J.P. 1 ; Fontenot, Larson 1
SB: Ricca, Caleb 1
CS: Ricca, Caleb 1
HBP: Skinner, Marshall 1 ; Taylor, Sam 1
Batting:
HR: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1
RBI: Bielamowicz, Tyler 2 ; Hyland, Kobe 1 ; Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
SH: Etzel, Landon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1 ; Triolo, Jared 1 ; Davis, Joe 1 ; Yoho, Craig 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
CS: Padgett, Grayson 1 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 1
