University of Houston
19-15, 4-6
Wichita State
18-16, 3-4
Houston Slugs Way Past Wichita State, 13-5
4/12/2019 11:13:00 PM | Baseball
Senior Joe Davis homers twice; junior Lael Lockhart Jr. strikes out career-high nine
WICHITA, Kan. -- The University of Houston Baseball team slugged its way past Wichita State, 13-5, on Friday night at Eck Stadium.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 19-15 on the season and 4-6 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Shockers move to 18-16 overall and 3-4 in league action.
KEY INNINGS
1st | Houston scored two runs in the opening frame. Junior third baseman Jared Triolo set the tone with a ground-rule double to open the game. With one out, senior first baseman Joe Davis was intentionally walked, and senior left fielder Rey Fuentes III followed with a single up the middle to plate Triolo. In the next at-bat, junior right fielder Tyler Bielamowicz plated Davis with a single through the left side of the infield.
3rd | WSU got on the board with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning.
4th | Bielamowicz scored on a wild pitch in the fourth.
5th | The Cougars tacked on five runs in the fifth. With one out, the next five Cougars reached base. Senior center fielder Grayson Padgett singled to center and trotted home on a home run to left field from Davis one batter later. Fuentes III doubled to right field, and Bielamowicz singled to left center, before junior shortstop Kobe Hyland walked to load the bases. Fuentes scored on a free pass to freshman second baseman Brad Burckel, and Bielamowicz added another run on a wild pitch to make it 7-1.
6th | Houston scored three runs in the sixth. After Triolo and Padgett each singled to open the frame, Davis cleared the bases with a homer to center field.
7th | Both teams scored one run on sacrifice flyouts in the seventh inning. With one out, sophomore catcher Kyle Lovelace tripled into the right-field corner and came home on a sacrifice fly from Triolo two pitches later.
8th | Hyland doubled home Bielamowicz with two outs in the top of the eighth. However, WSU scored two runs in the bottom frame to make it 12-4.
9th | Burckel tripled to open the ninth and came home on a sacrifice fly from Lovelace in the next at-bat. The Shockers scored one run in the bottom of the ninth for the 13-5 final.
HOUSTON NOTES
Offense:
• Davis finished 3-for-5 with two multi-run home runs, one intentional walk, five RBI and three runs scored. The multi-homer performance is his second of the season and fourth overall of his career.
• Bielamowicz, who shifted from right to left field in the eighth inning, also turned in a three-hit effort. He went 3-for-4 with three singles, one walk and three runs scored. Bielamowicz's three hits tied his career high.
• Fuentes III and Hyland each finished 2-for-4 with a double, walk and RBI, while Padgett turned in a 2-for-4 effort with one run scored. Fuentes III also had one run scored.
• Triolo was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
• Burckel and Lovelace tripled in the late innings, respectively.
Pitching:
• Junior southpaw Lael Lockhart Jr. (3-4) picked up his third win of the season. The native of Friendswood, Texas, surrendered just one unearned run in six innings while recording a career-high nine strikeouts.
• Senior Nolan Bond took over in the seventh inning and went into the eighth. He was taxed for three runs (one earned) in an inning and two-thirds.
• Junior Brayson Hurdsman came one and got the final out of the eighth and surrendered one run with two outs in the ninth.
• Junior Devon Roedahl came one and got the final out via a fielder's choice in his lone batter faced to end the game.
The Cougars go for the series win in a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday.
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: Lockhart Jr., Lael (3-4)
L: SNAVELY, Preston (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Triolo, Jared 1 ; Fuentes III, Rey 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 1
3B: Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
HR: Davis, Joe 2
RBI: Triolo, Jared 1 ; Davis, Joe 5 ; Fuentes III, Rey 1 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 1 ; Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
SF: Triolo, Jared 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Triolo, Jared 2 ; Padgett, Grayson 1 ; Thomas, Johnathon 1 ; Davis, Joe 3 ; Fuentes III, Rey 1 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 3 ; Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
SB: Burckel, Brad 1
HBP: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: BOYER, Jordan 1 ; KOCIS, Garrett 1 ; SIGRIST, Jack 1
RBI: BOYER, Jordan 2 ; SLAVENS, Brady 1 ; SIGRIST, Jack 2
SF: BOYER, Jordan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: PLASTIAK, Jake 1 ; SLAVENS, Brady 1 ; KOCIS, Garrett 2 ; KATZFEY, Jacob 1
SB: KATZFEY, Jacob 1 ; SIGRIST, Jack 1
HBP: GIBSON, Hunter 1
