University of Houston
20-15, 5-6
Wichita State
18-17, 3-5
Houston Downs Wichita State, 7-3, to Clinch Series
4/13/2019 6:09:00 PM | Baseball
Six of team’s seven runs came with two outs
WICHITA, Kan. -- The University of Houston Baseball team defeated Wichita State, 7-3, on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium.
With the win, the Cougars clinch the series and improve to 20-15 on the season and 5-6 in American Athletic Conference play, while the Shockers move to 18-17 overall and 3-5 in league action.
KEY INNINGS
1st | Senior center fielder Grayson Padgett, who doubled and advanced to third on a single up the middle from senior left fielder Rey Fuentes III, scored on a failed pickoff attempt at first base in the opening frame.
2nd | Houston added another run in the top of the second. Junior designated hitter Lael Lockhart Jr. walked to open the frame and advanced to second on a two-out single from sophomore catcher Kyle Lovelace. Junior third baseman Jared Triolo followed with a double into the right-center gap to deliver Lockhart Jr. and take a 2-0 lead.
3rd | The Cougars added two unearned runs in the third. With one out, Fuentes III and Bielamowicz each singled before coming home on a two-out dropped fly ball in left field.
5th | WSU got on the board behind a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the fifth to make it 4-1.
6th | The Shockers added another run on a RBI single in the sixth.
8th | Houston scored two runs in the eighth. With two outs, junior shortstop Kobe Hyland doubled down the right-field line. Freshman second baseman Brad Burckel and Lovelace followed with RBI singles to go up 6-2. WSU scored one run on a RBI single in the bottom frame.
9th | In the top of the ninth, senior first baseman Joe Davis came home on a dropped line drive to left field off the bat of Lockhart Jr. for the 7-3 final.
HOUSTON NOTES
Offense:
• Lovelace tied his career high with three hits. The native of Hudson, Texas, finished 3-for-4 with one RBI.
• Bielamowicz and Fuentes III each turned in 2-for-4 efforts with one run scored. Bielamowicz also reached on a hit by pitch.
• Burckel went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
• Padgett and Triolo each doubled in 1-for-5 showings. Padgett added a run scored, while Triolo's two-bagger delivered a run for the Cougars.
• Hyland also doubled, finishing 1-for-5 with one run scored.
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Pitching:
• Sophomore Clay Aguilar (3-3) picked up his third win of the season. The native of Deer Park, Texas, limited the Shockers to two runs on three hits across five and one-third innings. Aguilar, who was perfect for the first 11 outs of the game, walked one and recorded seven strikeouts.
• Making his fourth appearance in as many games, junior Devon Roedahl came one and got the final two outs of the sixth inning and went into the eighth. He issued one run and allowed one hit while adding a strikeout.
• Junior Fred Villarreal tossed the final inning and one-third, retiring the side in the bottom of the ninth the secure the series win.
The Cougars go for the series sweep in a noon first pitch 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: Aguilar, Clay (3-3)
L: EDDY, Liam (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Triolo, Jared 1 ; Padgett, Grayson 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 1
RBI: Triolo, Jared 1 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 1 ; Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
SH: Lovelace, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Padgett, Grayson 1 ; Davis, Joe 1 ; Fuentes III, Rey 1 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 1 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 1 ; Burckel, Brad 1
HBP: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: RITTER, Luke 1 ; SIGRIST, Jack 1
RBI: CADENA, Ross 1 ; SIGRIST, Jack 1 ; VANVOOREN, David 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KOCIS, Garrett 1 ; CADENA, Ross 1 ; CROFT, Noah 1
HBP: BOYER, Jordan 1 ; KOCIS, Garrett 1 ; KATZFEY, Jacob 1 ; VANVOOREN, David 1
