Houston Knocks Off No. 7 Texas A&M, 4-1

Tuesday, April 16

Houston, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Houston

22-15

No. 7 Texas A&M

27-11-1

Texas A&M

Houston

4/16/2019 11:15:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Ryan Randel tosses 6.1 innings in win; Derrick Cherry goes 3-for-4

By: Kyle Rogers

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team defeated No. 7 Texas A&M, 4-1, on Tuesday night at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.

With the win, the Cougars pick up their fifth straight victory and improve to 22-15 on the season, while the Aggies fall to 27-11-1 overall.

KEY INNINGS
1st | Houston scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Cougars scored right out of the gate, as junior third baseman Jared Triolo led off with a single up the middle and junior right fielder Blake Way followed with a RBI double on a one-hopper to the wall in right center. Way himself scored later in the frame on a single to right center from freshman designated hitter Derrick Cherry.

2nd | The Cougars added one run in the second. Freshman second baseman Brad Burckel reached on a hit by pitch to open the bottom frame. In the next at-bat, sophomore Kyle Lovelace singled to the pitcher, and a throwing error on the play allowed Burckel to come around for a 3-0 lead.

6th | A&M broke up the no-hit bid with a double to open the sixth. The Aggies followed with back-to-back groundouts to plate their lone run of the game.

7th | Lovelace scored on a wild pitch as an insurance run in the seventh for the 4-1 final.

HOUSTON NOTES
Offense:
• Cherry turned in a career-high three hits in a 3-for-4 effort. He finished with two singles, one of which for an RBI, and one double.
• Lovelace went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Fuentes III (1-for-3), Triolo (1-for-3) and Way (1-for-4) all recorded one hit. Way recorded an RBI double and one run scored, while Triolo also crossed home plate for the Cougars.
• Senior first baseman Joe Davis drew two intentional walks.

Pitching:
• Senior right-hander Ryan Randel (3-2) picked up his third win of the season. Randel, who carried a no-hit bid through five innings, allowed just one run on two hits and one walk across six and one-third innings.
• Junior Sean Bretz retired all five batters he faced across one and two-third scoreless innings of relief to get through the eighth.
• Junior Fred Villarreal worked around a leadoff hit by pitch to toss a scoreless ninth for his eighth save of the season.

ON DECK
The Cougars return to American Athletic Conference play with a three-game, Thursday-Saturday series against Cincinnati.

Kids that wear their baseball uniform to Friday's game against the Bearcats will get free admission, while parents can buy tickets for $3. Houston will also host an Easter Egg Hunt on the field after Saturday's 1 p.m. series finale.

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.