University of Houston
2-2
No. 25 Stanford
1-4
Cougars Down No. 25 Stanford, 11-4
2/21/2020 9:22:00 PM | Baseball
Seven-run fourth inning lifts Houston to win
ROUND ROCK, Texas -- The University of Houston Baseball team recorded a seven-run fourth inning en route to an 11-4 win over Stanford in the opener of the inaugural Round Rock Classic on Friday night at Dell Diamond.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 2-2 on the season, while the Cardinal falls to 1-4. Stanford was No. 25 in the D1Baseball Poll and ranked No. 26 by NCBWA.
KEY INNINGS
1st | The Cardinal struck first with one run via a walk and double in the opening frame.
2nd | Houston used small-ball tactics to tie the game in the bottom of the second. Senior center fielder Tyler Bielamowicz led off with a hit by pitch and stole second base. Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Bryson Hill advanced Bielamowicz to third before senior left fielder Blake Way delivered him with a sacrifice fly.
4th | The Cougars batted around and broke out for a seventh-run fourth. Junior right fielder Steven Rivas (single) and Bielamowicz (double) opened the frame with base knocks. Following a strikeout, Way gave Houston the lead with a two-RBI single to left field. With two outs, junior catcher Kyle Lovelace reached on an error that delivered Way on the play. Middle infielders Brad Burckel and Kobe Hyland plated runs on singles to the left side of the field. Junior first baseman Ryan Hernandez followed reaching on an error before he and Hyland came home on a single through the right side of the infield by junior right fielder Steven Rivas.
7th | With the base loaded and no outs, Stanford pushed across three runs to make it 8-4 in the seventh.
8th | Hernandez got those runs back with a three-run home run to left in the eighth for the 11-4 final.
HOUSTON NOTES
Offense:
• Way turned in a 2-for-2 showing with a career-high three RBI, along with one run scored and a sac fly.
• Hernandez hit his team-leading third home run of the season in a 1-for-4 effort. His three RBI were also a career high.
• Bielamowicz and Burckel each doubled in two-hit efforts. Burckel went 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored, while Bielamowicz was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Rivas finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored.
• Lovelace also turned in a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Houston recorded a season-high 12 hits.
Pitching:
• Senior left-handed pitcher Lael Lockhart Jr. (1-0) picked up his first win of the season. The native of Friendswood, Texas, worked around one run on four hits while striking out four and walking three over 4.2 innings.
• Junior righty Isaiah Blaylock made his third straight appearance. Blaylock recorded a strikeout for the final out of the fifth inning and started the sixth.
• Senior southpaw Brayson Hurdsman logged all six outs of the sixth and seventh innings. He was taxed for three runs on five hits and struck out four.
• Senior lefty Tristen Bayless finished things off with scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth. Bayless walked none and fanned three.
ON DECK
The Cougars continue their play in Round Rock Classic with a 2 p.m. first pitch against Tennessee on Saturday. That game will be streamed on FloBaseball.tv.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets for the 2020 University of Houston Baseball season are on sale, and fans have the opportunity to renew and/or purchase tickets to games Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park starting for $100.
Those interested in purchasing their season tickets can do so by visiting UHCougars.com/Tickets, calling Houston Athletics Ticketing at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647), or visiting the Ticket Office located just outside of Gate 1 (northeast corner) of TDECU Stadium. For more, click HERE.
To see the promotions schedule, click HERE.
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.
– UHCougars.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lockhart Jr., Lael (1-0)
L: Beck,Brendan (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Molfetta,Christian 2
RBI: Molfetta,Christian 1 ; Bellafronto,Nick 2 ; Martinez, Vincent 1
SH: Dieter,Brandon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jones, Brock 1 ; Molfetta,Christian 1 ; Tawa,Tim 1 ; Brueser,Nick 1
SB: Jones, Brock 1 ; Brueser,Nick 1
HBP: Jones, Brock 1
PO: Oar,Nick 1
Batting:
2B: Burckel, Brad 1 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 1
HR: Hernandez, Ryan 1
RBI: Burckel, Brad 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 1 ; Hernandez, Ryan 3 ; Rivas, Steven 2 ; Way, Blake 3
SH: Burckel, Brad 1
SF: Way, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burckel, Brad 1 ; Hyland, Kobe 2 ; Hernandez, Ryan 2 ; Rivas, Steven 1 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 2 ; Way, Blake 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 2
SB: Burckel, Brad 3 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 1 ; Way, Blake 2
HBP: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1
