Thursday, April 1
Houston, Texas
6:30 p.m.
University of Houston
13-11, 0
5
vs
3
Wichita State
12-9, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Wichita State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
3
6
1
Houston
1
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
X
5
8
1
Gasser, Cougars Grab AAC Opener
4/1/2021 9:51:00 PM | Baseball
HOUSTON – Houston starter Robert Gasser struck out a career-high 12 batters, leading the Cougars to a 5-3 win over Wichita State in the American Athletic Conference opener on Thursday night from Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
The Cougars (13-11, 1-0 AAC) provided early support for Gasser, plating three in the first two innings including RBI-singles from second baseman Brad Burckel (1-for-2), who extended his on-base streak to 10 games, and center fielder Brandon Uhse (1-for-3), who has a hit in 18 of the last 23 contests.
Meanwhile, Gasser (4-2) did not allow a run in 7.2 innings, permitting just two hits alongside three walks and 12 strikeouts. The southpaw, who lowered his ERA to 1.65, has allowed one or no runs in five of seven starts and fanned nine-plus in four consecutive games.
Four days after walking off UT Arlington on a safety squeeze bunt, catcher Kyle Lovelace (1-for-3) set down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to plate Will Pendergrass (1-for-3) for a 4-0 lead in the fourth.
Wichita State starter Liam Eddy (2-4) allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking as many. The loss snapped Wichita State's four-game win streak and was Houston's ninth consecutive regular season victory against the Shockers (12-9, 0-1 AAC).
Cougar reliever Derrick Cherry permitted four hits and three runs (two earned) but stranded two aboard in the ninth inning. Houston held Wichita State to a .182 average (2-for-11) with runners aboard and did not allow a leadoff batter to reach (0-for-9).
The teams resume action at 2 p.m. Friday with the first of two contests. Game 2 will begin 45 minutes following the conclusion of the opener. Both contests can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on Stretch Live. Houston right-hander Carter Henry (0-0, 3.86 ERA) makes his first start since 2017 against righty Preston Snavely (2-1, 3.80 ERA) in the opener.
DUGOUT CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Baseball program directly by joining the Dugout Club. To find out more information about the Dugout Club, text UHBASEBALL to 71777, call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH or visit UHCougarPride.com.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarBB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Baseball on Facebook.
The Cougars (13-11, 1-0 AAC) provided early support for Gasser, plating three in the first two innings including RBI-singles from second baseman Brad Burckel (1-for-2), who extended his on-base streak to 10 games, and center fielder Brandon Uhse (1-for-3), who has a hit in 18 of the last 23 contests.
Meanwhile, Gasser (4-2) did not allow a run in 7.2 innings, permitting just two hits alongside three walks and 12 strikeouts. The southpaw, who lowered his ERA to 1.65, has allowed one or no runs in five of seven starts and fanned nine-plus in four consecutive games.
Four days after walking off UT Arlington on a safety squeeze bunt, catcher Kyle Lovelace (1-for-3) set down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to plate Will Pendergrass (1-for-3) for a 4-0 lead in the fourth.
Wichita State starter Liam Eddy (2-4) allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking as many. The loss snapped Wichita State's four-game win streak and was Houston's ninth consecutive regular season victory against the Shockers (12-9, 0-1 AAC).
Cougar reliever Derrick Cherry permitted four hits and three runs (two earned) but stranded two aboard in the ninth inning. Houston held Wichita State to a .182 average (2-for-11) with runners aboard and did not allow a leadoff batter to reach (0-for-9).
The teams resume action at 2 p.m. Friday with the first of two contests. Game 2 will begin 45 minutes following the conclusion of the opener. Both contests can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on Stretch Live. Houston right-hander Carter Henry (0-0, 3.86 ERA) makes his first start since 2017 against righty Preston Snavely (2-1, 3.80 ERA) in the opener.
DUGOUT CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Baseball program directly by joining the Dugout Club. To find out more information about the Dugout Club, text UHBASEBALL to 71777, call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH or visit UHCougarPride.com.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarBB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Baseball on Facebook.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gasser, Robert (4-2)
L: EDDY, Liam (2-4)
Batting:
2B: STEWART, Andrew 1
RBI: KOCIS, Garrett 1 ; BARTLETT, Corrigan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CORNBLUM, Couper 1 ; WALLACE, Paxton 1 ; KOCIS, Garrett 1
Batting:
2B: Pendergrass, Will 1
RBI: Uhse, Brandon 1 ; Bielamowicz, Tyler 2 ; Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
SH: Burckel, Brad 1 ; McMillan, Ian 1
SF: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Uhse, Brandon 1 ; Almendarez, Luke 1 ; Pendergrass, Will 2 ; Burckel, Brad 1
SB: Burckel, Brad 1
CS: McMillan, Ian 1
HBP: Pendergrass, Will 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
c
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
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