Cougars Outlast Cincinnati, 5-4

CINCINNATI – Houston Baseball used a four-run first inning and steady pitching to defeat Cincinnati, 5-4, in Cougars' American Athletic Conference road opener Friday night from UC Baseball Stadium.

Houston chased Cincinnati starter Conner Linn (2-1) after just 3.2 innings. The Cougars (21-9, 3-1 American) tagged the starter for five hits in the first inning with Alex Lopez provided a two-run home run before Ryan Hernandez and Malachi Lott added RBI-doubles.

The Bearcats (11-17, 1-3 American) scored twice in the first inning and added single runs in the fourth and fifth frames but could not break through, batting just .167 (2-for-12) with runners aboard and .111 (1-for-9) with runners in scoring position.

Houston starter Jaycob Deese worked around eight hits, allowing four runs while striking out five with two walks in 6.0 innings. Linn permitted nine hits and five runs (four earned) with one walk and six strikeouts.

Cougar closer Ben Sears locked up his sixth save, striking out a pair in a hitless ninth inning. Reliever Kyle LaCalameto did not allow a runner to reach in 2.0 innings with a strikeout.

Hernandez (1-for-4) ran his hit streak to seven games. Lopez's long ball in the first inning was his fourth of the season. Lott (2-for-4) notched his seven multi-hit game while Anthony Tulimero (2-for-4) registered his team-best 13^th multi-hit performance.

UP NEXT
The teams return to action at 3 p.m. CT Saturday. Houston will send right-hander Nathan Medrano (4-1, 3.70 ERA) to the mound against Cincinnati righty Beau Keathley (2-1, 5.74 ERA). The contest can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on The Varsity Network.

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Players Mentioned

Jaycob Deese

Ryan Hernandez

Kyle LaCalameto

Alex Lopez

Malachi Lott

Nathan Medrano

Ben Sears

Anthony Tulimero