Friday, May 13
Houston, Texas
6:30 p.m.
University of Houston
34-16, 0
9
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6
UCF
28-21, 0
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7
8
9
R
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E
UCF
4
0
0
0
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0
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10
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Houston
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0
0
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X
9
11
0
Seniors Pave Way in 9-6 Victory
5/13/2022 10:13:00 PM | Baseball
Cougars overcome early deficit to take opener against UCF
HOUSTON – University of Houston started its senior weekend celebration with a bang as senior Ryan Hernandez crushed two home runs and graduate Santiago Garcia walloped a three-run homer as Cougars captured the series opener 9-6 from UCF Friday night from Sanders Field at Schroeder Park.
Hernandez smacked his second home run of the game and fifth in the last five contests to put Houston (34-16, 13-6 American) ahead 5-4 with a three-run shot in the fourth inning. The first baseman, who will be among three seniors honored Sunday, clubbed a two-run homer in the second inning.
UCF (28-21, 11-8 American) jumped ahead with a four-run first inning, but junior Cougar starter Jaycob Deese bounced back to put up zeroes over the next three innings. The right-hander allowed five runs with four of his seven hits permitted coming in the first inning.
Houston junior closer Ben Sears locked up his American-best 12th save, allowing just a solo home run in the ninth. Sears fanned two in 2.0 innings as part of a Cougar bullpen that held the Knights to three hits over the last 5.0 innings.
Making his 15th appearance of the season, Garcia smacked his first home run with the Cougars, clubbing a three-run long ball for insurance in the ninth inning. Offensively, the Cougars extended their season-long streak of double-digit hit games to eight straight.
Houston junior reliever Logan Clayton (6-3) stranded the bases loaded in the sixth inning, working around a pair of hit by pitches and a single as part of 2.2 scoreless frames. Redshirt sophomore catcher Anthony Tulimero threw out two runners in the first three innings, running his league-best season total to 22.
UCF starter Ben Vespi (5-3) allowed eight hits and six runs in 6.0 innings. The Knights collected 10 hits and were led offensively by Tom Josten (2 for 3) and Andrew Sundean (1 for 5) who each logged two RBIs.
UP NEXT
The teams return to action with the middle game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Houston will send southpaw Kyle LaCalameto (2-2, 4.11 ERA) to the mound. UCF has not announced a starter.
The first 100 attendees will receive a Houston Baseball lanyard. The contest will also be Greek Night with the fraternity or sorority with the most members in attendance receiving a $200 Little Woodrow's gift card. A Houston win on Saturday means all fans in attendance walk away with a buy one, get one free box combo offer courtesy of Raising Cane's.
TICKETS ON SALE
Houston Baseball single-game tickets from Sanders Field at Schroeder Park are on sale. The Cougars will host three more games including two more against conference-rival UCF. To purchase seats, click here.
JOIN THE DUGOUT CLUB
Fans are invited to join The Dugout Club to directly support Houston Baseball. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the Dugout Club, text UHBASEBALL to 71777, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following UHCougarBB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarbb.
Hernandez smacked his second home run of the game and fifth in the last five contests to put Houston (34-16, 13-6 American) ahead 5-4 with a three-run shot in the fourth inning. The first baseman, who will be among three seniors honored Sunday, clubbed a two-run homer in the second inning.
UCF (28-21, 11-8 American) jumped ahead with a four-run first inning, but junior Cougar starter Jaycob Deese bounced back to put up zeroes over the next three innings. The right-hander allowed five runs with four of his seven hits permitted coming in the first inning.
Houston junior closer Ben Sears locked up his American-best 12th save, allowing just a solo home run in the ninth. Sears fanned two in 2.0 innings as part of a Cougar bullpen that held the Knights to three hits over the last 5.0 innings.
Making his 15th appearance of the season, Garcia smacked his first home run with the Cougars, clubbing a three-run long ball for insurance in the ninth inning. Offensively, the Cougars extended their season-long streak of double-digit hit games to eight straight.
Houston junior reliever Logan Clayton (6-3) stranded the bases loaded in the sixth inning, working around a pair of hit by pitches and a single as part of 2.2 scoreless frames. Redshirt sophomore catcher Anthony Tulimero threw out two runners in the first three innings, running his league-best season total to 22.
UCF starter Ben Vespi (5-3) allowed eight hits and six runs in 6.0 innings. The Knights collected 10 hits and were led offensively by Tom Josten (2 for 3) and Andrew Sundean (1 for 5) who each logged two RBIs.
UP NEXT
The teams return to action with the middle game at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Houston will send southpaw Kyle LaCalameto (2-2, 4.11 ERA) to the mound. UCF has not announced a starter.
The first 100 attendees will receive a Houston Baseball lanyard. The contest will also be Greek Night with the fraternity or sorority with the most members in attendance receiving a $200 Little Woodrow's gift card. A Houston win on Saturday means all fans in attendance walk away with a buy one, get one free box combo offer courtesy of Raising Cane's.
TICKETS ON SALE
Houston Baseball single-game tickets from Sanders Field at Schroeder Park are on sale. The Cougars will host three more games including two more against conference-rival UCF. To purchase seats, click here.
JOIN THE DUGOUT CLUB
Fans are invited to join The Dugout Club to directly support Houston Baseball. Members provide financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond operating budget. For more information about the Dugout Club, text UHBASEBALL to 71777, call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684) or click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following UHCougarBB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarbb.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Clayton, Logan (6-3)
L: Vespi, Ben (5-3)
S: Sears, Ben (12)
Batting:
2B: Orlando, Noah 1 ; Sundean, Andrew 1 ; Josten, Tom 2
3B: Orlando, Noah 1
HR: Pena, Gephry 1
RBI: Pena, Gephry 1 ; Sundean, Andrew 2 ; Josten, Tom 2 ; McCabe, Ben 1
SF: Josten, Tom 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Boedicker, Lex 2 ; Pena, Gephry 2 ; Sundean, Andrew 1 ; Josten, Tom 1
CS: Pena, Gephry 1 ; McCabe, Ben 1
HBP: Orlando, Noah 1 ; Brooks, Michael 1
Batting:
2B: Nickens, Cameron 1 ; McMillan, Ian 1
3B: Lott, Malachi 1
HR: Hernandez, Ryan 2 ; Garcia, Santiago 1
RBI: Uhse, Brandon 1 ; Hernandez, Ryan 5 ; Garcia, Santiago 3
SH: Lott, Malachi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tulimero, Anthony 1 ; Nickens, Cameron 2 ; Hernandez, Ryan 3 ; McMillan, Ian 1 ; Lott, Malachi 1 ; Garcia, Santiago 1
SB: Uhse, Brandon 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
3
H
2
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5
AB
4
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0
H
1
RBI
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Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/1B
/ Baseball1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
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