Saturday, May 28
Clearwater, Fla.
5:30 p.m. CT
University of Houston
37-23
9
vs
6
UCF
35-25
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6
7
8
9
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H
E
Houston
3
0
0
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UCF
3
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6
9
2
Tulimero Heroics Lift Cougars to Title Appearance
5/28/2022 9:09:00 PM | Baseball
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Three-run homer in ninth helps vault Cougars past Knights, 9-6
CLEARWATER, Fla. – University of Houston redshirt sophomore Anthony Tulimero crushed a three-run home run in the ninth inning, unlocking a six-all tie en route to a 9-6 win on Saturday night, vaulting the Cougars to the American Baseball Championship game from BayCare Ballpark.
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Houston (37-23) will face East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT Sunday with an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals on the line. The contest can be seen on ESPNEWS and heard on The Varsity Network app. The loss ends UCF's season at 35-25.
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Tulimero, who registered three hits and four RBIs, saved his best work for last. After walks to freshman Brandon Burckel and sophomore Alex Lopez, the catcher unloaded on a two-out, three-run home run, helping lift Houston to its fifth American Championship game appearance.
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Houston erased a two-run deficit in the eighth inning as graduate Santiago Garcia continued his torrid tournament, collecting his sixth RBI of the event with a groundout to plate Lopez (leadoff single). Two batters later, junior Ian McMillan dropped a game-tying RBI-single into left center after the Knights intentionally walked senior Ryan Hernandez.
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Cougar junior reliever Jose Torrealba earned his second save, tossing a scoreless ninth inning. Junior reliever Logan Clayton (7-3) picked up the victory, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames.
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UCF junior Ben McCabe struck two home runs including putting the Knights ahead 5-4 with a solo home run in the sixth inning. His first home run, a two-run shot, came in the first inning and tied the contest at three-all, erasing a once 3-0 Houston advantage.Â
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For a second straight game, Houston jumped out to a hot start, this time scoring three runs in the first inning highlighted by an RBI-single from McMillan. As was the case in the opener, the Knights bounced back, this time answering with three runs in the home half.
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Houston junior starter Jaycob Deese recorded just two outs, allowing three runs on a pair of hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander was picked up nicely by redshirt junior Maddux Miller who fanned three and allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings.Â
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Junior Brandon Uhse notched his 17th multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 5. On the mound, sophomore reliever Jackson Dannelley worked around two hits while striking out a pair in 1.1 innings.
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UP NEXT
The Cougars make their fifth American Baseball Championship game appearance when they face East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT Sunday. The contest can be seen on ESPNEWS and heard on The Varsity Network app. Each team will be looking for their third American tournament title.
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JOIN THE DUGOUT CLUB Â
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.Â
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STAY CONNECTED Â
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.Â
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Houston (37-23) will face East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT Sunday with an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals on the line. The contest can be seen on ESPNEWS and heard on The Varsity Network app. The loss ends UCF's season at 35-25.
Â
Tulimero, who registered three hits and four RBIs, saved his best work for last. After walks to freshman Brandon Burckel and sophomore Alex Lopez, the catcher unloaded on a two-out, three-run home run, helping lift Houston to its fifth American Championship game appearance.
Â
Houston erased a two-run deficit in the eighth inning as graduate Santiago Garcia continued his torrid tournament, collecting his sixth RBI of the event with a groundout to plate Lopez (leadoff single). Two batters later, junior Ian McMillan dropped a game-tying RBI-single into left center after the Knights intentionally walked senior Ryan Hernandez.
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Cougar junior reliever Jose Torrealba earned his second save, tossing a scoreless ninth inning. Junior reliever Logan Clayton (7-3) picked up the victory, tossing 1.1 scoreless frames.
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UCF junior Ben McCabe struck two home runs including putting the Knights ahead 5-4 with a solo home run in the sixth inning. His first home run, a two-run shot, came in the first inning and tied the contest at three-all, erasing a once 3-0 Houston advantage.Â
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For a second straight game, Houston jumped out to a hot start, this time scoring three runs in the first inning highlighted by an RBI-single from McMillan. As was the case in the opener, the Knights bounced back, this time answering with three runs in the home half.
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Houston junior starter Jaycob Deese recorded just two outs, allowing three runs on a pair of hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander was picked up nicely by redshirt junior Maddux Miller who fanned three and allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings.Â
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Junior Brandon Uhse notched his 17th multi-hit game, finishing 2 for 5. On the mound, sophomore reliever Jackson Dannelley worked around two hits while striking out a pair in 1.1 innings.
Â
UP NEXT
The Cougars make their fifth American Baseball Championship game appearance when they face East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT Sunday. The contest can be seen on ESPNEWS and heard on The Varsity Network app. Each team will be looking for their third American tournament title.
Â
JOIN THE DUGOUT CLUB Â
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.Â
 Â
STAY CONNECTED Â
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.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Clayton, Logan (7-3)
L: Crain, Cameron (2-3)
S: Torrealba, José (2)
Batting:
2B: Tulimero, Anthony 1
HR: Tulimero, Anthony 1
RBI: Tulimero, Anthony 4 ; Garcia, Santiago 2 ; McMillan, Ian 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Uhse, Brandon 2 ; Lopez, Alex 2 ; Tulimero, Anthony 2 ; Garcia, Santiago 1 ; Hernandez, Ryan 1 ; Burckel, Brandon 1
SB: Uhse, Brandon 2 ; Tulimero, Anthony 1
Batting:
2B: Sundean, Andrew 1 ; Boedicker, Lex 1
HR: Freeland, Alex 2 ; McCabe, Ben 2
RBI: Pena, Gephry 1 ; Freeland, Alex 2 ; McCabe, Ben 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Freeland, Alex 2 ; Josten, Tom 1 ; McCabe, Ben 2 ; Sundean, Andrew 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
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2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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INF
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