Bianco Heroics Not Enough in 10-8 Loss to Incarnate Word

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Graduate transfer center fielder Drew Bianco's over-the-wall catch was not enough as University of Houston Baseball fell to Incarnate Word, 10-8 on Sunday afternoon at Whataburger Field in its final game of the Kleberg Classic.

Bianco robbed a would-be home run from Cardinals' Alec Carr in the first at-bat of the sixth inning. The graduate student entered the game in the previous inning as a pinch hitter before making cartwheeling, over-the-wall snag in center field. The loss dropped Houston to 2-5 on the season while Incarnate Word improved to 3-4.

DREW. BIANCO. 🤯

WHAT?!?!?!!? He really just did that AGAIN. #SCTop10 x @DrewBianco8 pic.twitter.com/HUJcjD3xFp
— Houston Baseball (@UHCougarBB) February 26, 2023

Player Highlights:

Anthony Tulimero: 2-4, RBI, SB
Justin Murray: 1-5, R, RBI, HR,
Brandon Uhse: 1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B

Game Highlights:

Center fielder Drew Bianco robbed a home run, catching the ball before tumbling over the fence in the sixth inning.
Starting pitcher Tommy Egan worked 5.2 innings in his second start of the season while striking out six batters.
Justin Murray recorded his first home run in the Houston uniform.
Six different batters stole a base in the game including two from third baseman Zach Arnold.

Houston closer José Torrealba (1-2) tossed 3.0 innings for the Cougars but ultimately took the loss while UIW's Steve Hayward (1-0) threw 5.0 innings and held off the Cougars earning the win.

Key Innings
2nd | The Cougars took the lead early as senior outfielder Brandon Uhse was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat before stealing second with sophomore outfielder Cameron Nickens at the plate. Nickens quickly put the ball into play, singling to center field to bring Uhse home. A single from junior catcher Anthony Tulimero put Houston runners on the corners and junior outfield Cary Arbolida drove in Nickens to make the score 2-0.

3rd | Incarnate Word evened the game to 2-all on a two-run homer in the top of the third inning. But, the Cougars answered back, bringing sophomore second baseman Brandon Burckel home on a Zach Arnold single. Arnold eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch to put Houston up 4-2.

5th | Junior first baseman Justin Murray started the fifth frame out with a bang, delivering his first home run of the season. Three batters later, with runners on first and second, Uhse doubled to the wall scoring two Cougars for a 7-3 advantage. Tulimero contributed another Houston run singling to bring Uhse home for an 8-3 lead.

Incarnate Word surged from behind taking advantage of its momentum and tacked on four runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and eighth and two in the ninth to ultimately take the 10-8 win.

UP NEXT
Houston returns home to host Texas Southern on Tuesday in a 6 p.m. matchup at Schroeder Park. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on The Varsity Network.

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