Friday, March 17
Minneapolis, Minn. / U.S. Bank Stadium
6:00 PM
University of Houston
6-11
3
at
2
Minnesota
3-16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Houston
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
3
6
0
Minnesota
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
5
0
Miller Shines in Cougars Win
3/17/2023 8:52:00 PM | Baseball
Senior tosses 6.2 shutout innings against Golden Gophers
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Houston Baseball senior starting pitcher Maddux Miller shined in the Cougars' 3-2 series-opening win against Minnesota on Friday evening at the U.S. Bank Stadium.
Miller (2-0) pitched a career-high 6.2 shutout innings for the Cougars (6-11) with five strikeouts while earning his second win of the season. In his first career start, Miller held batters to only three hits including only one extra-base hit. Graduate transfer Braden Forsyth earned his first save for the Cougars, pitching 2.1 innings with two strikeouts. With runners at a premium, Minnesota's (3-16) Tucker Novotny (0-2) tossed 7.0 innings but was saddled with the loss.
Houston limited Minnesota to 1 for 9 (.111) with two outs and did not permit a hit with runners aboard (0 for 9). Cougar leadoff hitters reached in 3 of 9 opportunities (.333).
Game Highlights:
5th | A four-inning pitcher's duel was interrupted by Houston hitting. Junior first baseman Justin Murray led off the inning with his first triple of the season to immediately put the Cougars into scoring position. Sophomore second baseman Brandon Burckel reached first base on a hit by pitch before stealing second. Senior shortstop Ian McMillan brought Murray home for a 1-0 advantage before graduate transfer Drew Bianco laid down a sacrifice bunt to allow Burckel to cross home plate to make the score 2-0.
7th | The Cougars plated another run in the top of the seventh as a Murray single brought senior outfielder Brandon Uhse home to increase Houston's lead to 3-0.
The Golden Gophers threatened in the bottom of the eighth knocking back-to-back home runs to bring the game to at 3-2 score. But, the Cougars held off Minnesota and took the win.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return to U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday for an afternoon matchup against Minnesota at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the B1G+ with a radio stream on The Varsity Network.
TICKETS ON SALE
Houston Baseball flex plan packs and single-game tickets are on sale for the 2023 season. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 713-G0-COOGS (462-6647) or by click here.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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.
Miller (2-0) pitched a career-high 6.2 shutout innings for the Cougars (6-11) with five strikeouts while earning his second win of the season. In his first career start, Miller held batters to only three hits including only one extra-base hit. Graduate transfer Braden Forsyth earned his first save for the Cougars, pitching 2.1 innings with two strikeouts. With runners at a premium, Minnesota's (3-16) Tucker Novotny (0-2) tossed 7.0 innings but was saddled with the loss.
Houston limited Minnesota to 1 for 9 (.111) with two outs and did not permit a hit with runners aboard (0 for 9). Cougar leadoff hitters reached in 3 of 9 opportunities (.333).
Game Highlights:
- Zach Arnold has reached base in 16 straight games after registering a single in the first inning.
- Justin Murray extended his reached base streak to 13 games with a triple in the fifth.
- Brandon Burckel remains perfect on stolen bases, adding two against the Golden Gophers to up his season total to nine.
- Maddux Miller recorded a career-high 6.2 innings pitched while tying his career-high strikeouts with five.
- Maddux Miller: W (2-0), 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 5 K
- Justin Murray: 2-3, R, RBI, 3B, BB,
- Brandon Uhse: 2-4, R, SB
5th | A four-inning pitcher's duel was interrupted by Houston hitting. Junior first baseman Justin Murray led off the inning with his first triple of the season to immediately put the Cougars into scoring position. Sophomore second baseman Brandon Burckel reached first base on a hit by pitch before stealing second. Senior shortstop Ian McMillan brought Murray home for a 1-0 advantage before graduate transfer Drew Bianco laid down a sacrifice bunt to allow Burckel to cross home plate to make the score 2-0.
7th | The Cougars plated another run in the top of the seventh as a Murray single brought senior outfielder Brandon Uhse home to increase Houston's lead to 3-0.
The Golden Gophers threatened in the bottom of the eighth knocking back-to-back home runs to bring the game to at 3-2 score. But, the Cougars held off Minnesota and took the win.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return to U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday for an afternoon matchup against Minnesota at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the B1G+ with a radio stream on The Varsity Network.
TICKETS ON SALE
Houston Baseball flex plan packs and single-game tickets are on sale for the 2023 season. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 713-G0-COOGS (462-6647) or by click here.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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: Miller, Maddux (2-0)
L: Tucker Novotny (0-2)
S: Forsyth, Braden (1)
Batting:
3B: Murray, Justin 1
RBI: Murray, Justin 1 ; McMillan, Ian 1 ; Bianco, Drew 1
SH: Bianco, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Uhse, Brandon 1 ; Murray, Justin 1 ; Burckel, Brandon 1
SB: Uhse, Brandon 1 ; Burckel, Brandon 2
CS: Murray, Justin 1
HBP: Arnold, Zach 1 ; Burckel, Brandon 2
Batting:
2B: Brett Bateman 1
HR: Brady Counsell 1 ; Ike Mezzenga 1
RBI: Brady Counsell 1 ; Ike Mezzenga 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brady Counsell 1 ; Ike Mezzenga 1
SB: Ike Mezzenga 1
CS: Jake Larson 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
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UTL
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INF
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RHP
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INF
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RHP
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