Cougars Overcome Minnesota in Extras, Earn Series Win

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Behind a Justin Murray two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, Houston Baseball overcame Minnesota 4-2 in 10 innings Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium to earn the series victory.

Junior reliever Owen Woodward (1-0) worked 1.1 innings for the Cougars (7-11) striking out three of the four batters he faced to earn his first win of the season. Cougar starting pitcher Paul Schmitz threw 6.2 innings, striking out seven while allowing only two runs for his first quality start of the season. Reliever Cam Blazek (1-1) took the loss for Minnesota (3-17) after allowing two runs on three hits in 1.0 inning.

Houston's pitching staff stranded five Minnesota runners while also keeping Golden Gopher batters to a .182 batting average (2 for 11) with runners on.

Game Highlights:

Zach Arnold contributed a base knock to extend his reached base streak to 17 games and Justin Murray extended his reached base streak to 14 games with his home run in the ninth.
Justin Murray logged his second home run of the season.
Paul Schmitz recorded a career-high 6.2 innings pitched as well as a career-high seven strikeouts.
Brandon Burckel was a perfect 12 for 12 on stolen bases this season before getting caught trying to steal home in the top of the eighth inning.
Houston clubbed three-straight doubles into left field in the top of the 10^th inning for a 4-2 lead.

Player Highlights:

Paul Schmitz: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Owen Woodward: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Justin Murray: 1-1, R, 2 RBI, HR

Key Innings
The Golden Gophers' Weber Neels got on the board early in the second frame sending a solo shot over the fence for a 1-0 lead. He followed it up with another homer in the bottom of the seventh for Minnesota's 2-0 advantage.

9^th | In the top of the ninth with Minnesota on the verge of evening the series up, junior third baseman Zach Arnold singled up the middle with one out. Murray, pinch hitting, moved the count to 1-1 before rocketing a ball over the fence to keep the game alive tying the game at 2-all. Sophomore pitcher Cade Citelli retired two batters in the bottom of the frame before the pitching change was made to bring in Woodward. The right-hander swiftly struck out the final batter of the inning to send the game into extras.

10^th | With two outs, senior shortstop Ian McMillan shot a ball down the left field line giving him enough time to get into scoring position at second base. Graduate transfer Drew Bianco followed suit sending the ball deep into left field for a go-ahead RBI-double giving the Cougars the lead 3-2. Sophomore Cameron Nickens added Houston's third straight double of the inning bringing Bianco across home plate for a 4-2 lead. A strike out from Woodward followed by a double play in the bottom of the 10^th sealed the win for the Cougars.

UP NEXT
The Cougars look for the series sweep when they return to U.S. Bank Stadium for the final game of the series against Minnesota on Sunday at noon CT. The game will be broadcast on the B1G+. Fans can tune in to the Houston radio call via The Varsity Network.

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