Cougars Spilt Doubleheader, Look For Series Win Saturday

WICHITA, Kan. – In its first doubleheader of the season, the Houston baseball team split a pair of contests with Wichita State taking the first contest 8-6 before dropping the second game, 6-1 on Friday at Eck Stadium.

GAME ONE
Cougars' (16-15, 3-2 American) senior pitcher José Torrealba (2-2) recorded his second win of the season, throwing 1.2 innings with one strikeout. Utility player Justin Murray recorded his fourth save, tossing 2.0 hitless innings while retiring three batters. Shockers' (18-12, 3-2 American) relief pitcher Nate Snead (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Game Highlights:

Both Justin Murray and Zach Arnold reached base for their 26th straight game.
Justin Murray made his 10^th appearance on the mound and 10^th appearance pitching and hitting in the same game.
Ian McMillan collected his third home run of the season in the top of the eighth inning.
Houston leadoff hitters recorded a hit in four of nine innings.

Key Innings
2^nd | Houston pushed across two runs in the second inning. Back-to-back Shocker errors gave the Cougars their first run, plating sophomore outfielder Cameron Nickens. A sacrifice fly from senior shortstop Ian McMillan brought in junior catcher Anthony Tulimero for a 2-0 advantage.

4^th | After the Shockers tied the game in the bottom of the third, the Cougars plated two more runs in the fourth. A single from Tulimero followed by a double from Murray put two in scoring position with no outs. A sacrifice fly from outfielder Brandon Uhse and another Wichita State error sent both runners home for a 4-2 lead.

8^th | With the score tied at five, Houston brought home three more runners. A Uhse double followed by a single from sophomore Brandon Burckel, plating Uhse, put a runner in scoring position as McMillan came to the plate. With a 1-1 count, McMillan rocketed a two-run home run for an 8-5 lead. Wichita State was able to put one a across in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars took the win 8-6.

GAME TWO
A pitching duel between Houston and Wichita State's starting pitchers ultimately ended with a loss for the Cougars. Houston freshman starting pitcher Paul Schmitz (1-3) tossed his third straight 6+ inning performance but picked up his third loss. Wichita State's Clark Candiotti (4-2) worked 6.2 innings for his fourth win for the Shockers.

Game Highlights:

Zach Arnold and Justin Murray again extended their reached-base streak to 27 games.
Through 6.0 innings, starting pitcher Paul Schmitz allowed only three hits.

2^nd | Wichita State brought across two runs in the bottom of the second as a Shockers triple proved a 2-0 lead.

7^th | The two teams went scoreless until the bottom of the seventh with Wichita State adding on with two more.

8^th | Houston scored its lone run in the top of the eighth as junior outfielder Cary Arbolida notched his first double of the season before a Justin Murray sacrifice fly drove Arbolida home making the score 4-1. However, the Shockers cemented two more runs in the bottom of the frame and eventually took the 6-1 win.

UP NEXT
The Cougars and Shockers will play the final matchup of the three-game series on Saturday at noon from Eck Stadium. Houston has not announced a starter while Wichita State will throw right-hander Grant Adler. The matchup can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on The Varsity Network.

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