
Cougars Drop Friday Night Opener
4/19/2024 8:26:00 PM | Baseball
Trio record multiple hits, drive in runs as Houston lets four-run lead slip
Houston (19-19, 5-14 Big 12) scored in three straight innings to take a 4-0 lead after the top of the sixth inning. The Cougars took the lead in the fourth inning on a single off the bat of right fielder Cary Arbolida and then tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth when first baseman singled and then a few batters later stole home. A sixth inning single by shortstop Coby DeJesus plated Houston's fourth run.
Right-handed pitcher Cade Citelli was brilliant in his start in which he struck out five Bearcats over 5.0 while giving up just five base runners on two hits, two walks and a hit batter.
Cincinnati (22-17, 8-8 Big 12) stormed back by scoring multiple runs in the sixth and seventh inning. The Bearcats scored two in the sixth and then four in the seventh, taking the lead on a two-out two-run home run.
UP NEXT
Houston and Cincinnati will get back on the diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT for game two before finishing the series at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Horst, Chase (2-0)
L: Benzor, Michael (1-2)
S: Mitchelle, Christian (5)

Batting:
2B: Tulimero, Anthony 1
RBI: DeJesus, Coby 1 ; Murray, Justin 1 ; Arbolida, Cary 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Murray, Justin 1 ; Coll, Harold 1 ; Jones, Tre 2
SB: Murray, Justin 1 ; Coll, Harold 1 ; Arbolida, Cary 1 ; Jones, Tre 1
CS: Nickens, Cameron 1

Batting:
HR: O'Connor, Tommy 1
RBI: Kross, Josh 1 ; Sefcik, Luke 1 ; O'Connor, Tommy 2 ; Mitchelle, Christian 1 ; Brooks, Lauden 1
SH: Sefcik, Luke 1
SF: Brooks, Lauden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cross, Kerrington 1 ; Hegemann, Josh 1 ; Kross, Josh 1 ; Jessee, Hunter 1 ; O'Connor, Tommy 1 ; Pearson, Dalton 1
SB: Hegemann, Josh 1
HBP: Kross, Josh 1
PO: Cross, Kerrington 1