University of Houston
<b>UC SANTA BARBARA</b>
Musick Leads Cougars To Win Number Seven
3/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 7, 2008
Houston, Texas - Sophomore lefthander Wes Musick pitched eight strong innings and freshman Chase Dempsay closed the door in the ninth for his first save, as the Cougars defeated UC-Santa Barbara, 4-1, on Friday night at Cougar Field.
With the win the Cougars improved to 7-4 while the Gauchos dropped to the identical record.
Musick was in command the entire game before giving up a lead-off home run to Matt Valaika. Musick improved to 3-0 on the season by scattering five hits while striking out six and walking just one. Dempsay worked the ninth and walked one and struck out one in getting save #1 in his career.
The Cougars scratched out two runs in the first, one in the third and one in the seventh. In the bottom of the first inning freshman Blake Kelso beat out a slow roller to shortstop but was erased one out later on a fielder's choice grounder by senior Ryan Lormand. Cleanup hitter Bryan Pounds coaxed a two-out walk, and the Cougars executed a double steal to set up two runners in scoring position. Junior Jimmy Cesario brought both runners home on a single to right field.
In the third inning it was Kelso again working a lead-off walk to start the rally. He was sacrificed to second by Matt Murphy, and after Lormand struck out, Pounds looped a single to center field to score Kelso. The Cougars left two runners stranded in the inning after sophomore catcher Austin Goolsby ripped a double into the left-field corner to put two runners in scoring position for Cesario for the second time. This time, however, Cesario flied out to centerfield to end the threat.
The Cougars plated their final run of the game in the seventh inning, when Murphy lead off the frame with single up the middle and was later moved over on a sacrifice bunt by Lormand. With two outs Goolsby dropped a looping double into centerfield to score Murphy and give the Cougars a 4-0 lead.
Cesario, Goolsby and Kelso all wrapped out two hits on the evening, while Cesario's two RBI paced the Cougars in this category. Houston left 10 runners stranded while the Gauchos had five left on.
Houston returns to action tomorrow night at 6:30 pm, facing UCSB for the second straight night. The Cougars will send freshman right-hander Jared Ray (0-0) to the mound, while the Gauchos will counter with freshman lefthander Mario Hollands (1-1).
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