University of Houston
Rice
Baseball Takes Series Opener with 7-4 Win Over Rice
5/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 1, 2009
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team won the series opener, 7-4, over the Rice Owls on Friday night to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series at Cougar Field.
Houston shut down the Rice offense in their first two at bats, allowing only one base runner, the first at bat, in the opening inning. The Cougars used that to their advantage scoring a run in each of their first two at bats to take the 2-0 lead.
Blake Kelso led off the night with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch before a sacrifice bunt from Zak Presley put him on third base. He would go on to score on a Chris Wallace single up the middle. UH then added a second run in the second inning, when Jake Runte scored on a Presley sacrifice fly after reaching base on a single.
The Owls wouldn't let the Cougars get comfortable with the lead for long, evening the score in the third inning, 2-2. But Houston answered in the fourth inning scoring two runs to regain the lead. With one out, Taylor White reached base on a walk and scored on the next play off a Kelso double. Kelso then scored his second run of the night when Chase Dempsay singled through the right side.
UH added to their run total for the second straight inning, posting three runs in the fifth. With two outs, David Murphy singled and Runte walked to put two runners on base. Taylor White came up to the plate and singled but an over throw on the play allowed him to reach second and on his advance to third the Rice second baseman notched the Owls third error of the night with a second overthrow and White was able to score, in addition to the two runs scored by Murphy and Runte.
Rice pulled within three in the sixth inning, scoring two runs but Cougar relief pitchers, Dempsay and Donnie Joseph pitched 3.2 shutout innings to close the game and halt an Owl comeback.
On the mound, Jared Ray recorded his fourth straight win, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and four strikeouts. With the Owls first run scored in the third inning it snapped a streak of 31 consecutive scoreless innings for Ray. The streak ranks as the third longest scoreless streak in school history. Dempsay then entered the game in relief pitching 2.2 shutout innings, striking out two batters, while Joseph pitched the final inning earning his seventh save of the season and striking out two batters. Joseph's seventh save moves him into sixth place in the single season saves record books.
LOOKING AHEAD
Houston will continue the series against the Owls on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will air on CBS College Sports with Carter Blackburn calling the play-by-play and Morgan Ensberg serving as the analyst. The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Following the series the Silver Glove Series trophy will be presented to the winner of the five-game series and the All-Series Team will also be presented. The Owls currently hold a 2-1 lead in the series race.
