University of Houston
1-1
Holy Cross
1-1
Houston Evens Series with 7-1 Win
2/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
HOUSTON -- Highlighted by a five-run sixth inning and dominant pitching for the second straight game, No. 21 Houston Baseball found its way into the win column with a 7-1 victory over Holy Cross Saturday at Schroeder Park.
The win evened the Opening Weekend series and moved Houston to 1-1 on the year, while the Crusaders fell to 1-1.
ON DECK: FINAL GAME OF THE SERIES
Sunday: Houston vs. Holy Cross | 1 p.m. (Gates open at 11 a.m.)
Sunday, February 18
Houston: RHP Ryan Randel
** JUCO transfer from Orange Coast College; will make Houston debut on Sunday
Holy Cross: RHP Declan Cronin
TICKET INFORMATION
Season Tickets, single game tickets and the Flex 20 plan are all available for purchase.
To purchase tickets, visit uhcougars.com/tickets or call 713-GO-COOGS.
FOLLOW ALONG
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio
Watch Live: Houston All-Access (paid subscription)
GAMEDAY Central: UHCougars.com/gameday
HOUSTON HITS
- Aaron Fletcher made his first career start and struck out a career-high six hitters and finished with a career-long outing of 5.0 innings.
- Drew Minter picked up his first career RBI on a double into left center to spark the 6th inning offensive showcase.
- The pitching staff of Fletcher, Tyler Bielamowicz and Carter Henry combined to hold Holy Cross to one unearned run on the night.
- Jared Triolo tallied three hits and Lael Lockhart Jr. had a team-best two RBI.
- Second straight game with at least 10 strikeouts by the Houston pitching staff (20, 11).
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lael Lockhart Jr. | 2x5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, SB
Drew Minter | 1x4, R, RBI, 2B,
Connor Hollis | 1x3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 2 SB
Wendell Champion II | 1x2, R, RBI
Jared Triolo | 3x4, 2 SB
Four Cougars had an RBI in the win, while five registered hits. Houston earned 10 free bases with seven walks and three hit-by-pitches.
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
[W] Aaron Fletcher | 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Tyler Bielamowicz | 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Carter Henry | 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Starter Aaron Fletcher made it a memorable first career start, tossing 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits, no runs, one walk with a career-high six strikeout. He improved to 1-0 on the year and 5-2 in his career.
Sophomore Tyler Bielamowicz worked a strong 2.0 innings in relief, allowing just an unearned run on three hits and two walks with a career-best four strikeouts.
Sophomore Carter Henry pitched 2.0 shutout innings to close the game out, striking out one.
KEY INNINGS
5th | With one out in the fifth, Connor Hollis reached on a hit by pitch. In the next at bat, Hollis stole second and later scored on a clutch, two-out RBI-double into left centerfield by Lael Lockhart Jr. to break open the 0-0 stalemate.
Jared Triolo and Tucker Redden each walked and Lockhart came around to score on two wild pitches to make it a 2-0 game.
6th | Holy Cross scored its first run of the game in the top half of the inning, but the Houston bats came alive in the latter half of the frame.
The Cougars scored five runs on four hits. The inning spark began with Wendell Champion II reaching on a fielder's choice and later scoring on a Drew Minter RBI-double -- his first career RBI.
Houston batted around in the frame as Cooper Coldiron walked, scored on Hollis' RBI-double. With one out, Lockhart picked up his second RBI, plating Hollis, who stole third, for the fourth run of the inning. With bases loaded, Champion reached with a walk to score Lockhart to make it a 7-1 game.
OPENING WEEKENDS
- The Cougars own a 21-2 record under head coach Todd Whitting during Opening Weekends
ON DECK
Following Opening Weekend at Schroeder Park, Houston will hit the road for the next four games, beginning with a midweek tilt at Sam Houston State -- Game 1 of the Don Sanders Cup on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Cougars will travel then to Fullerton, Calif. to take on 2017 College World Series opponent, Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series.
- $2 TUESDAYS | $2 tickets and $2 hot dogs every Tuesday home game
- SEASON LONG PROMOTIONS
- FRIDAY FRENZY | Every Friday night at Schroeder Park ($1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beer)
- SUNDAY KIDS DAY | Every Sunday at Schroeder Park, kids will be able to run the bases following the game and enjoy postgame autographs
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /UHCougarBB. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fletcher, Aaron (1-0)
L: Keough, Garret (0-1)
Base Running:
RUNS: Russo, Thomas 1
CS: Russo, Thomas 1
Batting:
2B: Hollis, Connor 1 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 1 ; Minter, Drew 1
RBI: Hollis, Connor 1 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 2 ; Champion II, Wendell 1 ; Minter, Drew 1
SH: Redden, Tucker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coldiron, Cooper 1 ; Hollis, Connor 2 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 2 ; Champion II, Wendell 1 ; Minter, Drew 1
SB: Coldiron, Cooper 1 ; Hollis, Connor 2 ; Lockhart Jr., Lael 1 ; Triolo, Jared 2 ; Slaughter, Nick 1
HBP: Hollis, Connor 1 ; Etzel, Landon 1 ; Champion II, Wendell 1
