University of Houston
2-1
Northwestern State
1-2
Houston Falls to Northwestern State in Extras, 2-1
2/17/2019 7:07:00 PM | Baseball
Junior Lael Lockhart Jr. fans career-high eight batters in no-decision
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team fell 2-1 to Northwestern State in 11 innings on Sunday afternoon at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
With the decision, the Cougars move to 2-1, while the Demons improve to 1-2. The series marked the 14th straight year Houston has hosted games during Opening Weekend. The Cougars are 31-14 in that span, including being 24-3 under Head Coach Todd Whitting.
Already the program's career home run and RBI record holder, senior first baseman Joe Davis broke the extra-base hit mark in the series finale. The Austin native belted a double in the sixth inning for his 83rd career extra-base hit, breaking his tie with Brandon Caraway (82, 1997-2000).
KEY INNINGS
2nd | Sophomore right fielder Drew Minter led off the bottom of the second with a double into the right-center gap. After stealing third base, Minter trotted home on a single from freshman second baseman Brad Buckel, also into right-center, for a 1-0 lead.
8th | The Demons evened things up at 1-1 on a RBI double in the top of the eighth.
11th | Northwestern State hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th. In the bottom frame, junior third baseman Jared Triolo singled to left field to lead things off. Two batters later, senior Grayson Padgett followed with a single through the right side of the infield, and a fielding error by right field on the play allowed both he and Triolo to move up a base. Unfortunately, after redshirt freshman Ian McMillan entered as a pinch runner for Padgett, a groundout and flyout ended the game.
HOUSTON NOTES
Offense:
• Davis finished 2-for-3 before being lifted for a pinch runner in the ninth after a leadoff single. He also had one walk.
• Triolo finished 2-for-5 with a stolen base. His stolen base was the first for Houston on the season.
• In total, Triolo and outfielders Tyler Bielamowicz and Drew Minter all recorded stolen bases.
• Bielamowicz, Burckel, sophomore catcher Kyle Lovelace and Minter (double) finished 1-for-4, respectively.
Pitching:
• Sophomore Clay Aguilar took the loss, surrendering a solo home run in the 11th, to fall to 0-1.
• Junior Lael Lockhart Jr. tossed five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, both career highs, while surrendering just two hits and walking one in the start for a no-decision.
• Senior Nolan Bond went two and two-third innings, issuing one run on two hits with one walk.
• Sophomore Ron Brown made his pitching debut for the Cougars, ending the eighth inning with a strikeout in his lone batter faced.
• Junior Carter Henry tossed one and two-third scoreless innings, recording one walk and one strikeout.
• Junior Tristen Bayless collected the final out in the 10th. He recorded one walk and one strikeout in three batters faced.
ON DECK
The Cougars open their road schedule with a Tuesday trip to McNeese in Lake Charles, La. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
PARKING IN 2019
Gameday parking is offered in a different capacity than in prior years. Anyone entering Lot 16B (across the street from right field) will be subjected to paying a third party company employed by campus. This lot will no longer be an option for free parking on gamedays. All other lots surrounding the stadium will be free of charge two hours prior to first pitch.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarBB, and "Like" UHCougarBB on Facebook.
JOIN DUGOUT CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Baseball program by joining the Dugout Club. To find out more information about the Dugout Club, visit UHCougarPride.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vasquez, Jose (1-0)
L: Aguilar, Clay (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Ricca, Caleb 1
HR: Smith, Tyler 1
RBI: Ricca, Caleb 1 ; Smith, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Tyler 1 ; Fontenot, Larson 1
SB: Taylor, Sam 1
HBP: Kunert, Lenni 1
Batting:
2B: Davis, Joe 1 ; Minter, Drew 1
RBI: Burckel, Brad 1
SH: Padgett, Grayson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Minter, Drew 1
SB: Bielamowicz, Tyler 1 ; Triolo, Jared 1 ; Minter, Drew 1
CS: Burckel, Brad 1 ; Lovelace, Kyle 1
