Thursday, March 14
Provo, Utah
7 p.m.
University of Houston
12-4, 0
9
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2
BYU
7-8, 0
1
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4
5
6
7
8
9
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H
E
Houston
3
1
0
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1
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9
13
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BYU
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0
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0
2
8
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Photo by: Ari Davis
Houston Pounces Early, Wins Big 12 Road Opener
3/14/2024 10:35:00 PM | Baseball
Murray’s three-hit day propels Cougars to sixth straight win, Houston never trailed
PROVO, Utah – The Houston baseball team never trailed in its 9-2 win at BYU on Thursday in its first Big 12 Conference road game of the season, and have won six in a row for the second time in 2024.
Houston (12-4, 4-0 Big 12) sprayed 13 hits around the ballpark including a home run, triple and five doubles – the second most hits this season. Every hitter in the starting lineup recorded a hit for the third time this season.
The visitors put a three-spot on the board in the first inning, doing damage with two outs. A single by first baseman Justin Murray (his first of three consecutive hits in the game) with two outs put a runner on for right fielder Tre Jones who promptly doubled, scoring Murray from first. A single from left fielder Cary Arbolida put runners on the corners for designated hitter Ace Reese who hit a triple to center field, scoring Jones and Arbolida.
BYU (7-8, 1-3 Big 12) scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning on a lead-off triple, ground out and solo home run.
On the first pitch of the second inning, shortstop Jake Rainess deposited his second home run of the season into the pine trees in left field to push Houston's lead to 4-2.
Houston scored four more runs in the fifth inning on bases loaded RBI walks by Arbolida and Reese and then two more runs on the first of two doubles in the game by second baseman Harold Coll.
Catcher Jonathan French scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning for Houston's ninth run.
Houston's bullpen was on fire in the chilly 46 degree temperature. The trio of bullpen arms of right hander Paul Schmitz, left hander Chris Stuart and righty Diego Luzardo allowed just three hits, five walks and struck out six BYU hitters without allowing a run to score.
Schmitz (1-0) entered the game in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of BYU baserunners and proceeded to to strikeout the next two batters to get out of the inning in seven total pitches. The German has not allowed a run in his last 6.0 innings of relief work.
Stuart worked himself out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning and has now worked four games this season without giving up a run.
UP NEXT
Houston will be back at Miller Park against BYU for two more games Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is slated for 7 p.m. CT with right-handed pitcher Jaxon Jelkin starting against righty Bryce Robison for BYU. Saturday's game will start at 12:30 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
BUY TICKETS
Don't miss any of the action, purchase your single-game tickets to any of the 34 Houston Cougar baseball games inside Schroeder Park by clicking here.
BUY FLEX PLAN
Can't make all 34 games this season? No problem, buy a flex plan and pick which games you want to attend in 2024 (excluding the Texas series April 12-14 – flex plan game selection begins in January).
SUPPORT THE COUGARS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Dugout Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.
Houston (12-4, 4-0 Big 12) sprayed 13 hits around the ballpark including a home run, triple and five doubles – the second most hits this season. Every hitter in the starting lineup recorded a hit for the third time this season.
The visitors put a three-spot on the board in the first inning, doing damage with two outs. A single by first baseman Justin Murray (his first of three consecutive hits in the game) with two outs put a runner on for right fielder Tre Jones who promptly doubled, scoring Murray from first. A single from left fielder Cary Arbolida put runners on the corners for designated hitter Ace Reese who hit a triple to center field, scoring Jones and Arbolida.
BYU (7-8, 1-3 Big 12) scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning on a lead-off triple, ground out and solo home run.
On the first pitch of the second inning, shortstop Jake Rainess deposited his second home run of the season into the pine trees in left field to push Houston's lead to 4-2.
Houston scored four more runs in the fifth inning on bases loaded RBI walks by Arbolida and Reese and then two more runs on the first of two doubles in the game by second baseman Harold Coll.
Catcher Jonathan French scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning for Houston's ninth run.
Houston's bullpen was on fire in the chilly 46 degree temperature. The trio of bullpen arms of right hander Paul Schmitz, left hander Chris Stuart and righty Diego Luzardo allowed just three hits, five walks and struck out six BYU hitters without allowing a run to score.
Schmitz (1-0) entered the game in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of BYU baserunners and proceeded to to strikeout the next two batters to get out of the inning in seven total pitches. The German has not allowed a run in his last 6.0 innings of relief work.
Stuart worked himself out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning and has now worked four games this season without giving up a run.
UP NEXT
Houston will be back at Miller Park against BYU for two more games Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is slated for 7 p.m. CT with right-handed pitcher Jaxon Jelkin starting against righty Bryce Robison for BYU. Saturday's game will start at 12:30 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
BUY TICKETS
Don't miss any of the action, purchase your single-game tickets to any of the 34 Houston Cougar baseball games inside Schroeder Park by clicking here.
BUY FLEX PLAN
Can't make all 34 games this season? No problem, buy a flex plan and pick which games you want to attend in 2024 (excluding the Texas series April 12-14 – flex plan game selection begins in January).
SUPPORT THE COUGARS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Dugout Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.
– UHCougars.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schmitz, Paul (1-0)
L: Hansen, Ben (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Murray, Justin 1 ; Jones, Tre 1 ; Coll, Harold 2 ; French, Jonathan 1
3B: Reese, Ace 1
HR: Rainess, Jake 1
RBI: Jones, Tre 1 ; Arbolida, Cary 1 ; Reese, Ace 3 ; Coll, Harold 2 ; Rainess, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Alex 1 ; Murray, Justin 2 ; Jones, Tre 2 ; Arbolida, Cary 2 ; Rainess, Jake 1 ; French, Jonathan 1
SB: Lopez, Alex 1
HBP: Lopez, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Reuter, Collin 1
3B: Anderson, Luke 1
HR: Jones, Easton 1
RBI: Vest, Cooper 1 ; Jones, Easton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anderson, Luke 1 ; Jones, Easton 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
cf/lf
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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