Month: April 2023

Late Lyssy Homer Lifts Houston Past UCF to Series Win

Thomas Lyssy bats in the eighth inning Sunday in Orlando

As the clock ticked down on Sunday in Orlando with a time rule in effect for travel plans, Houston used their final inning at-bat to reverse a two-run deficit and win 12-9 against UCF to take their fifth conference series of the season.

The Knights jumped out to an early 3-0 in the bottom of the first innings thanks in some measure to the gusty breezes blowing around Orlando.

Trailing by three in the top of the second inning, catcher Anthony Tulimero led off the inning with a single . . . One out later, Malachi Lott doubled to left-center field to get Houston on the board.

Drew Bianco singled to lead off the top of the third inning and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch before moving to third base on a ground out to third by Brandon Uhse . . .  Zach Arnold delivered a one out RBI single to left field to plate Bianco and make it 3-2 . . . Alex Lopez was walked to put runners at first and second base . . . Tulimero then grounded to third base with what looked to be a double play ball, but the throw from second base to first base was wide, allowing Tulimero to reach base while Arnold crossed home plate as the tying run.

In the top of the fourth inning, a Thomas Lyssy infield single put him at first base with one out . . . Ian McMillan then drove a ball the opposite way over the right field wall for a two-run home run and a 5-3 Houston lead.

Houston starter Cade Citelli did not benefit from the wild winds in Orlando on Sunday, but he gutted out a tough start and took the game into the fourth inning before being relieved by Dan Wright . . . Wright completed two important innings and allowed just one run, three of his six recorded outs were by strikeout.

With the game tied at five in the top of the fifth inning, Murray reached first base on a one-out walk . . . Lyssy singled into right field to move Murray over to third base . . . A failed pick-off attempt of Lyssy at first base saw Lyssy get into a rundown between first and second base, but he delayed being tagged long enough to allow Murray to steal home with the go-ahead run, and Lyssy reached second base safely after the ball was dropped by the Knights first baseman after he had seemingly applied the tag . . . Houston took the 6-5 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Murray worked a walk to lead off the top of the seventh inning and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch . . . Cameron Nickens pinch-hit for Malachi Lott and dropped a single into right-center field to drive Murray home and cut the UCF lead by a run to 9-7. 

Still trailing by two runs in the top of the eighth inning, the Cougars offense went back to work . . . Arnold led off with a single and Lopez followed that with a walk . . . Murray was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out . . . Nickens singled to left field to drive in two runs to tie the game at nine, his second hit in as many innings to with three runs drive in.

Lyssy followed with a monster blast to right field, a three-run shot and the Cougars took a 12-9 lead . . . The home run was Lyssy’s third hit of the game in a 3-for-5 day, it was also the freshman’s first in a Houston uniform.

The four-hour game ended after the bottom of the eight inning due to time constraints after Murray struck out what would have been the tying run at the plate with two Knights runners on base . . . Murray pitched the final three innings for Houston and earned the win to improve to 3-0 this season.

Head Coach Todd Whitting was quick with praise for Lyssy after the game on Sunday.

“It is great to see Lyssy doing the most with his opportunity,” Whitting said. “He has been a huge bat for us in the last few weeks.”

“Proud of the boys grinding out a tough weekend against a very good UCF team,” Whitting added.

The comeback win gave Houston its fifth conference series win of the eight they will play this season . . . This was the third conference road series win and the second straight weekend with a conference series win on the road . . . The Cougars finish April with a record of 12-6.

The Cougars (25-19, 10-5) return to action on Wednesday when they will play Rice at Reckling Park in game two of the Silver Glove Series . . . Houston leads the Silver Glove Series 1-0 and can take home the trophy for another year with a win on Wednesday or the following week against Rice, also at Reckling Park, on May 10 . . . Rice was swept at home this weekend by Dallas Baptist . . . First pitch is scheduled for 6:30pm on Wednesday.

Houston Wins Orlando Opener in 10 Innings

Malachi Lott led off for Houston against UCF on Friday night

Houston took the opener of their weekend conference series in Orlando with a 13-7 win over UCF on Friday in ten innings.

Houston only scored runs in three innings on Friday night, but they did it in bunches.

A two-out walk to Alex Lopez in the top of the first inning put a runner on base for catcher Anthony Tulimero . . . . Tulimero homered deep to left-center field and the Cougars took an early two-run lead.

Brandon Uhse (2-for-4) led off the top of the second inning with a home run to straight away center field . . . The flood gates opened after that.

Thomas Lyssy (3-for-5) immediately followed with a single, and then Ian McMillan doubled in front of a Drew Bianco single . . . A misplayed fielder’s choice on a grounder by Malachi Lott led to a run crossing the plate . . .  One out later Alex Lopez knocked a single to the opposite field to drive in Bianco and Lott and the Cougars led 7-0, chasing the Knights starting pitcher in just his second frame.

The Cougars did not score another run until the tenth inning.

Meanwhile, the Knights got four runs of their own in the bottom half of the second inning to keep the game close, trailing just 7-4 going to the third inning.

While Josh Ekness did not have his best night, he gave his teammates 5 2/3 innings on the mound and left just before a Knights two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning tied the game at seven . . . Ekness threw 121 pitches in the game.

Maddux Miller followed Ekness and tossed two innings allowing just one run . . . Brendan O’Donnell then followed Miller and tossed 1 1/3 innings with some tense moments, but he did not allow a run and stymied one potential game-winning threat.

In the top of the tenth innings, the Cougars started rolling once again . . . Tulimero led off the frame and was hit by a pitch . . . Justin Murray (3-for-5) followed with a single before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch . . . Cameron Nickens was walked to load the bases in his first plate appearance of the game after replacing Uhse . . . Lyssy picked up his third hit of the night by punching a grounder through the drawn-in infield on the right side to drive in a run . . . Lott singled to left field to drive in two more Houston runs.

Zach Arnold then launched a 2-2 pitch out of the ballpark, over the Houston bullpen beyond the left field wall for a three-run home run and a 13-7 Cougars lead.

Murray took the mound for the ninth inning and he retired all three batters he faced on just thirteen pitches to close out the road victory and earn his sixth save of the season . . . O’Donnell was the winner and improved to 3-0 this season.

Houston had fifteen hits in the game and two batters walked and only left five runners on base . . . The Cougars pitching staff stranded nine Knights runners on base.

With Wichita State also winning on Friday night, the Cougars and the Shockers remain tied for the top spot in the conference standings, a full game ahead of East Carolina . . . Tulane and East Carolina had their game stopped due to the weather in the seventh inning with Tulane leading 9-6 . . . The Pirates and the Green Wave will attempt to finish the game on Saturday, before the two teams are scheduled to compete in a doubleheader . . . There is the potential for 21 innings of baseball in Greenville on Saturday.

Saturdays game between the Cougars and the Knights has been moved up to 11am CT because of the potential for bad weather in Orlando on Saturday night . . . While no pitcher has been announced yet, look for the Cougars to stick with what has worked since Paul Schmitz was sidelined and start Lott on the mound Saturday.

Lamar Edges Houston 4-2 in Final Home Midweek of 2023

Kyle Ayers started for Houston against Lamar on Tuesday night

Houston fell to Lamar 4-2 on Tuesday night at Schroeder Park in the last midweek game of the season on the Cougars home field.

After a single by Justin Murray to lead off the bottom of the second inning, the Cougars offense was hitless until Ian McMillan led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single of his own . . . One-out singles by Zach Arnold and Alex Lopez loaded the bases for Anthony Tulimero . . . Arnold and Lopez were both 1-for-2 with two walks against the Cardinals . . . Tulimero hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field to score McMillan and the Cougars deficit was cut in half 2-1.

Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Brandon Uhse was walked and moved to second base on catchers indifference . . . One out later, Thomas Lyssy (2-for-4) recorded his second hit of the ballgame, a double into the right field corner that brought Uhse across the plate as the Cougars second run in the game . . . Lyssy, who started the game at second base, was responsible for two of Houston’s six hits in the contest, and was the only Cougars hitter with multiple hits in the 4-2 loss.

Lamar threw a different pitch let at Houston in every inning of the ballgame, and used two pitchers in the dicey ninth inning, a total of ten arms that kept the Cougars lineup from getting comfortable with any one pitcher and never allowing a Houston batter to see the same Cardinals pitcher twice.

The Cougars got a nice start by Kyle Ayers, who took the game into the fourth inning and allowed just one run . . . Owen Woodward relieved Ayers in the fourth inning and threw 2 1/3 innings allowing a single run . . . Justin Murray took the mound with one out in the eighth inning and recorded the final five outs, retiring five of the six batters he faced.

Houston’s offense left eight runners on base, while the Cougars pitching staff stranded nine Cardinals runners on base.

Houston (23-18, 8-4) will now travel to Orlando to take on UCF in a weekend conference series . . . The Cougars are entering the second half of conference play having won all four of their previous conference series . . . First pitch on Friday night in Orlando will take place at 5pm.

Cougars Notebook – April 24, 2023

Zach Arnold and Josh Ekness both made the Honor Roll in The American for their efforts last week.

Per The American:

Arnold hit .500 (8-16) with six runs, two doubles and a pair of runs driven in as the Cougars went 3-1, including a series win at Memphis.

Ekness threw six scoreless innings with six strikeouts and only one hit allowed in an 8-0 victory at Memphis on Friday night. Ekness and teammate Maddux Miller combined for a one-hit shutout.

. . .

The Cougars will host Lamar Tuesday at Schroeder Park before traveling to Orlando to play UCF this weekend.

. . .

RPI+

Cougars Roll 11-1 Over Memphis, Take Series

Cade Citelli was on the mound Sunday in Memphis to close out the series

Houston took an early lead Sunday in Memphis and never let the Tigers into the game as the Cougars rolled to an 11-1 victory and road series win.

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Justin Murray (5-for-5) singled in the infield to drive in a run . . . With Murray then attempting to steal second base, the throw from the catcher sailed into center field allowing another run to score for a 2-0 lead before Memphis even got to the plate.

Murray led off the ninth inning with a home run deep to left-center field, his fifth hit of the game and his fifth home run of the season and the Houston lead was back up to ten runs, 11-1.

Owen Woodward handled the final three innings of work after taking over for Citelli . . . Woodward allowed just one hit, a solo home run, but was otherwise flawless as he struck out four Tigers batters . . . Citelli improved to 3-4 with the win and Woodward earned his third save of the season.

Head Coach Todd Whitting spoke of his teams resilience after the series win.

“I am proud of our guys for bouncing back and winning the series,” Whitting said. “Citelli set the tone on the mound and the offense once again showed up in a big way.”

Whitting added, “We have had as much adversity in regards to injuries as any team I have had but they continue to play gritty baseball with a next man up mentality.”

The Cougars return home for a Tuesday night midweek game against Lamar at Schroeder Park . . . Houston then heads to Orlando to play a second straight weekend road series, this time against UCF . . . First pitch Tuesday will be at 6:30pm.

Cougars Blank Tigers; Ekness, Miller Combine for Shutout

Houston blanked Memphis 8-0 on Friday night to open up the conference road series behind a strong start by Josh Ekness and the relief effort of Maddux Miller.

The Houston offense went right to work in the opening frame of Fridays game . . . Zach Arnold doubled to reach base with one out and Alex Lopez immediately followed with a two-run home run to right field to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.

Drew Bianco (3-for-4) doubled home Brandon Burckel top of the second to make it 3-0 Houston.

Ekness left after six innings leading 8-0 having allowed just one hit to the Tigers.

Miller pitched the final three innings for Houston and did not allow the Tigers back into the game, giving up zero hits and zero run.

Houston and Memphis resume their series on Saturday with a first pitch scheduled for 4pm.

Cougars Fall Behind Early, Defeat Huskies 13-7

Houston hosted Houston Christian on Tuesday before a weekend road trip

Houston fell behind early to Houston Christian on Tuesday night at Schroeder Park but eventually took a 13-7 victory before hitting the road for a weekend of conference play.

Kyle Ayers took the mound in the first inning with the bases loaded and no outs and the Cougars already trailing 1-0 . . . A single scored two more runs, but a double-play and a fly out ended the inning with the Huskies staked to a 3-0 lead.

Houston wasted no time getting right back in the game . . . Malachi Lott was walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning and then stole second base . . . Zach Arnold (2-for-2) singled to drive in Lott . . . One out later, Anthony Tulimero (2-for-5) doubled into the left-field corner to drive in Lott and the Cougars were within a run going to the second inning, 3-2.

Ian McMillan led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run to left field to tie the game at three.

In the bottom of the third inning, two quick outs were followed by three consecutive walks and a hit-by-pitch which walked in a run . . . Brandon Uhse then hit a grand slam over the wall in left-center field to give Houston a 8-4 lead.

Ayers was replaced after four innings of really solid relief work in which he only allowed a run and struck out four Huskies batters.

Drew Bianco (2-for-3) led off the bottom of the fifth inning by hitting the first offering over the wall in left-center field, his fourth home run of the season, and Houston led 9-4.

Braedyn Cunningham followed Ayers on the mound and tossed three quality innings allowing just one run to get the game into the eighth inning . . . Braden Forsyth delivered another solid outing as well, throwing two scoreless frames allowing just a single base hit but facing the minimum by inducing a double-play ball.

Justin Murray extended his reached-base streak to 33 games with a RBI single in the seventh inning, and the single also pushed his hitting streak to 15 games.

Houston (21-16, 6-3) hits the road now for a conference series at Memphis this weekend . . . The Cougars do not play at Schroeder Park again until next Tuesday when they will host Lamar for a midweek before another weekend road series . . . First pitch this Friday in Memphis is scheduled for 6:00pm.

Cougars Notebook – April 17, 2023

Zach Arnold was named Player of the Week in The American for his performance last week.

Per The American:

Arnold aided the Cougars to a series win against South Florida by hitting .667 (10-15) with eight runs scored and eight RBI. He recorded a hit in every game this week and extended his streak of reaching base to 32 games. The junior third baseman went 4-for-4 in the second game of the series with the Bulls with four runs scored and two doubles.

. . .

Corey Julks hit his first home run in the big leagues last Wednesday in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. As of right now Julks, who made his MLB debut on March 31, is batting .289 with eleven hits thru his first ten games with the Astros.

. . .

RPI+ by College Baseball Nation looks like this right now:

14 East Carolina

26 UTSA

48 Texas A&M

89 California

95 Sam Houston (Houston plays Sam Houston on May 16 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land)

100 UT Arlington

116 South Florida

119 Incarnate Word

123 Rice (Houston plays Rice two more times this season, both times at Rice)

125 McNeese

135 Wichita State

Future Opponents:

136 UCF

RPI+ is a modified RPI statistic that factors in conference RPI, conference record, and other factors. RPI+ has been more accurate than RPI in picking at-large teams in each of the last four years. In 2021, RPI+ correctly picked the top eight seeds and 14 of the 16 Regional hosts. Like the RPI, RPI+ becomes more accurate as the season progresses.

Additional notes: The weights for each component of RPI+ were trained using the NCAA Selection Committee’s picks from the 2018, 2019, and 2022 seasons. RPI+ was formerly known as CBR.

Cougars Top Bulls 16-10, Capture Series

Malachi Lott made the Saturday start for Houston on Saturday afternoon

Houston captured their third straight weekend series win with a 16-10 victory over South Florida on Saturday afternoon at Schroeder Park giving the Cougars a chance to sweep on Sunday.

In the bottom of the first inning, Zach Arnold (4-for-4) laced a one-out double to the wall in deep right-center field and extended his reached base streak to 31 games . . . Alex Lopez followed with a towering home run to right field for a 2-0 Houston lead.

Tied at two in the bottom of the second inning, the Cougars loaded the bases with one out on a walk to Brandon Burckel, a single by Ian McMillan (3-for-5), and a walk to Drew Bianco (2-for-4) . . . Malachi Lott (4-for-6) then lined a single between shortstop and third base to drive in two runs . . . Arnold followed with a mammoth, 428 foot home run to center field, a three-run blast to cap the scoring in the five-run inning, and the Cougars took a 7-2 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Justin Murray singled for the second time in as many innings . . . One out later, McMillan dropped a singled into right-center field, a ball that fell between players fighting the sun . . . Bianco singled to right field to drive in Murray and a throwing error by the right-fielder allowed McMillan to cross the plate . . . An infield single by Arnold scored Bianco as the third run of the inning and Houston led 10-2.

Lott added a solo home run in the fifth inning which traveled 431 feet to right field . . . Lott singled again to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning . . . Arnold followed with a double before Lopez grounded out to plate Lott . . . Tulimero then drove a ball off the Houston Baseball billboard in left-center field gap for a two-run home run with two outs and the Cougars increased their lead to 16-8.

The Houston offense scored a run in six of eight frames in the game with nineteen hits . . . Lott and Arnold both finished the game a triple shy of hitting for the cycle . . . Defensively, the Cougars turned three double plays and did not commit an error in the field.

The Cougars and the Bull conclude their conference series on Sunday at Schroeder Park . . . Cade Citelli will be on the mond for Houston in the finale . . First pitch will take place at 1pm.

Houston Takes Opener Against Bulls 6-5

Houston opened a weekend series with South Florida Friday at Schroeder Park

The Cougars took the first game of their weekend series with conference foe South Florida on Friday night with a 6-5 victory at Schroeder Park.

South Florida jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead against Houston.

Brandon Uhse led off the top of the second inning with a single, the first hit of the game for the Cougars . . . One out later, Justin Murray (3-for-4) tripled to the wall in right-center field to score Uhse . . . Brandon Burckel followed with a two-out single into left-center field bringing Murray across the plate . . . After an errant throw on a pick-off attempt at first base allowed Burckel to reach second base, Ian McMillan (2-for-3) singled into center field to tie the game at three.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the third inning, the Houston offense got churning once again . . . Zach Arnold singled to lead off the inning and extend his reached-base streak to 30 games . . . Alex Lopez followed with a walk . . . Two outs later Murray doubled off the wall in right field to give Houston a one-run lead, driving in his third run of the game . . . Cameron Nickens followed with a single into right field to drive home Murray and the Cougars led 6-4.

Right-hander Owen Woodward took the mound in the third inning with two outs . . . Woodward proceeded to throw five innings when the Cougars needed someone to eat up some innings after the short outing by the Friday starter . . . Woodward allowed just one run and struck out four while not walking any batters . . . Brendan O’Donnell got the final out of the top of the eighth inning, striking out the only batter he faced.

Murray took the mound in the top of the ninth inning to protect the 6-5 lead . . . Murray allowed a one-out infield single on a slow-roller to shortstop but he worked around it to retire the next two batters and earn the save, his fifth of the season . . . Woodward picked up the win for his effort, he improves to 3-0 this season.

The Cougars (19-15, 5-2) and the Bulls will continue their series on Saturday afternoon at Schroeder Park . . . Due to the potential for weather issues later in the night, Saturday’s first pitch has been moved up to 2pm . . . Paul Schmitz will be on the mound for Houston as they look to capture the series.