Category: Post Game

Houston Falls in Huntsville, Sanders Cup Series Even

Sam Houston evened the Don Sanders Cup series with an 8-5 win over Houston in Huntsville on Tuesday night to set up a winner-take-all game on May 14 in Sugar Land.

Anthony Tulimero hit a home run off of the left field foul pole with two outs in the top of the first inning for an early 1-0 Houston lead.

The lead was erased in the bottom half of the inning as the Bearkats plated two runs to take their own one-run lead.

Ace Reese tripled to get the top of the second inning started . . . Jonathan French brought Reese across the plate on a ground out RBI to first base to tie the game.

But once again, the Bearkats took the lead back in the bottom of the inning one a two-run home run.

Trailing 7-2 in the top of the fifth inning, Justin Murray got a run back with a one-out solo home run to left-center field.

French walked one inning later with one out and scored on a double to right-center field off the bat of Jacob Schoenvogel (3-for-4) . . . With two outs, Coby DeJesus singled up the middle to score Schoenvogel from third base . . . The two-run sixth inning was the final time the Cougars would score in the game as they fell by a final score of 8-5.

Harold Coll was 3-for-4 in the game hitting in the cleanup spot, joining Schoenvogel as the only two Houston batters with multiple hits Tuesday night.

Ryan Dollar had a nice outing for Houston, pitching the final two innings of the game and allowing just one base hit while striking out three Bearkats batters . . . Overall, the Cougars pitching staff allowed seven free passes and struck out six batters.

The Sam Houston victory means that the neutral site meeting between the two teams on May 14 will be the deciding game of the 2024 Don Sanders Cup series . . . The annual neutral site game will take place at Constellation Field in Sugar Land.

Houston will next be in action on Friday when the Texas Longhorns will visit Schroeder Park for a Big 12 weekend series . . . Friday’s game will open the first and only Big 12 matchup between the former Southwest Conference foes . . . Game one gets underway at 6:30pm.

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Texas Tech Completes Sweep of Houston, Wins 12-8 Sunday in Lubbock

Jonathan French connects on a fifth inning home run Sunday in Lubbock

The winds of west Texas once again blew the way of Texas Tech as they completed the three-game sweep of Houston 12-8 in Lubbock on Sunday.

In the opening frame, Houston batters were doing a nice job of working deep counts and they drew two walks early, though one of the walks was erased on a caught-stealing . . . The other walked batter, Anthony Tulimero, was at first base when Harold Coll hit the second pitch of his at-bat over the wall in left-center field for a 2-0 Houston lead.

After the Red Raiders got a run back in the bottom of the first inning, Jacob Schoenvogel, a left-handed batter, bit a high floater the opposite way that looked destined for foul territory, but the carry of the ball led it to hit the left field foul pole for a leadoff home run and a 3-1 Houston lead.

For the second day in a row, Texas Tech plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning, with a grand slam as part of the mix on both days, and the Red Raiders took an 8-3 lead. 

Trailing 11-3, Cary Arbolida was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fifth inning when led Texas Tech to go to their bullpen for the first time in the game . . . Ace Reese then doubled into right-center field to score Arbolida all the way from first base . . . Jonathan French (3-for-5) then drove a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run on his team-leading eighth home run of the season and his second of the series.

Kenneth Jimenez came off the bench to deliver a run-scoring single in the seventh inning.

Texas Tech led 12-7 going to the top of the ninth inning . . . Arbolida led off with his second home run of the series, and fourth of the season, to right-center field . . . It was the start of what looked like another ninth inning rally, but like Saturday, the Red Raiders were able to close out the game and complete the series sweep.

Right-hander Cade Citelli was tremendous out of the bullpen for Houston on Sunday . . . Citelli inherited the bases loaded and a 2-0 count on a batter when he entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning . . . Despite being behind in the count, Citelli got the strikeout, the first of four-straight strikeouts and six total . . . Citelli pitched the final 3 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or a walk.

Houston had 10 hits on the day, with seven different hitters reaching base . . . Tulimero was 2-for-3 Sunday, the only other Cougars hitter besides French to have multiple hits in the game.

The Red Raiders offense scored double-digit runs in all three games in the series.

Houston returns home tonight and will be off Monday before traveling to Huntsville for a midweek against Sam Houston on Tuesday night . . . Houston leads this year’s Don Sanders Cup series 1-0 after winning game one at Schroeder Park back on March 5 . . . First pitch in Huntsville is scheduled for 6:30pm.

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12 Runs Against Texas Tech Not Enough as Houston Drops Road Series

Coby DeJesus was 4-for-6 against Texas Tech Saturday

Baseball in Lubbock was wild again on Saturday afternoon as Texas Tech claimed the weekend series over Houston with a 15-10 victory.

Jonathan French (2-for-4) led off the top of the second inning with a ground-rule double to left-center field . . . After a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Schoenvogel moved French to third base, Jake Rainess singled to left field to score French for an early one-run lead.

Rainess then stole second base on a delayed steal and the throw from the Red Raiders catcher went into center field allowing Rainess to move to third base where he was when a Coby DeJesus (4-for-6) ground out resulted in a RBI and a 2-0 Houston lead.

Texas Tech tied the game at two in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run and then took a one-run lead on a RBI single . . . A grand slam gave Texas Tech a seven-run frame and a 7-2 lead.

Trailing 12-2 in the top of the fifth inning, Harold Coll doubled into the left field corner to reach base with two outs . . . Coll was at third base after a wild pitch and Cary Arbolida singled on the infield to plate the run . . . Ace Reese (2-for-4) hit a home run over the left field wall, going the opposite way, a two-run shot . . . French added an opposite field home run of his own, going back-to-back with Reese, and Houston trailed 12-6 after the four-run inning.

The Cougars sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the sixth inning on four base hits and two walks . . . Houston plated four runs for the second-straight inning and only trailed by two-runs, 12-10.

Right-hander Owen Woodward had a terrific outing out of the Cougars bullpen . . . Woodward handled the final three innings of work and allowed just one run . . .Houston pitching allowed thirteen walks in the game.

Houston put together a mini rally in the top of the ninth inning when Jacob Schoenvogel doubled to lead off the inning . . . Alex Lopez singled in only his second at-bat of the game after pinch hitting in the seventh inning . . . DeJesus picked up his fourth hit of the game with a run-scoring single on his sixth hit of the weekend . . . The would-be rally fizzled out after one more run scored on an Anthony Tulimero sacrifice fly ball for his second RBI of the game, while Houston fell by a 15-12 final score.

The Cougars offense was consistent, and on many days scoring 12 runs should be enough for a win, but this series is being played in Lubbock . . . All nine batters in the starting lineup had at least one hit in the ballgame, including four Cougars with multiple hits.

The Cougars and the Red Raiders will conclude their series on Sunday afternoon . . . Right-hander Duncan Howard makes his return after not seeing action for three weeks . . . A 1pm first pitch is scheduled.

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Coll and Arbolida Power Cougars, Texas Tech Takes Opener

Harold Coll homered in the fourth inning Friday night.

Wild games in Lubbock are not new and Friday night was another one for the books as Houston fell to Texas Tech 12-9 to open the weekend series.

Texas Tech struck first and took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Cougars offense got the top of the second started with a walk by Kenneth Jimenez in a six pitch at-bat . . . Jimenez was erased on a ground ball by Jonathan French after a seven pitch at-bat and he advanced to second base on a wild pitch.

With one out, Cary Arbolida (3-for-4) lined a ball into left field for a run-scoring double . . . Cameron Nickens then rolled a triple to the wall in right-center field to score Arbolida and the Cougars trailed by only a run . . . With Nickens moving down the line from third base, Texas Tech’s catcher attempted a back-pick and the ball went off of a diving Nickens and rolled down the left field line allowing Nickens to easily cross the plate as the tying run and it was a brand new ballgame.

Still tied in the top of the fourth inning, Arbolida led off the frame with his second double in as many plate appearances . . . One out later, Coby DeJesus singled up the middle to put runners on the corners . . . After a Red Raiders pitching change, DeJesus stole second base as Justin Murray walked on four pitches to load the bases . . . Anthony Tulimero followed with a sacrifice fly to left-center field that plated Arbolida as the go-ahead run.

Harold Coll (3-for-5) then deposited a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center field for a three-run blast and a 7-3 Houston lead.

Texas Tech got two of the runs back in the bottom of the inning and the Cougars only led by two runs.

Arbolida hit the first pitch he saw in the top of the fifth inning over the left field wall for a one-out solo home run and an 8-5 Houston lead.

A four-run bottom of the fifth inning gave Texas Tech a 9-8 lead.

Coll hit his second home run in as many at-bats with one-out in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at nine.

The Red Raiders broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a three-run frame with three base hits and a walk.

Houston could add nothing over the final three innings and fell for the ninth straight time in Big 12 play . . . Cougars pitching struck out ten batters but also walked six on Friday . . . Five Houston hitters accounted for all eleven hits in the loss.

Houston and Texas Tech will continue the weekend series on Saturday with a 2pm scheduled first pitch . . . Left-hander Kyle LaCalameto will get the start for Houston, his third straight weekend start.

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Houston Wins 4-3, Sweeps Silver Glove Series

Dan Wright got the start against Rice on Tuesday

Houston completed a sweep of the 2024 Silver Glove Series with a 4-3 win over Rice at Schroeder Park on Tuesday night.

Ace Reese reached base with two outs in the bottom of the first inning on a throwing error by the Rice shortstop . . . After Reese stole second base, Anthony Tulimero (3-for-4) lined a single into left-center field to score Reese and give Houston an early 1-0 advantage.

Rice got the run right back in the top of the second inning to tie the game and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning.

Tristan Moore homered to right field with one right in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game . . . The home run was Moore’s first hit of the season, but also his first hit as a Cougar.

Still tied in the bottom of the fifth inning, Tulimero doubled to the wall in right-center field with two outs, his third hit of the game . . . Harold Coll (2-for-4) doubled into the left field corner and Tulimero crossed home plate as the go-ahead run . . . Jonathan French then singled to right field to drive in Coll and Houston led 4-2.

Rice responded and got a run back in the top of the sixth inning to make it a one run game.

Houston left-hander Michael Benzor pitched 2 2/3 innings out of the Houston bullpen to move the game from the third inning to the sixth inning, it was Benzor’s longest outing of the season . . . Benzor pitched parts of four key innings while allowing just one unearned run.

Ryan Dollar, Chris Stuart, and Alex Solis each pitched one inning without allowing Rice to score any runs . . . Solis threw nine pitches while retiring all three batters he faced . . . Owen Woodward pitched the ninth inning and retired all three batters he faced.

Benzor earned the win for his efforts and is now 1-0 on the year.

After the game Benzor spoke about what allowed him to be effective and stay in the game Tuesday night to achieve season highs in both innings pitched and total pitches.

“The main thing, just getting ahead, creating the fastball, establishing the fastball and then come back with the breaker,” Benzor said. “Just causing a lot of weak contact and letting my fielders work is really what helped me get through the innings.”

Benzor also talked about where he is at this point in the season and what the outing Tuesday night meant for him long term.

“Definitely, keep building off of this one. It’s good to keep building up the body as the season goes on, especially late season when you know things start to get deeper into the pens and everything, so I felt like it was a great experience to get out there and really build my body.”

“The main thing is trusting my stuff,” Benzor said, “No matter the count, I feel like if I attack the batter I’ll be able to get him out or find success doing that.”

Moore was asked about his game-tying home run in the fourth inning after the game and he was all smiles.

“There’s no better feeling than hitting a home run, especially my first hit as a Cougar,” Moore said. “He threw me a slider. I knew it was coming. I just did what I had to do.”

Asked if he knew the ball was gone as soon as he made contact, Moore responded, “Yeah, I did. I definitely did, I felt like I got all of it.”

Houston scored four runs in each of the three games of the Silver Glove Series this season, while the pitching staff allowed one, two, and three runs – – six total runs over three games.

Houston is off until Friday when the Cougars will be in Lubbock to face Texas Tech in a Big 12 weekend series, the first of four straight games away from home before hosting Texas April 12-14 . . . Friday’s first pitch at Dan Law Field is scheduled for 6:30pm.

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Houston Swept at TCU Despite Strong Jelkin Outing

Houston had their Big 12 woes continue on Saturday in Ft. Worth as TCU completed a weekend sweep of the Cougars 6-4 in the finale.

Leadoff batter Coby DeJesus saw a nine pitch at-bat to open up Saturday’s game, fouling off five pitches before lining out, but the at-bat gave Justin Murray plenty of pitches to look at from the on-deck circle . . . Murray then singled into right field . . . Ace Reese then worked an eleven pitch at-bat before he struck out looking . . . The Cougars did not score in the inning, but they forced TCU starter Kole Klecker to throw 28 pitches in the first inning.

Making TCU starters work high-pitch innings was something the Cougars did not do in the first two games of the series when both starters went at least eight innings . . . The Saturday approach would pay dividends later in the afternoon.

Right-hander Jaxon Jelkin made the Saturday start for Houston, his second straight start in the final game of a weekend after being scratched from his usual Friday night start last week against Kansas State . . . Jelkin allowed an unearned run in the second inning and a run in the third inning, and was impressive the rest of the way even though TCU took a 2-0 lead.

Designated Hitter Tre Jones was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fifth inning . . . Harold Coll hit the first pitch he saw for a single to left field . . .  Jonathan French followed with a double into left-center field to plate Jones . . . One out later, Jacob Schoenvogel dropped a single into right field that scored French and Jake Rainess to give Houston a 3-2 lead and TCU went to the bullpen.

A throwing error in the top of the sixth inning plated another Houston run and gave the Cougars a two-run lead.

Jelkin exited the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning after a single broke up a string of 13 straight batters retired . . . It was Jelkin’s longest outing of the season to this point, and arguably his best, striking out six along the way, but he would have to settle for a no-decision for his effort.

Few things went right after Houston went to the bullpen as two errors, including a throwing error on a made to order double-play ball back to the pitcher that was thrown into center field . . . Two walks in the inning hurt Houston’s cause as well while the Horned Frogs scored four times and took a 6-4 lead.

Houston loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but it was to no avail as TCU closed out the game and the series sweep.

TCU scored six runs in the game, but only had two hits on the day, aided by three Houston defensive errors . . . The Cougars offense left nine runners on base . . . The four runs scored on Saturday was more runs than in the previous two games combined (three).

Houston returns home today and will next be in action on Tuesday against Rice at Schroeder Park . . . The third and final game of the Silver Glove Series gets underway at 6:30pm, with Houston in line for the sweep of the series this season . . . The Cougars will then hit the road for their next four games, first with a stop in Lubbock to face Texas Tech for another weekend of Big 12 play.

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Late Rally by Houston Not Enough to Avoid Series Loss at TCU

Similar to Thursday night, the Houston Cougars did not score a run until a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning finally got them on the board in a 6-2 loss at TCU on Friday night.

Left-hander Kyle LaCalalmeto got the Friday night start after starting the middle game last weekend as well . . . While tagged with the loss, LaCalameto pitched a season-high four innings with two strikeouts and no walks and looks to be building strength and stamina since returning last month from Tommy John Surgery.

As the Horned Frogs built a 6-0 lead against a trio of Cougars pitchers, the Cougars were being kept in check by left-hander Payton Tolle . . . Tolle retired sixteen straight Houston batters over one stretch leading late into the ballgame.

Jake Rainess (2-for-3) led off the top of the ninth inning with a solo home run, similar to what Jonathan French did in Thursday’s opening game, and in nearly the identical location.

One out later, Justin Murray singled to keep Houston’s hopes alive . . . Ace Reese pinch-hit with two outs and drew a walk . . . Anthony Tulimero singled up the middle to score Murray and keep the rally going, but the game ended with a strikeout and the Cougars fell 6-2 and also dropped their third straight conference series.

Tolle departed one out shy of a complete game having struck out thirteen Houston batters and allowing just three base hits . . . Tulimero’s RBI single was the fourth and final single of the game for the Houston offense . . . Rainess accounted for two of the four Houston hits in the game.

Owen Woodward pitched 3 1/3 innings and kept the game from getting out of hand in a very serviceable outing . . . The multiple-inning effort by Woodward in relief of LaCalameto also spared the Cougars bullpen from having to use too many arms, as happened Thursday night.

Houston and TCU close out their weekend series on Saturday at 2pm in Ft. Worth . . . Right-hander Jaxon Jelkin will be on the mound for the Cougars.

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TCU Opens Weekend with Dominant Win Over Houston

By any metric there was very little to like about Houston losing 14-1 in Ft. Worth to TCU on Thursday night to open the fourth weekend of Big 12 play.

The two teams were scoreless through three innings of the game, but that was the last time that TCU did not score at least one run in an inning . . . The Horned Frogs took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, and they were just getting started.

In the top of the fifth inning, Tre Jones became the first Houston base runner in the game when he got the Cougars first base hit of the game to lead off the frame . . . But the Houston offense was kept in check pretty much all night and Jones was left on the bases.

Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs were adding runs to the tally, including a six-run seventh inning . . . TCU would add a run in the eighth inning and take a 14-0 lead to the ninth inning.

Jonathan French was a late defensive replacement at first base for Justin Murray once the game was all but final . . . French got his first at-bat in the top of the ninth inning and he blasted a leadoff solo home run to left field, the Cougars fourth and final base hit in the game.

TCU hitters collected 21 base hits in the game without a home run . . . The Horned Frogs took advantage of three Houston errors . . . Cougars pitching walked five batters in the game, while striking out on two, both by Ryan Dollar.

Houston and TCU will pick it up again on Saturday evening in Ft. Worth . . . Kyle LaCalameto will be on the mound for Houston . . . First pitch is set for 6:30pm.

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2,000th Win in Houston Program History Also Ends Lamar Win Streak

The 2,000th win in the history of the Houston program also stopped the longest active win streak in the nation when the Cougars defeated the Lamar Cardinals 6-4 at Schroeder Park on Tuesday night.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, Houston leadoff hitter Kenneth Jimenez was hit in the head with the second pitch of the bottom of the first inning . . . Jimenez remained in the game . . . Justin Murray was walked before Harold Coll delivered a run-scoring single up the middle into center field . . . A Tre Jones sacrifice fly RBI to left field gave Houston the 2-1 advantage.

A three-run fourth inning gave the Cardinals a temporary 4-2 advantage.

Cameron Nickens (2-for-4) got a fourth inning rally started for the Cougars when he hit a one-out double into the right field corner . . . Two out walks to Coby DeJesus and Anthony Tulimero loaded the bases for the top of the order . . . Jimenez was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, this time it brought home a run to cut the Cougars deficit.

A walk to Murray tied the game and Coll was then hit by a pitch to give Houston a 5-4 lead.

Jones led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a swinging strikeout, but the ball got away from the catcher and Jones’ alertness and speed helped him reach first base safely . . . Jones then stole second base and was at third base when a single by Nickens brought him home.

Houston pitching did not allow Lamar to score a run after the third inning . . . Michael Benzor, Diego Luzardo, Brendan O’Donnell and pitched scoreless baseball in the middle frames . . . Left-hander Jose Torrealba pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning with two strikeouts . . . Murray handled the ninth inning and struck out two Cardinals batters to earn his third save of the season . . . Luzardo (2-0) earned the win with his 1 1/3 scoreless innings pitched.

Entering play Tuesday night, Lamar (19-5) had the longest active winning streak in the nation having won 13 straight games . . . Neither team made an error in the game, a problem that plagued Houston over the weekend against Kansas State.

Anthony Tulimero played in his first game since March 1st at the Astros Foundation College Classic . . . Tulimero went 1-for-3 in his return, walked, and scored once while batting in the nine spot.

After the game, Tulimero talked about his return from a shoulder injury and preparing for the game after being out for 24 days.

“We had a few arms that needed to throw so I was able to get a few at-bats off of them and kind of just get back to some normalcy in the box,” Tulimero said. “I was glad that my teammates were able to help me out pregame today and get me ready for the game.”

“Just excited to come back and do what I love,” Tulimero added. “I wanted to come in here, get a win in midweek, and get some momentum going into TCU this weekend.”

Head coach Todd Whitting was asked after the game about the 2,000th win in the history of the program.

“It’s a great milestone for the program to reach our 2,000th win in program history,” Whitting said. “Each of those wins are special and only achieved because of the tremendous players and coaches that have been associated with UH Baseball.”

Houston only has one day off before they once again see action in Big 12 play . . . Because this is Easter weekend, the schedule has been moved up a day for most teams in the Big 12 . . . The Cougars will be in Ft. Worth to face TCU on Thursday, first pitch is set for 6pm.

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Kansas State Completes Sweep of Houston with 9-3 Win Sunday

Kansas State came to Houston this weekend and swept the Cougars in a Big 12 Conference series, completing the job with a sweep on Sunday in a 9-3 win.

Cary Arbolida led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run over the left field for a brief Houston lead.

The Wildcats strung together three base hits in a row, one of them a triple, in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Justin Murray reached base on an error at third base with one out . . . Ace Reese followed with a single to left field, when the ball was misplayed by the left fielder, Murray advanced to third and Reese moved up to second base.

A walk to Harold Coll loaded the bases for Arbolida, who picked up his second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to shallow left field.

A two-run seventh inning preceded a five-run eighth inning for Kansas State and put too much distance on the scoreboard for the Cougars.

Trailing 9-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kenneth Jimenez singled with two outs and then stole second base . . . Murray singled home Jimenez but there was nothing else happening for Houston in the game and the Cougars fell 9-3 and dropped to 4-5 in the Big 12.

Houston only produced six base hits in the game, compared to the fifteen hits for Kansas State . . . The pitching staff has also seen its walk-to-strikeout ratio go in the wrong direction . . . Houston pitching walked five on Sunday and struck out seven.

Jaxon Jelkin made the start Sunday after being scratched mid-week from his scheduled Friday start . . . Jelkin pitched four innings in which he allowed five hits and two runs and threw sixty pitches and got no-decision for his effort.

Houston is off on Monday before resuming action on Tuesday against Lamar before a Big 12 road trip next weekend . . . First pitch against the Cardinals is set for 6:30pm at Schroeder Park.

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