May 25, 2006

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Houston 7, ECU 1 (PDF)

HOUSTON, Texas - Houston right-hander Brad Lincoln allowed just one run while checking the Pirates on four hits in eight innings of work while Isa Garcia keyed a four-run fifth inning with a two-run double to lead the Cougars to a 7-1 victory over East Carolina during second round action of the 2006 Conference USA Baseball Championships at Reckling Park Thursday afternoon.

The setback forces ECU (33-25) into a rematch with Tulane in an elimination game Friday beginning at 4:00 p.m. (EST). Houston (38-19) will enjoy an off-day Friday before meeting the winner of the Pirates-Green Wave contest Saturday morning at 9:00.

Lincoln (12-1), who issued just one walk while striking out six during his 108-pitch effort, retired 16 of the last 18 batters he faced. In fact, he did not allow a hit after surrendering a single to Dale Mollenhauer in the third inning.

The Pirates got on the scoreboard first against the Cougar ace, pushing across a two-out run in the bottom of the second inning. Ryan Tousley laced a double down the right field line and came around to score on Jake Dean's sharp single to center, which came on a 3-2 pitch after five consecutive foul balls. The run also snapped Lincoln's consecutive scoreless inning streak at 11 1/3.

ECU couldn't take advantage of a solid scoring opportunity to take a 2-0 lead an inning later, wasting a pair of one-out singles by Harrison Eldridge and Dale Mollenhauer. With runners on first and third, Mollenhauer was picked off first base by Lincoln before the Pirates' leading hitter, Jake Smith, bounced out to third base to end the threat.

Houston exploded for four runs in the top of the fifth inning to chase sophomore Pirate starter Dustin Sasser (5-7). After retiring Luis Flores on a line out to open the frame, Sasser allowed Travis Cougot and Jake Stewart to reach on a single and walk, respectively, before Garcia bounced a high chopper over Dean at third base on a hit-and-run play to give the Cougars their first lead of the contest at 2-1.

Brad Weston followed by drilling his team-leading 15th home run of the season over the rightfield wall on an 0-2 pitch to knock Sasser out of the game and score Garcia for a 4-1 Cougar cushion. Junior left-hander Jason Neitz quickly restored order by fanning Dustin Kingsbury and Josh Stirneman to end the rally.

The Cougars sent nine batters to the plate and tacked on another three runs an inning later to extend their lead to 7-1. Flores and Cougot each produced one-out, run-scoring doubles off Neitz before Dustin Kingsbury greeted second Pirate reliever Chris Powell with a bases loaded infield single to drive in another run before Stirneman grounded out to finish the inning.

Sasser allowed seven hits and four runs, walked two and struck out three before giving way to Neitz who gave up three runs on three hits in one official inning of work. Chris Powell and Scott Andrews also made appearances, combining on three and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief to keep the Cougars off the board in the final three innings.

In addition to Eldridge, Mollenhauer, Tousley and Dean, the Pirates also got a hit from Jamie Ray, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the top of the eighth inning. Ray contributed a two-out single against Houston closer Clayton Boone in the bottom of the ninth.