HOUSTON, Texas – The McNeese baseball team stood toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the nation but would eventually fell victim to an offensive surge from the ninth-ranked Houston Cougars, who scored a 14-1 victory over the Pokes, Tuesday night at Schroeder Park.
McNeese dipped to 2-2 on the young season while Houston remained perfect with the win, improving to 4-0 on the year.
The Pokes went to work fast in the top of the first inning with hits from senior
Connor Crane and junior
Ricky Ramirez before a UH double play forced McNeese to surrender its side of the frame.
Starting pitcher
Austin Sanders' streak of five consecutive batters retired was broken up in the bottom of the second as the Cougars posted two consecutive hits. A pair of hiccups from McNeese allowed the Cougars to take a 1-0 lead due to a wild pitch and passed ball.
Sanders finished the game having tossed 4.0 innings and allowed three earned runs off of three hits and three walks. He struck out three batters during his appearance. In total, McNeese used five pitchers in the contest.
The Pokes struck back in the top of the fourth inning after rattling off a leadoff hit from
Connor Crane who advanced all the way to third on the next play thanks to a sac bunt turned in to a hit and error following a misplay at first base that allowed Ramirez to remain safe.
Lewis Guilbeau's ground out following the odd set of events was enough to drive Crane home from third to tie the game up 1-1.
Houston regained the lead in the bottom side of the inning thanks to a Joe Davis homer that soared over the right field wall. It was the first tater given up by the Pokes this season.
McNeese hit a rough patch in the bottom of the fifth inning as the Cougars took advantage of a few tough breaks and put up four runs to extend its lead to a 6-1 score. Throughout the night, there had been some difference of opinions in the game calling that eventually led to the ejection of McNeese head coach
Justin Hill by the home plate umpire during the middle of the inning.
The Cougars scraped across three more runs in the sixth inning and five in the eighth to extend its lead to a 14-1 score.
Crane and Ramirez each led McNeese with two hits on the night while Guilbeau posted the only RBI.
Houston led the hitting category with a 13-7 advantage over the Pokes while both the Cougars and Cowboys committed one error in the game. Both squads left six runners stranded on base in the game.
The Pokes return to action this weekend as they travel to San Antonio for a three-game series against UTSA. The series begins Friday at 6 p.m.
