UH’s all-around game was enough for it to take control of its series win over Cincinnati by taking two of three games this past weekend. | File photo/ The Daily Cougar
Last weekend, head coach Todd Whitting acknowledged how huge of a road series Cincinnati was going to be.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’re back in a little bit of corner. We need to come out next weekend and play really well,” Whitting said.
The Cougars improved to 31-12 for the season and bumped up their conference record to 8-7 with their run-rule 15-1 victory against Cincinnati on Sunday, taking two of three games.
Junior pitcher David Longville took to the mound Sunday to hold the Bearcats to only one run, allowing the Cougar offense to do its job at the plate. After scoring three runs in the third inning, UH’s batting came alive in the last three innings of play and put the game out of reach by scoring 12 runs.
Sophomores Kyle Survance and Justin Montemayor led the hitting barrage, hitting a combined 8-9. Sophomore infielder Justin Montemayor reached a career-high mark of four RBI, and senior Casey Grayson extended his on-base streak to 17 games.
The Cougars picked up their 30th win of the season in Game 1 with an 11-4 victory. Senior reliever Tyler Ford earned the win on the mound, as junior starter Aaron Garza left the game after four innings with a no-decision. Ford shut out the Bearcats for the last four innings of the game, paving the road for the Cougars to pull ahead, as the game was tied through the fifth inning.
Offensively, the Cougars set a season record of seven extra-base hits. As the leadoff in three innings, Montemayor hit three doubles and scored three runs collectively.
The only low point of the Cougars’ weekend was the 0-3 loss they suffered on Saturday night. Despite sophomore starter Jake Lemoine’s eight strikeouts, falling one short of his career-best, UH was held to three hits in only its second shutout of the year.
The Cougars are preparing themselves to take on McNeese State in the remainder of their meeting suspended from Feb. 26 as well as another game to immediately follow.
