Coming off a six-HR weekend, junior shortstop Jake Scheiner (2) went 4-9 with two RBIs in the midweek contests. | Courtesy of UH Athletics
Heading into the week winners of five straight games, the Cougars continued their hot streak with victories over Louisiana and Texas Southern.
In a midweek match-up between two ranked teams, sophomore left-hander Trey Cumbie had his best outing of the season, earning a 4-0 shutout over No. 10 Louisiana on Tuesday night. Houston followed that up with an offensive explosion for 16 runs in the 16-3 victory over Texas Southern on Wednesday night.
In only his tenth career start, Cumbie held the Ragin’ Cajuns to no runs on five hits, while the Cougar offense racked up 11 hits against one of the top pitching staffs in the nation. It was Cumbie’s first complete game, beating out his previous high of eight innings against Rice last season.
Fresh off a six-HR weekend, UH’s junior shortstop Jake Scheiner went 1-4 with two strikeouts. Junior catcher Connor Wong led the Cougars with three hits and has now reached safely in 19 of 20 games.
The Cougars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second and blew the game open with two more in the fifth.
With two outs, Wong and freshman left fielder Landon Etzel recorded back-to-back singles. A Louisiana error brought Etzel home, while sophomore outfielder Grayson Padgett singled Wong home. The Cougars would add another run in the top of the ninth.
Texas Southern shootout
The Cougars returned to action Wednesday night to improve to 28-0 all-time against Texas Southern. After freshman Carter Henry gave up one run in the top of the first, the Cougar offense powered back for eight runs in the bottom of the frame.
The first eight Cougars reached base safely to start the game, highlighted by a bases-loaded triple from freshman first baseman Lael Lockhart Jr.
Houston would add four more runs as the Cougars batted around in the inning.
The Cougars would add six runs over the next four innings as Henry finished his day giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits in five innings. The Tigers would add runs in the fourth and eighth, but it wouldn’t be enough as 16 Cougar hits powered through.
The Cougars head to California this weekend for a three-game series against No. 27 UC Irvine, beginning Friday at 8:30 p.m.
