The Houston Cougars and the Marshall Thundering Herd were tied at two in the bottom of the eighth in the Conference USA title game at Greer Field in New Orleans when Cougar senior second baseman Ryan Lormand scored senior left fielder Jake Stewart to give Houston a one-point lead going into the ninth.
Cougar freshman pitcher Chase Dempsay, who entered the game in the eighth, had a three and out inning to win the C-USA championship for Houston. He finished with no hits and no runs in two innings.
The Thundering Herd (30-30) were the first to score in the top of the third when junior center fielder Nate Lape hit a sacrifice fly to score senior catcher Tommy Johnson, who reached base on a walk.
Houston (39-22) answered in the bottom of that inning with a single from senior third baseman Bryan Pounds (1-2, 1 RBI) to score sophomore catcher Chris Wallace, who singled to right field to get on base, to put the score at 1-1.
Pounds was named the Most Valuable Player of the Championships.
Marshall regained the lead in the top of the sixth when senior left fielder Jeff Rowley, who singled to reach base, scored on a single from junior designated hitter Kurt Lipton.
However, the Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Lormand reached first on a wild pitch and stole second and third before sophomore center fielder Zak Presly (3-2, 1 RBI) singled to score Lormand.
In the eighth, Lormand reached base on a fielder’s choice to score Stewart, who reached base on a throwing error, and gave the Cougars the lead for the first time in the game. Lormand finished 0-2 with 1 run and 1 RBI in the game.
UH junior starting pitcher Jimmy Raviele allowed two hits and one earned run in 2.1 innings. Freshman Matt Taylor replaced Raviele in the third and gave up three hits and an earned run in 3 innings.
With the victory, Houston recevied an automatic invitation to make its second NCAA Regional appearance since 2006. The Cougars will host the NCAA Selection Show, which will air on ESPN, on Monday in Houston.
