by Catherine Taylor
Staff Writer
Cougars junior pitcher Jon McDonald gave a turnaround performance Tuesday night against the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners that re-established him as one of Houston's most aggressive pitchers.
McDonald has struggled in his last outings, earning two losses and a no decision in his last three starts. He seemed to be heading down the same road in the first couple of innings against UTSA.
McDonald gave up a run early in the first inning, and with the bases loaded and only one out, the Houston bullpen was already hard at work. However, McDonald got two clutch strikeouts in a row to end the inning and keep him alive.
In the second, McDonald again loaded the bases, giving up a double and then walking two. Backed by solid play from the field, McDonald got out of the inning without giving up a run.
"We knew (McDonald) was struggling a little the first couple of innings and we would have to step things up defensively," second baseman Ryan Ware said. "It was a real team effort."
Houston had a great inning at the plate in the bottom of the second to give McDonald some fuel going into the third. The Cougars got four runs on three hits, including a single by first baseman Matt Ferrell, who brought in two and an RBI double by Ware.
McDonald gave up only one run on one hit while striking out two batters, setting up a four-run lead for UH reliever Robert Dieudonné.
"This game was important because I knew it was a game that could get me back on track," McDonald said. "The first inning I threw a little wild, so I decided to throw right at them. The fielders really backed me up and I settled down and started pitching the way I wanted to."
Following in McDonald's footsteps, Dieudonné gave a great performance. The right-handed pitcher did not give up a run in his four innings of play, and held the Roadrunners to two hits.
"I was basically out there just trying to throw strikes," Dieudonné said. "We had a four-run lead thanks to our hitters."
McDonald earned his fifth win of the season, improving his record to 5-2, while Dieudonné picked up his fifth save of the year.