Sports

Cougars cook up Frog legs

Sullivan strikes out 12, Cougars back to .500 mark

By Stuart H. Clements
The Daily Cougar

The Cougars have to go at least 34-2 the rest of the way if they want to better their 48-17 2002 record. Itis probably a lot to ask from a team that struggled mightily early on, but from here out, they get to start the season over.

Nathan Lindstrom/The Daily Cougar

UH hit the .500 mark for just the second time this year after winning their second Conference-USA series of the season, this time against Texas Christian at Lupton Stadium in Fort Worth. The Cougars improved to 14-14 (6-3) with the 2-1 series win. The Horned Frogs fell to 18-13 (6-3 in C-USA).

The Cougars jumped out in the top of the third with three runs to take a 3-0 lead Sunday, but the Horned Frogs retaliated in the bottom of the same inning with four runs. Houston added one in the fourth to tie the game.

The score remained tied until the top of the seventh when sophomore Brett Logan drove in pinch runner junior Brad Sullivan with a safety squeeze to put the Cougars up 5-4.

Junior Sam Mitchell then laced a single that broke through the left side to send sophomore Nick Bott home. The Cougars stepped out of the inning with a 6-4 lead, and TCU was only able to add one more run in the eighth to make the final score 6-5.

Sophomore Garret Mock started on the mound for the Cougars and gave up only one earned run off three hits from the Horned Frogs, while adding three strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings work.

Mock left the mound with a 4.08 ERA, but was not credited for the win. Instead, relief junior Brian Henderson picked up the win making his record on the season 1-2. Henderson faced four batters in one and one-third innings of work and hangs onto a 2.25 ERA.

Sophomore Ryan Wagner closed the game with three innings on the mound. Wagner struck out seven in three innings to hold off the Horned Frogs, and earned his sixth save of the season. Wagner also collected a save after closing in Fridayis game. Wagner possesses a 1.98 ERA.

Although the Horned Frogs made a terrific show of running the bases -- they left only two runners on base -- TCUis six hits were no match for the explosive 14 that the Cougars tallied.

Junior southpaw Danny Zell toed the rubber to start Saturdayis game. Zell picked up his second loss of the season as the Cougars dropped the second game in the series 5-2.

Zell pitched five innings of shutout ball, but after the Cougar offense rapped one off in the top of the sixth, the Horned Frogs retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Zell went five and two-thirds innings against TCU and struck out four, finishing with a 2.21 ERA.

After the Horned Frogs took a 4-1 advantage in the sixth, they added another run in the seventh. The Cougars tried to mount a comeback in the ninth, but fell short after scoring just one run to make the final score.

Sullivan played in Fridayis game, but instead of running bases, he was pitching. The right-handed superstar slinger is really picking up momentum after beginning the season with a three-game losing streak.

Sullivan now stands at 4-3 on the season after throwing for seven innings Friday, when he gave up only two earned runs off six hits and struck out 12.

Sullivan has averaged 12 strikeouts in each of his last four starts, and holds the UH career record for his nine games with more than 10 strikeouts.

The Cougar offense shut the door early after scoring four runs in the third to open the scoreboard. TCU answered with one in the bottom of the inning, but the Cougars answered right back with one in the fourth. The Horned Frogs added one in the fifth to make the final score 5-2.

The Cougars play in Houston Tuesday at Reckling Park against No. 1 Rice for the fourth game of the Silver Glove series. The Owls have already won three-of-five games to take the series this season.

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