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Poor pitching kills Coogs vs. Cal State

Cougar Sports Staff

Losing Brad Sullivan and Ryan Wagner to the majors never hurt more than it did this weekend against Cal State Fullerton. After staggering out of the gates against No. 6 Texas and No. 1 Rice, the last thing the Cougars needed was to face another powerhouse team. Unfortunately for UH, the No. 14 Titans didn't seem to care about what the Cougars needed.

The Cougars (2-5) wrapped up their first three-game non-conference set of the season by falling to the Titans 9-4 on Sunday. UH struck first, but not often enough. After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, CSF starter Ryan Schreppel settled down, not allowing the Cougars to score again until the fourth inning.

The Titans took UH junior starter Garrett Mock out early by scoring five times off six hits in 3.2 innings. Mock, the most experienced starter entering the season, saw his ERA balloon to 9.72.

But that performance was forecast by six UH pitchers Saturday in an 11-0 shutout. Sophomore starter Justin Vaclavik (7.11 ERA) lasted just two innings as the Titans rocked him for six runs off six hits. But junior Brian Martin couldn't make it out of the fifth inning as Cal State crossed the plate three more times to take a 9-0 lead after five.

Cal State junior designated hitter Kurt Suzuki led the Titans with three runs and four RBIs while sophomore pitcher Ricky Romero earned a complete game win by fanning 10 Cougars.

Senior Brett Cooley was the hero of Friday's 3-2 win. The designated hitter knocked three runs in with a first-inning home run. Sophomore Matt Varner established himself as the ace by limiting the Titans to just two runs in the Cougars' only win of the series. Varner (3.09 ERA) scattered nine hits through seven innings.

The Cougars were outscored 22-7 in the three games. 

The Cougars next begin a three-game series against No. 8 Long Beach State at 4 p.m. Friday. They follow that with a trip to No. 12 Baylor on March 2 before traveling to Baton Rouge, La., to face No. 2 Louisiana State on March 5.

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