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Sports

Cougars put Demons to rest after 12-3 slashing

Houston's bullpen finds its footing, puts lid on blowout home victory

by PATRICK FAIRMAN
The Daily Cougar 

The hot winter night steamed up the Cougar bats as they defeated both of their Demons -- their pitching mishaps and Northwestern State University -- in a 12-3 victory Wednesday at Cougar Field.

The Cougars improved their record (4-5) to climb back within a game of .500, while NSU suffered its first loss after defeating Centenary 6-3, putting a halt to their five-game winning streak.

The bats came alive combing for 12 runs batted in off of 13 hits. The team effort saw its top RBI threats, designated hitter junior Brad Lincoln and pinch-hitting freshman shortstop Travis Cougot, notch only two.

Cougar starter sophomore Ricky Hargrove (1-0) picked up his first win of the year making his first start this season, lasting five innings. During his work he gave up his first run, with three hits, two walks and four strikeouts. His minuscule ERA stands at 0.61.

"I like doing both starting and relieving," Hargrove said. "I like the pressure of relieving and enjoyment of getting to start."

His first earned run was given up in the fifth inning with one out on a double by senior Demon first baseman Bobby Barbier. The run ended Hargrove's career-long scoreless innings streak at 14. 

"There is not much difference from starting to relieving" Hargrove said. "No matter which you do, you have to throw strikes."

The season had been hard on the Cougar bullpen until Wednesday. Leading the way in relief of Hargrove with Barbier standing on second base, sophomore Brady Glos entered the game. He pitched 0.2 of an inning, setting the side to rest in the sixth.

Following Glos up in the seventh after six members of the Cougar Soccer team sang "Take me out to the Ball Game" was junior Clint Corrigan. Corrigan pitched through the frame, ending with a full-count strikeout. 

Next up in the eighth was freshman Barry Laird, the only other Cougar pitcher entering the game who had not given up a run this season. That changed after a two run home run went off the bat of Demons second baseman Brandon Morgan. Clayton Boone followed in relief of Laird by completing the inning with two strikeouts.

Freshman Jimmy Raviele made his Cougar pitching debut in the final inning by striking out two.

"Our pitching did quite well tonight," head coach Rayner Noble said. "Hargrove started us off on the right foot."

The problem this season hasn't been starting games, but finishing them.

"We played well from the first inning through the ninth," Noble said. "Everyone got an opportunity to play, which is good to see. We have to keep doing what we did. We have carry the attitude that the other team is in trouble when we take the field."

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