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Sports

UH expects good fortune to continue this weekend

by LOUIE VERA
The Daily Cougar 

The Cougars are 8-9 this season and haven't played like the team that finished 39-22 a season ago.

On paper, Tuesday's 7-1 victory over Lamar was just another ‘‘W'' in the win column, but the team hopes it brings a new mindset that will carry them to success throughout the rest of the season.

"We came together as a team and (had to) basically decide (whether) we were going to fall down and give up for the rest of the season or stand tall," senior outfielder Bryan Tully said. "There are a lot of games left. (head coach Rayner Noble) just said to start the season over and to go out there with the intensity we haven't been showing."

The remaining slate starts with a three-game weekend series against Princeton at Cougar Field. The opener is slated to start at 7 p.m. tonight.

Freshman southpaw Wes Musick will make his sixth start of the season in tonight's game. So far, Musick has compiled a 2-3 record with a 5.40 ERA in 23.1 innings of work.

Pitching has been an Achilles' heel for the Cougars early on this season, but the staff showed improvement against Lamar. 

Freshman starter Donnie Joseph, senior right-hander Shea Hancock and sophomore right-hander Chris Wright combined to give up only one unearned run on five hits while striking out nine batters. Hancock (1-0) was awarded the victory after holding the Cardinals scoreless over 3.2 innings.

The performance was the desired result for the pitching staff, which has seen more than its fair share of struggles.

"We just put it into our minds that we have to have more passion and more heart out there," Joseph said. "We've got the talent but we just have to have more heart."

Princeton (1-2) will send junior right-hander Steven Miller to the mound for Friday's game. Through four innings of work, Miller has yet to allow a run. 

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