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Sports

Pitching, defense the key against UC-Irvine

by RONNIE TURNER
THE Daily Cougar

As UH found out Tuesday night it cannot afford to take any opponent lightly.

Not even when that opponent is a rag-tag team such as Sam Houston State, who lost nine consecutive games to the Cougars prior to this season. This time, however, the Bearkats had no intention of dropping a 10th game, and quickly jumped out to an early 6-0 lead to prove it.

UH put up an intense fight and charged back for a 16-9 victory, but the lesson learned was clear.

The team hopes it won't have to be reminded of this lesson when it hosts the University of California-Irvine at Cougar Field, starting with a matchup at 4 p.m. Friday. 

Houston (3-2) took two of three games from the Anteaters last season in Irvine and came close to snagging a third victory, but the rematch probably won't be as easy. 

"I'll definitely say (the Anteaters) have a better (pitching) staff than Sam Houston State, but I'm confident we'll be able to hit off their staff," UH senior third baseman Dustin Kingsbury said. "(Also), our defense and pitching need to hold up." 

The pitching and defense will have to be up to speed against a UC-Irvine lineup that has gotten comfortable swinging the bats. The Anteaters (3-2-1) pounded out 18 hits against Loyola Marymount on Sunday, a game that ended in a 15-15 tie because of darkness.

The Cougars have experienced defensive problems on the left side of their infield with junior shortstop Ryan Lormand struggling to properly field his position. Lormand made five errors in the first five games of the season. 

Junior right-hander Aaron Brown (1-0, 1.35 ERA) will more than likely get the start for Friday's game. The Anteaters will probably send Scott Gorgen (1-0, 2.25 ERA) to the mound. 

Freshman southpaws Donnie Joseph and Wes Musick (1-1, 7.20 ERA) will probably start on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

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