STATISTICS
Friday, April 5 Results:
Houston 2, No. 11 ECU 0
Houston infielder Jared Triolo scored the only two runs of the game through the first three innings, as the Cougars shutout No. 11 ECU 2-0, handing the Pirates their first American loss of the year and snapping their 10-game winning streak in Friday’s series opener. Triolo ended the game with three hits to lead the Cougars, including a solo home run in the third inning. Starter Lael Lockhart Jr. tossed 7.2 innings, scattering four hits and one walk, while striking out two to earn his second win of the year. He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. Rey Fuentes III and Derrick Cherry each had a pair of base knocks to join Triolo in earning multi-hit performances. Catcher Kyle Lovelace was 1-for-3 and recorded two caught stealings behind the plate. Fred Villarreal closed the door through the final 1.1 innings on the mound, picking up his seventh save of the year.
ECU starter Jake Agnos struck out eight, surrendering two runs (one earned), six hits and three walks. Brady Lloyd and Bryant Packard each had multi-hit showings to lead the Pirates at the dish. ECU and Houston will finish the series Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. ET.
Cincinnati 5, No. 22 UConn 4
Cincinnati held off No. 22 UConn in a 5-4 win to open a three-game series Friday afternoon in Storrs, Conn. UConn’s Michael Woodworth and Anthony Prato hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the ninth to make it a one-run game. However, Korren Thompson got the final out with his third strikeout of the inning to secure the win for the Bearcats. Joey Wiemer hit a three-run home run for Cincinnati in the third inning, while Joey Bellini went 3-for-four at the plate. Seven different Bearcats had at least one base knock. Starter A.J. Kullman went 6.0 innings, striking out four, while allowing one run, six hits and no walks.
Prato ended the day with three RBIs to lead the Huskies at the dish. UConn starter Mason Feole struck out six through 5.1 innings of work, but gave up four runs on eight hits and took the loss. UConn and Cincinnati meet again Saturday at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford, Conn., at 2 p.m. ET.
UCF 4, USF 1
UCF opened its War on I-4 series against USF on Friday night with a 4-1 win over the Bulls at John Euliano Park. The Knights jumped out to a four-run lead through three innings of play and never looked back. UCF had six of its eight hits come from Matthew Mika, Dallas Beaver and Dalton Wingo, all of whom had two base knocks. UCF lefthander Grant Schuermann had a quality start, finishing with 6.2 innings of work with a pair of strikeouts. He scattered five hits and issued just two free passes with one run against. Jake Sullivan led USF with two hits. Game 2 of the series is set for a 6 p.m. ET first pitch Saturday.
Wichita State 12, Tulane 11 (11)
Luke Ritter scored the game-winning run in the 11th inning, as Wichita State overcame a six-run deficit in a 12-11 victory at Tulane in Friday’s series opener. The Shockers have won seven-straight games heading into Saturday’s series finale doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. ET. Trailing 11-5, Wichita State rallied for six runs in the ninth frame to bring the game to extra innings. The Shockers capitalized on mistakes with five of the final seven runs being scored on two walks, two errors and a wild pitch. Four Wichita State batters ended the night with multiple hits, as Ritter went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Paxton Wallace hit a three-run homer in the opening frame. Wichita State led 13-8 in hits. Mitchell Walters struck out three and scattered one hit and one walk through the final 3.0 innings pitched to earn his first win of the season.
After giving up four runs in the opening inning, Tulane rallied back to take an 11-5 lead into the ninth. The Green Wave scored four runs in the sixth and five in the eighth. Sal Gozzo and Kody Hoese each hit homers to combine for five RBIs in the eighth inning. Five of Tulane’s eight hits went for extra bases. It marked Hoese’ conference-leading 15th long ball of the season. Starter Kaleb Roper tossed 7.0 innings, striking out three.
Southern 6, Memphis 1
Memphis brought a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning, but Southern used a late rally, scoring the final six runs of the game to clinch the Friday’s series opener, 6-1 at FedExPark. Memphis will return to the diamond Saturday for a twin bill starting at 2 p.m. ET. Kyle Ouellette turned in a 3-for-3 performance. On the mound, Hunter Smith's quality start was negated. The senior scattered five hits across five scoreless innings and struck out five. Ouellette hit his second home run of the season in the third inning for the Tigers’ only run of the game.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 6
Cincinnati at UConn* - 2 p.m.
ECU at Houston* - 2 p.m. (DH)
Southern at Memphis - 2 p.m. (DH)
Wichita State at Tulane* - 3 p.m. (DH)
USF at UCF* - 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 7
Cincinnati at UConn* - Noon
USF at UCF* - 1 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference game