Blake Kelso
Houston continued its success on the road in conference play, sweeping three games at Marshall for its third straight C-USA series win on the road. The Cougars are now 10-5 in league play. Jared Ray started the series in fine fashion, pitching his first complete-game shutout in a 7-0 win on Friday night. Houston broke out the bats on Saturday in a 12-4 win, registering 14 hits. On Sunday, the Cougars jumped out to a 7-0 lead before allowing Marshall to tie the game in the eighth inning. Houston pushed across two runs in the top of the tenth inning and allowed one run in the bottom half of the frame before Zak Presley threw out a runner trying to advance to third base and the Cougars had a 9-8 victory.
East Carolina took two of three from Southern Miss in Greenville. In Friday night’s opener, eight different Pirates produced at least one hit and Chris Heston improved to 6-0 on the season with 6.2 innings on the mound as ECU won, 7-6. On Saturday the teams played a doubleheader that was televised by CBS College Sports. East Carolina took game one, 13-5, as four different Pirates homered to support starter Seth Maness who improved to 6-0 on the season. Southern Miss won the nightcap as Tod McInnis delivered 7.2 innings of two-hit ball for this sixth win of the year.
Tulane earned a C-USA series victory for the third straight weekend by taking two-of-three from Memphis. The Green Wave posted a 12-4 victory on Friday night as Jeremy Schaffer continued his recent tear with another home run and Nick Pepitone picked up his seventh save. The Tigers bounced back with a 10-inning victory on Saturday, as Brett Bowen hit a two-run, game-winning home run in the top of the tenth to give Memphis an 8-6 win. On Sunday it was more extra-inning dramatics as Drew Allain homered in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Green Wave a wild 12-11 win over Memphis and the series victory.
UCF posted its second straight series victory on the road in league play, winning twice at UAB. The Knights set school records for runs and hits (28) in a 29-9 win on Friday night as four different UCF players homered. The Blazers rebounded with a 12-8 victory on Saturday, as Nick Crawford went 4-for-6 with a pair of RBI. UCF junior Shane Brown tied an NCAA record by reaching base in 18-straight plate appearances in UCF’s 12-6 victory over UAB on Sunday. The second baseman fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle by going 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. His streak, which started last Tuesday vs. Stetson, ended in the sixth inning when he flied out to left field.
Rice did not play this weekend due to its final exams. The Owls will return to action on Wednesday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
