March 5, 2008

Box Score

HOUSTON, TX - The Sacred Heart baseball team jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, but couldn't hold on as the University of Houston scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to escape with a 9-8 win over the visiting Pioneers Wednesday afternoon.

The Pioneers, 0-5, used a two-run double by Jeff Bradinini in the first, along with RBIs from Jeff Hanson and Paul Schmidt to score six times in the top of the first inning. SHU also got help from a fielding error by Cougar shortstop Blake Kelso.

Houston, 6-4, got two off SHU starter Eric Romanchuk in the bottom of the first on a two-run double by Bryan Pounds. The Cougars tied the game with four runs in the bottom of the third, sparked by a bases-clearing triple by catcher Chris Wallace.

Sacred Heart retook the lead in the top of the fourth when Hanson led off with a double, went to third on a base hit by Frank Bainer, and scored on an RBI groundout by Tyler Santos.

Matt Fitton started the bottom of the fourth on the hill for the Pioneers and was touched for a pair of runs on back-to-back doubles by Felix Fanaselle and Wallace to give Houston an 8-7 lead.

SHU tied it in the top of the sixth when Hanson led off with another double and later scored on a fielders choice grounder by JJ Edwards. Hanson finished the day 4-5 at the plate and now has seven hits in his first nine at bats this spring.

Wallace drove in the winning run in the bottom of the inning off Fitton, hus fifth RBI of the day, driving in Matt Murphy who had singled with one out.

Jared Ray pitched the ninth for the save for Houston, allowing a leadoff single to Santos but getting the next three batters in order.