Pitching Powers UH Baseball To 5-3 Win Over UCF

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (May 1, 2011) Juniors Jared Ray and Jordan Mannisto combined to allow just three runs to the UCF Knights, giving the University of Houston baseball team a 5-3 win in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Jay Bergman Field.

With the win, Houston wins the series 2-1 and improves to 22-23 overall and 9-6 in Conference USA action. The Cougars also move in to a tie for second place with the Rice Owls in the C-USA standings.

In his second start this season, Ray earned his first win in five innings on the mound. He allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout and two walks. Mannisto pitched the final four innings, allowing two runs on six hits with one
strikeout.

Senior Caleb Ramsey led the team at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance,
scoring two runs with a double. Sophomore Chase Jensen added two hits, two runs
and an RBI.

Just has they had all series, the Cougars struck first in the finale. With one
out, Ramsey singled through the left side to put a runner on base. He would
advance to second on a passed ball by UCF catcher Beau Taylor before scoring on
junior Matt Creel’s RBI single to centerfield.

The Cougars’ run in the top of the first was answered in the bottom of the
inning, tying the score 1-1. Ronnie Richardson reached base after being hit by a
pitch and moved to third on D.J. Hicks’ single to right field before scoring on
Jonathan Griffin’s sacrifice fly to right field.

Jensen helped the Cougars break the 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. After reaching
base on a single to right field, he advanced to third on senior Joel Ansley’s
single through the left side and scored on junior John Cannon’s groundout to
third base.

Junior Codey Morehouse and Jensen helped the Cougars add to their lead in the
eighth inning. The pair hit back-to-back doubles to give UH a 3-1 lead and a
throwing error by UCF shortstop Darnell Sweeney allowed Jensen to score from
second base.

The Knights made it a tight game in the bottom of the inning, scoring on
Griffin’s two-run home run but the Cougars were able to score a run in their
final at bat and take the series win.

Following the series against UCF, UH will have a few days of rest before they
host cross-town rival Rice in a three-game series, May 6-8 at Cougar Field. All
three games of the series will air on Comcast Sports Southwest.