Grayson's home run leads Houston to 3-0 win over Nicholls State

Photo by Robert H Kelly, Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2014 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 14, 2014) Paced by a home run by first baseman Casey Grayson, the Houston Cougars held off a late game assault by Nicholls State; downing the Colonels by the score of 3-0 on opening night of college baseball at Houston’s Cougar Field on Friday, February 14, 2014.

The Cougars added runs by second baseman Josh Vidales and right fielder Kyle Survance, in the bottom of the eight inning, to insure the shutout of Nicholls State.

Houston starting pitcher Aaron Garza saw seven innings of work; giving up two hits while striking out six.

He showed pinpoint control in his first outing of the season; throwing 61 strikes on 88 pitches.

Grayson, who was 3-for-3 with one run and one RBI, showed he will be factor for the Cougars in 2014.

Nicholls State mounted a comeback in the eighth inning with singles by Phillip Lyons and Justin Holt, however, they were unable to get any runners to score.

Chase Wellbrock, who pitched two innings of relief and gave up three hits while striking out five, got the save received the loss.

Houston head coach Todd Whitting was pleased with Garza’s effort on the mound and expressed that to the press after the game.

“He was extremely aggressive in the zone. He didn’t pitch around the zone at all.  He went right at their hitters.”

Whitting indicated that Garza was on a pitch count this early in the season, but didn’t view that Garza was in trouble when Wellbrock was sent into the game in relief.

“We got a bullpen…..No point stringing him (Garza) out. We knew we had everybody fresh and it was good for Wellbrock in that situation.”

The Cougars will face the Colonels twice more on opening weekend. They have a 6:30 p.m. match set for Saturday, February 15 and a 1 p.m. first pitch set for Sunday, February 16.