Houston looks to continue success on the diamond against Oklahoma State

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 15, 2012)Afterbreaking a five-game losing streak this past Tuesday evening against SamHouston State, the Houston Cougars will hit the road for a three-game seriesagainst the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

TheCougars, who have posted a 7-9 record in 2012, are hoping to close out springbreak with a three-game sweep and advance above .500 for the first time sinceMarch 3.

Houstonis currently in seventh place in Conference USA and will begin conference playon March 23 against Southern Mississippi.

Againstthe Bearkats, junior Chase Jensen went 4-for-5, scoring three runs and tallyingfive RBI.

PreviouslyJensen had a record of three RBI in a single game, which he had achieved fivetimes.

Jensenconnected on a homerun, one double and two singles.

AgainstSam Houston, the fifth inning was a gold mine for the Cougars.

Theyscored nine runs on six hits in the fifth, which was the best single-inning productionfor the Cougars this season.

Junior Austin Pruitt started on the mound for the Cougars and got his first collegiatewin.

Hethrew 5 complete innings without giving up a run on four hits, while throwingfour strikeouts.

TheCougars will try to continue that success against the 11-7 Cowboys.

OklahomaState is sporting a five-game winning streak and is hitting .271 for theseason.

The last time the Cougars faced theCowboys was on March 5, 1993 in the Louisiana Classics Tournament.

The Cowboys drummed the Cougars 28-9to give them a 45-38-1 all-time series dating back to 1957.

Thethree game series will kickoff Friday evening with a 6:30 p.m. start;continuing on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Cory Kay Gets First HR of Season; Leads Houston Over Arkansas

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography.
Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 3,2012) Led by freshman DH Cory Kay, the Houston Cougars improved their seasonrecord to 6-4; winning their second game of the 2012 Houston College Classic bydefeating Arkansas 4-1 at Minute Maid Park.

The 5-11 catcher fromArlington Heights, IL fit right into the role as DH against the Razorbacksgoing 2-for-3, scoring two runs and two RBI.

Kay made his collegiatedebut in game two of the opening weekend Delaware series.

Staring pitcher Jordan Lewisraised his record to 2-1 with the win, throwing six innings and giving up asingle earned run.

Quoted in a post gameinterview; Lewis stated "Today, I had almost everything working for me...Iwas confident in every pitch that was called by coach Cressend."

Codey Morehouse, pitching inrelief got the save, facing 12 batters while striking out four and walking one.

Kay got the Cougars on theboard with a solo home run in the third inning. He connected on a 3-2 pitchfrom Randall Fant to send it into the Crawford Boxes in left field.

The Cougars came back withtwo more runs in the fifth inning when Kay singled up the left side; scoringPrice Jacobs from third.

Later in the inning, Chase Jensensingled to first base allowing Kay to score from third.

The Razorbacks scored theirlone run in the seventh inning when Dominic Ficociello scored on a single byJake Wise.

Houston answered withanother run in the bottom of the inning as Landon Appling scored off an errorby shortstop Tim Carver.

The No. 4 Razorbacks fall to10-2 on the season and will face Texas in an 11 a.m. game on Sunday.

The Cougars will next face TexasTech right after the Texas-Arkansas game.

Houston Downs Tennessee 7-4 in Houston College Classic

Photo by Robert H Kelly, Copyright 2012

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 3, 2012)   Boosted by a three-run fourth inning, the Houston Cougars(6-4) downed the Tennessee Volunteers (7-2) by the score of 7-4 in opening gameaction for both teams in the 2012 Houston College Classic.

The highly vocal fans at Minute Maid Park saw Cougar startingpitcher Jared Ray strikeout the first six batters he faced while going seveninnings and only giving up one run on five hits.

He faced 25 batters while striking out 10 and not giving upa single walk.

The Cougars first got on the board when Chase Jensen scoredfrom third as John Cannon grounded out to Tennessee shortstop Zach Osborne.

Casey Grayson scored the Cougars’ second run on a LandonAppling RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Price Jacobs tallied the third Houston run when pitcherRobbie Kidd walked Jake Runte with the bases loaded.

Tennessee came back in the top of the next inning to scoretheir first run on a Wes Walker single to right field to score Chris Frittsfrom third to take the score to 3-1.

The Cougars came back with another run in the bottom of thefifth when Jensen scored off a John Cannon double.

Houston scored two more runs in the sixth inning and asingle run in the seventh to insure their lead.

The Volunteers made a run at the Cougars in the top of theninth inning; scoring three runs before Zack Luther grounded out to Jensen toend the game.

Steckenrider was credited with the loss while relief pitcherMo Wiley got the save.

The Cougars recorded 13 hits with Cannon getting three andJensen, Grayson, Price Jacobs and Jacob Lueneburg each contributing two.

Houston will next face Arkansas in a 12 noon game onSaturday, March 3 while the Volunteers with take on Texas in the 3:30 p.m. gameat Minute Maid Park.

Houston Cougars Drops Weekend Baseball Series to Texas State

Taylor White is quickly becoming a contributor at the
plate and in the field for the Cougars.
Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loco Photography
Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 26, 2012)The Houston Cougars came into their three-game weekendseries against the Texas State Bobcats with a 3-1 record and were looking tobegin a new winning streak after losing to Texas A&M Corpus Christi onTuesday evening.

Facing a tough Bobcat squad that is picked to win the SouthlandConference, the Cougars drop the last two games of the series for a record of4-3 for the still young season.

On Friday evening, the Cougars trailed the Bobcats 1-1 goinginto the bottom of the ninth when Jacob Lueneburg was hit by a Ross Gobel pitchwith the bases loaded to allow Landon Appling to score and give the Cougars thegame 2-1.

The win was the first for the Cougars over the Bobcats since2008.

In Saturday’s game, the Cougars could not overcome the fireof the Bobcats bats, dropping a 6-1 decision.

The Cougars tallied 10 hits, but could not find the power toscore any runs in the lop-sided victory.

Lueneburg continued to show promise at the plate, going 3-for-4to lead the Cougars.

Appling contributed a 2-for-5 showing.

Casey Grayson scored the lone run for Houston on a ChaseJensen single up the third base line with Jordan Lewis credited with the loss.

In Sunday’s game, it was much more of the same, with theBobcats exploding for six runs on 13 hits with the Cougars managing only fivehits in the 6-0 loss.

Texas State got on the board in the top of the sixth withruns by Nick Smelser, Cody Perkins and Ben McElroy.

The Bobcats came back with another run in the eighth and twoin the ninth.

The Cougars continued to struggle at the plate, with theirfive hits limited to singles and left 11 on base.

Aaron Garza pitched 5.1 innings for Houston, giving up tworuns off six hits while facing 24 batters and striking out three. Houston used four pitchers in relief.

The Cougars will next face cross-town rival Rice in a 6:30p.m. match up on Tuesday.

The Owls are currently 8-0 on the season and are ranked numberfive in the nation by Baseball America.

Houston Cougars Sweep Delaware in Opening Weekend Baseball Series

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 19, 2012) The Houston Cougars baseball team started the 2012 campaignin royal fashion, sweeping their opening weekend three-game series against theDelaware BlueHens.

Friday’s game was rescheduled to Saturday morning due tosevere weather conditions in the Houston area.

The Cougars and the BlueHens played a double header onSaturday and finished the three-game series with a 1:00pm start on Sunday.

In the first game of the Saturday double header, the Cougarscame back from a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the 8^th inning toscore seven runs to clinch the win.

Jacob Lueneburg and John Cannon went 2-for-3 for the Cougarswith each scoring a run. Taylor White added to the hit total, going 2-for-4,also with a run.

Chase Wellbrock, pitching one-third of an inning in reliefgot the win while Jeff Murray recorded the loss for the BlueHens.

In the second game of the double header, the Cougarsexploded for 15 hits to win their second game of the season 16-1.

Seven of the runs came in the first innings with an additionalfive more scoring in the fourth.

The BlueHens tallied five errors in the game whichundoubtedly attributed to the loss.

On Sunday, the Cougars made it a clean sweep of Delawarewith a 9-2 win in front of 907 fans at Cougar Field.

Cougar starting pitcher Aaron Garza threw six completeinnings giving up one run on five hits while striking out three and walkingtwo.

The Galveston native, who is a true freshman, faced 24batters and threw 71 pitches.

At the plate, Price Jacobs showed hit skill by going 5-of-11for .455, scoring five runs and knocking in seven RBI. The Baytown, Texasnative is also a true freshman.

The Cougars are now 3-0 for the season and will return toCougar Field for a 6:30pm matchup against Texas A&M Corpus Christi onTuesday night (Feb 21).

They will then play Texas State in a three game series athome on Feb. 24-26.

UC-Irvine Beats Southern 5-1 in College Baseball Action

By Robert H KellyCopyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 18, 2012) The University ofCalifornia Irvine upped its season record to 2-0 with a 5-1 drumming ofSouthern University in a Saturday game at the 2012 Urban Invitational atHouston’s Minute Maid Park.

The Anteaters capitalized on three fielding errors by the Jaguarsto score two runs in both the 4^th and 6^th innings and asingle run in the 8^th.

Irvine third baseman Tommy Reyes led the Anteaters with oneruns on two hits, two RBI and two walks.

Left fielder Kris Paulino went 1-for-2, scoring two runswith second baseman Dillon Moyer also scoring a run.

The Jaguars managed only three hits in the match to go withthe single run.

Kyle Hooper, pitching four innings in relief, gave up asingle hit, no runs while walking two. He was credited with the win.

On the other hand, starter Jose De Leon pitched 3.2 innings,gave up two runs on five hits.

Daniel Garcia and Santos Saldivar pitched in a combined 5.1innings of relief allowing three runs on four hits and walked three.

Fielding was definitely a problem for the 1-1 Jaguars withthird baseman Cameron McGriff, catcher Clint Ourso, and pitcher Daniel Garciaall committing errors.

UC-Irvine will next face Texas Southern on Sunday with a revisedstart time of 10:00am.

Southern will play Alabama State immediately after theIrvine-Southern game.

All games on Sunday have been reassigned to Minute Maid Parkdue to the inclement weather in the Houston area.

Grambling Downs Alabama St. 8-5 at MLB Urban Invitational

Four errors by Alabama State allowed Grambling
State to score six runs in the top of the 12th inning.
Photo by Robert H Kelly-TexSportPublications,
Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 18, 2012) In a game that was tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, GramblingState University (2-0) scored six runs in the top of the 12^th todown Alabama State University (0-2) 8-5 in the second game for both teams inthe MLB Urban Invitational at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Alabama State scored two runs in the seventh inning to takea 2-1 lead and was headed for the win when Grambling tied the score in the topof the ninth.

Alabama State connected for three runs in the bottom of the12^th but it was not enough to overcome the Tigers’ six-run inning.

The name of the game was errors and they were all off thegloves of Alabama State.

The Hornets’ shortstop Emmanuel Marrero and pinch hittingfirst baseman Lloyd Kelly each committed two errors for the four error total.

Tiger starting pitcher Richard Bautista hurled 7.1 inning,giving up two earned runs off three hits while striking out three.

Relief pitcher Michael Martin as credited with the win;pitching 1.1 innings while giving up three earned runs off three hits andstriking out two.

The Hornets’ Greg Matthews earned the loss after giving upsix runs, three of them earned, off five hits in the top of the 12^th.Healso walked two while striking out four.

Grambling State will next face Prairie View A&M onSunday, Feb. 19 with a 6:00pm start time.

Alabama State will take on Southern University at 2:30pm onSunday.

Both games will be played at the Houston Astros MLB Urban YouthAcademy  at Sylvester Turner Park inHouston.

MLB Urban Invitational Headed to Houston

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 16, 2012) This coming weekend, the NCAA and Major League Baseballcombine to host the 2012 Urban Invitational in Houston.

Six colligate teams will face off in three days of baseballaction at two venues in the Bayou City.

The first day of the invitational on Friday, February 17will be held at the Houston Astros Urban Youth Academy at Sylvester TurnerPark.

The first game of the tripleheader will see the SouthernUniversity face off against Prairie View A&M University wit the first pitchat 11:00AM.

At 2:30PM, the University of California, Irvine takes onAlabama State University with Grambling State University vs. Texas SouthernUniversity in the nightcap at 6:00PM.

Saturday’s action will move to Minute Maid Park with threegames scheduled; Alabama State vs. Grambling State at 11:00AM, UC-Irving vs.Southern at 3:00PM and Texas Southern vs. Prairie View at 7:00PM.

Grammy-nominated singer Ruben Studdard will perform theNational Anthem prior to the 3:00PM game, which will be televised live on MLBNetwork and at mlb.com.

Sunday will see the games moved back to Sylvester TurnerPark with action at 11;00AM, 2:30PM and 5:30PM.

UC-Irving will take on Texas Southern in the first gamefollowed by Alabama State vs. Southern and Grambling State vs. Prairie View.

Ethiopia's Tariku Jufar and Alemitu Abera Win 2012 Houston Marathon



Ethiopia's Tariku Jufar ran a 2:06:51 to win the 2012
Houston Marathon. Photo by Kristine Kelly-La Vita
Loco Photography, Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2012, TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 15, 2011) Ethiopia made its presences known by sweeping top honors in both divisions and distances of the 2012 Houston Marathon.

Tariku Jufar led a trio of Ethiopian runners for the top three spots in the men’s marathon, topping the field with the time of 2:06.51.

His time broke the existing record of 2:07.04 set in 2011 by Bekana Daba.

His fellow Ethiopians; Debebe Tolossa and Demssew Tsega finished in second and third place with the times of 2:07:41 and 2:11.13.

In the women’s division, Alemitu Abera of Ethiopia won with a time of 2:23.14, breaking the existing record 2:23.53 set by Teyba Erkesso in 2010.

Australia’s Benita Willis finished in second place with the time of 2:28.24, with Ireland’s Ava Hutchison finishing third (2:35.33).

In the men's half marathon race, Feyisa Lilesa (Ethiopia) broke Ryan Hall’s (USA) record of 59:43 from 2007 with a time of 59:22 to take home the title.

Tilahun Regassa of Ethiopia and Scott Bauhs of the United States rounded out the top three, respectively with times of 1:01:28 and 1:01:30.

In the women’s half marathon, Ethiopia’s Belaynesh Oljira took home the top prize with a two second victory over Caroline Kilel of The Netherlands.

Oljira’s time of 1:08.26 also established a new course record; breaking the existing mark of 1:09.41 set by Shalane Flanagan of the USA in 2010.

8,249 runners started in the marathon while the half marathon had 9.409 starters.

Temperature at the start was 52 degrees F.