Stuart Musslewhite had three hits, including a three-run homer, as No.
25 Houston beat sixth-ranked Miami, 8-6, at Goodwin Field Sunday to complete
an improbable three-game sweep of three top-25 opponents and capture the
Kia Baseball Bash title.
Houston improved to 9-4 with eight of its wins coming against nationally-ranked
teams. The Cougars beat No. 11 Fullerton, 7-3, on Friday night and topped
No. 17 USC, 9-4, on Saturday. Miami, which was 1-2 in the tournament,
fell to 9-6. The game was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Miami jumped on Houston starter (and winning pitcher) Gene Flores (1-0)
for four runs in the first, with third baseman Matt Dryer connecting for
a three-run blast, his second homer of the tournament.
But that was about all that went right for the Hurricanes. Miami committed
a season-high five errors, which led to seven unearned runs. The Cougars
plated five runs in the third and Musslewhite's three-run homer –
which gave Houston the lead for good – came after a throwing error
by shorstop Kevin Howard prolonged the inning. Miami starter Kiki Bengochea
(1-3) allowed just one earned run in his six innings.
After the first, Flores was nearly untouchable over the next five innings,
amassing a career-high nine strikeouts, while not allowing a runner past
first base. The Hurricanes had better fortunes in the seventh. Howard
had an RBI-single and Danny Matienzo followed with a run-scoring double
to close the gap to 8-6.
But the Houston bullpen, which did not allow a run in 10.1 innings on
the weekend, came to the rescue again. Nathan Mitchell, Austin Faught
and Jesse Crain combined to scatter just two hits over the final 2.2 innings
with Crain notching his second save witha 1-2-3 ninth.
