Columbia
Houston
Baseball Drops Season Opener, 3-0, at No. 6 Houston
2/27/2015 11:03:00 PM | Baseball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
HOUSTON - The Columbia baseball team fell at No. 6 Houston, 3-0, in its season debut Friday night. Senior Joey Falcone went 2-for-3 in the loss.
The Cougars (7-2) got on the board in the bottom of the first when Chris Iriart hit a two-on, one-out single to center field to score Kyle Survance. Columbia's starter George Thanopoulos shut the scoring threat down by getting Josh Vidales to hit into a double play to end the inning.
Both pitchers had 1-2-3 innings until Columbia threatened in the top of the third. Falcone hit a one-out double down the right field line and Logan Boyher followed with a walk, but Houston's Andrew Lantrip got out of the inning unscathed.
In the bottom of fourth, Houston had bases loaded with two outs, but came away with just one run to extend the margin to 2-0.
The Cougars tacked on one in the sixth to make it 3-0, but the Lions looked to rally in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Will Savage singled and Jordan Serena followed with a single through the right side forcing a pitching change, but Columbia did not capitalize and Houston held the three-run lead into the ninth.
Both teams only managed six hits and both left six on base.
Thanopoulos (0-1) went five innings giving up two runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Lantrip picked up the win, tossing 7.2 innings with six strikeouts. Seth Romero picked up a four-out save.
The Lions will continue the series with a double-header against the Cougars on Saturday, Feb. 28. First pitch of game one is slated for 3:30 p.m. EST with the night cap to follow.
