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Houston Cougars Baseball Completes The Come-From-Behind Win To Beat UCF, 12-9

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University of Houston freshman second baseman Thomas Lyssy blasted a 3-run homer – the first of his collegiate career – to highlight a five-run eighth inning and lead the Cougars to a 12-9 come-from-behind win over UCF in the series finale at John Euliano Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Cougars held a 6-5 lead after five innings before UCF grabbed a 9-6 lead with a four-run sixth inning. However, Houston added a single run in the seventh inning before seizing the game one inning later.
 
The game was called after eight innings after more than four hours of play due to the Cougars' travel plans, which included a pre-arranged 3:45 p.m. (CDT) hard-out end time.
 
On Sunday, Houston continued its offensive barrage, outhitting UCF 14-13 with two home runs to give them 10 homers in the series against the Knights.
 
With the win, Houston improved to 25-19 overall and 10-5 in American Athletic Conference play.  Combined with Memphis' win over Wichita State on Sunday, the Cougars joined the Shockers in a tie for first atop the American Athletic Conference standings.
 
The Cougars also won their fifth straight American Athletic Conference series, the program's longest series winning streak since 2006. UCF fell to 24-19 overall and 6-9 in American play.
 
Lyssy went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs to lead the Cougars, while junior third baseman Zach Arnold hit 2-for-4 with two runs and RBI. Coming off the bench, sophomore Cameron Nickens went 2-for-2 with a run and three RBIs while senior shortstop Ian McMillan went 2-for-5 with a run, home run and two RBIs.
 
Houston reliever Justin Murray collected the win and improved to 3-0 after striking out four while allowing three runs and five hits with a walk in three innings. UCF reliever Dom Stagliano picked up the loss and fell to 4-2 after surrendering two runs and a hit without recording an out.
 
Andrew Sundean went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs to lead UCF while Andrew Brait batted 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Ben McCabe hit 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs while Nick Romano batted 2-for-5 with a double and RBI. Lex Boedicker went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, and Matt Cedarburg finished 2-for-5 with a run.
 
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
With his RBI-single in the third inning, Arnold extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Arnold also reached base safely in his 40th consecutive game, or every game in which he has played this season.
 
With his two-run homer in the fourth inning, McMillan reached base safely in his 18th consecutive game, moving into sole possession for third of the longest streak by the Cougars in 2023.
 
KEY INNINGS
1st | UCF jumped out to an early lead with three runs in its first at-bat. After Brait led off with a single, McCabe lifted a two-run homer to left center. Sundean followed with a solo shot to give the Knights a 3-0 lead.
 
2nd | Houston answered in the next half winning with a run of its own. After junior catcher Anthony Tulimero led off with a single to right field, sophomore outfielder Malachi Lott laced a double to left field to trim the lead to 3-1.
 
3rd | The Cougars moved to within 3-2 when Arnold's RBI-single to left field plated Drew Bianco, who led off with an infield single. The Houston rally continued when Arnold scored on a UCF infield miscue on Tulimero's fielder's choice to knot the game at 3-3.
 
UCF threatened in the bottom of the inning with runners on the corners and no outs. But, the Cougars forced an infield popup and a double play to end the rally.
 
4th | After an infield single from Lyssy to start the inning, McMillan gave the Cougars their first lead of the game, blasting a 1-0 offering over the right-field wall.
 
5th | In the bottom of the inning, UCF tied the game with two runs, thanks to John Rhys Plumlee's RBI-fielder's choice and an RBI-single from Brait.
 
6th | Houston regained the lead in the next half inning. Murray drew a one-out walk and moved to third following Lyssy's single to right field. Lyssy and Murray then teamed on a double steal with Lyssy scoring the go-ahead run and a 6-5 Houston lead.
 
In the bottom of the inning, UCF scored four runs to take a 9-7 lead. Sundean drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game at 6-6. Romano added an RBI-single, and Lex Boedicker laced a two-run double to right field.
 
7th | Houston moved to within two runs in the next half inning. Murray walked to lead off and moved into scoring position following a wild pitch. Nickens then lined a pinch-hit RBI-single into right field to move the Cougars to 9-7.
 
8th | Arnold walked to lead off, moved to second following a walk to Alex Lopez and advanced to third following a deep fly ball. After Murray was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Nickens lined a two-run single through the left side to tie the game at 9-9 and put runners at second and third.
 
Following a UCF pitching change, Lyssy blasted the first pitch he saw from reliever Dominic Castellano over the right-field fence to give the Cougars a 12-9 lead.
 
UP NEXT
Houston Baseball continues the Silver Glove Series when it meets Rice at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Reckling Park in Houston. The Cougars hold a 1-0 lead after taking a 14-13 win in Schroeder Park on April 4.