Box Score

VICTORIA, TX: Freshman pitcher Andrew Cooper (Fort Worth, TX) was just two outs away from recording a no-hitter in just his fifth collegiate appearance before surrendering an infield single. Texas Wesleyan University (15-9) then held on for a 3-2 win at the University of Houston-Victoria (9-14) on Monday.

 

Rain caused the schedule for the three-game series to be shuffled, with a single game being played Monday night and a doubleheader on Tuesday.

 

Vincent Winter got the offense started when he led off the game with a base hit. With two-outs and the bases loaded, Glen Morrison delivered a two-run single. Joseph Lassiter followed with an RBI single, and the Rams led 3-0. Fortunately that was all the offense Cooper needed. UHV starter Justin Cudd settled in and combined with two relievers to allow only two more hits over the next eight innings.

 

Cooper was perfect on his first trip through the Houston-Victoria lineup and remained perfect through four innings, needing just 34 pitches to retire his first 12 hitters. The Jaguars got leadoff walks in both the fifth and sixth innings, but still could not get to Cooper.

 

In the ninth, Austin Kent led off and attempted to bunt for a hit. Kent reached when Cooper bobbled the ball. Rams catcher, Justin Snider, picked Kent off, while Ryan Gilbert failed to get a bunt down. Gilbert then grounded a ball up the middle off of Cooper’s glove. Second baseman Jason Holmes was able to make a play on the ball, but Gilbert beat his throw to first, ending the no-hit bid. Head coach Mike Jeffcoat then elected to go to his closer Patrick Stanley. Stanley was greeted with a double from John Longoria. After the Jaguars loaded the bases on a fielder’s choice, UHV got runs with a walk and a sac fly, but Stanley struck out Corey Hulsey to end the game with the winning run at first base.

 

Cooper tossed 88 pitches, allowing just the one hit and four walks while striking out four in 8.1 innings. He recorded 13 fly ball outs and six ground ball outs. The defense turned one double play behind him. Cooper’s five appearances this season include three starts. He is now 1-0 with a 2.66 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 23.2 innings.

 

“Cooper did a heck of a job today,” Jeffcoat commented. “He had control issues at times, but overall he was outstanding.”

 

The save was the sixth of the year for Stanley. Cudd (2-1) allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out 10 in seven innings pitched.

 

Eric Epperson (2-for-4) led the Rams at the plate, collecting two of Texas Wesleyan’s seven hits.

 

Tuesday’s doubleheader is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.