Thundering Herd starter Chris Koutsavlis entered the game with a 6-6 record and 6.18 ERA, so the expectation was for lots of runs off the powerful Cougar bats. However, they were held in check as Koutsavlis limited Houston to six hits and three runs (two earned) over his 5 1/3 innings. The floodgates opened once the bullpen entered the game -- the Cougars strung together five hits and an error in the seventh inning to plate four runs, then added two additional runs in the eighth to secure the victory.

Cougar starter Ricky Hargrove struggled early, but allowed just a single run over seven innings to send Houston into tomorrow afternoon's winners' bracket contest against East Carolina. Marshall had at least one runner each inning, but were only able to score a single run in the second inning. Eight of the nine Cougar starters hit safely in the game, while leadoff hitter Jake Stewart sparked the offense by finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Brad Lincoln hit his 12th homer of the season, the only ball that left the yard on a day when the wind was blowing in from right field.

The evening session will begin around 4:15 Central, with the host and #1 seed Rice Owls taking on the UAB Blazers followed by the 4/5 game between the Memphis Tigers and Southern Miss Golden Eagles.