After getting the lead in the fifth, Lincoln took control and didn't allow another hit before leaving the game after eight strong innings. In his last 29 innings, the Cougar ace has allowed just two runs. His six strikeouts today tied a season low, but he was able to coax several easy outs from the Pirate bats running his record to 12-1 on the season and pushing Houston into the winners' bracket.

Matt Weston provided the key hit in the game, homering to rightfield to provide the Cougars a 4-1 lead in the 5th inning. Houston added three insurance runs in the fifth off Jason Neitz. Lincoln led off with a single and scored on Luis Flores' double. Travis Cougot, who finished the day 3-for-4 drove in Flores, and then scored the seventh run of the game on an infield hit by Dustin Kingsbury. Clayton Boone pitched around an infield single in the ninth to record the final three outs of the game.

East Carolina drops to 33-25 on the season, and will face the Tulane Green Wave in an elimination game at 3:00 pm on Friday. Houston improves to 38-19 on the season, and will next play at 9:00 am on Saturday against the winner of the Pirate/Wave game.

The final game of the day is scheduled for 7:30 this evening. Bobby Bell (7-0, 4.21) will take the hill for the Rice Owls, while Southern Miss will counter with Ryan Belanger (8-0, 2.91).