Jared Gayhard followed with a first-pitch double into deep right-center. So after two extra-base hits in four pitches against a guy making just his third start of the year, what does No. 3 hitter Brian Friday do? Bunts, of course. Call me a Moneyball fanatic, but I think it is just insane to give away outs that early in the game, especially when the opposing pitcher is struggling. Not sure if Wayne Graham made the call or if Friday was bunting for a hit, but either way I disagree with the play. Friday is hitting third in the order for a reason, right? A day after scoring 12 runs in eight innings, I think you have to play for the big inning to put the Cougars on their heels early.

After a weak groundout from Joe Savery and a Flores strikeout of Jess Buenger, the Cougars were out of the inning with just one run allowed. Much credit goes to Flores for settling down to get those two outs after leaving a couple up in the zone earlier in the inning.

In the bottom half of the frame, Savery gave up a leadoff walk to Ryan Lormand, but he retired the next three Cougars in order to preserve the Owls' lead.