Kingwood tantalized its fans Thursday night at the Reliant Astrodome. The Mustangs squandered so many early scoring chances that it seemed appropriate they had to sweat it out as Bellaire rallied to make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Although the Mustangs failed to register that one big hit against Bellaire starter Matt Ueckert, they somehow held on to take the opener of this Class 5A Region III semifinal series 4-3. Kingwood (28-8) stranded 11 baserunners, including seven between the second and fourth innings,
But Kingwood survived when Lance Pendleton escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by striking out Murray Gilbertson and inducing a grounder to second from Ueckert to defeat the Cardinals (26-6).
"We had a lot of less-than-two-outs, runner-at-third at-bats," said Kingwood coach David Denny. "You can't do that and beat a good team. We got away with it tonight."
Kingwood seemed on the brink of a blowout when it sent 19 batters to the plate against Ueckert (3-2) over a three-inning stretch beginning in the second. But all the Mustangs could muster were three runs, as they failed to take advantage of multiple opportunities for a big inning. Ueckert appeared on the brink of collapse on numerous occasions, but found ways to escape. He got a strikeout to end the second, a pair of infield popups with the bases loaded to close the third and defensive help in the fourth.
With Kingwood clinging to a 3-2 lead with one away, Ueckert got Michael Flower to fly out to right field. Taylor Parker made the catch and fired a throw home that nailed courtesy runner Justin Murphy, who tagged at third. David Hoke gave the Mustangs a huge insurance run with an RBI single in the sixth, but Kingwood stranded two more runners during the final two innings.
It was Pendleton (11-1) who had to endure the pressure of trying to protect such a slim margin on the mound. He faced just 11 batters in the three innings prior to the Cardinals' rally in the seventh, when Mark McGonigle and Bart Cerny laced consecutive singles through the box with one out.
Adam Hale drew a bases-loaded walk off reliever Michael Flower to cut the Kingwood lead to 4-3 before Pendleton closed it out.
"That's what makes it fun," Pendleton said. "You don't think much about what could have happened. You are happy for the runs you get, and you go out and do the best job you can. If we should blow something open, and we don't, oh well, that's past stuff."
Pendleton allowed six hits and three walks while striking out nine in going the distance.