Houston, Texas - The Youngstown State baseball team dropped a 7-3 decision to Houston in its 2020 season opener on Friday evening at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.

Houston jumped in front with two runs with the bottom of the first inning before YSU plated one run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take the lead. The Cougars responded with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh to secure a season and home-opening victory.

Colin Clark provided the Penguins a solid starting effort as he allowed four runs on five hits and struck out seven batters over 5.1 innings of work. He recorded six punch outs over the first three innings, and retired eight straight batters at one point. He held the Cougars scoreless between the second and fifth innings, and the Penguins led 3-2 when he departed.

UH left-hander Brayson Hurdsman was masterful out of the bullpen as he allowed just one hit and fanned six over four scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory. The Cougars' pitching staff registered a total of 13 strikeouts while issuing only two walks.

Six different Penguins recorded a hit as Phillip Glasser led the way with two singles. Jeff Wehler drove in a pair of runs while Turner Grau scored a run and notched his first-career RBI.

Houston's Ryan Hernandez went 3-for-3 with an RBI double, and Tyler Bielamowicz was 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs.

Houston jumped in front early with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Brad Burckel reached with a one-out bunt single and was doubled home by Hernandez. Bielamowicz then delivered a two-out RBI single that plated Hernandez to put the Cougars ahead 2-0.

After being held without a hit through the first three innings, the Penguins got their first two runners aboard in the top of the fourth. Grau led off with an infield single and Glasser followed with a single down the left field line. Wehler then got YSU on the board as he drove home Grau with an RBI single through the right side.

YSU loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning as Padraig O'Shaughnessy and Cameron Murray hit back-to-back one-out singles and Lucas Nasonti reached on an error. Grau then followed with a sacrifice fly to left field that scored O'Shaughnessy to tie the game at 2-2. After Glasser loaded the bases with an infield single, Wehler drew a walk that put YSU in front 3-2.

A single by Hernandez and a pair of walks allowed the Cougars to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. A sacrifice fly from Steven Rivas evened the game at 3-3 before an RBI single by Ian McMillan put Houston back in the lead at 4-3.

With the bases loaded in the home half of the seventh inning, Bielamowicz came through with a two-out, two-run double to provide Houston with some breathing room. Bryson Hill scored on a balk during the ensuing at-bat to produce the final margin of 7-3.

Clark suffered the loss for the Penguins while Chad Coles surrendered three runs on two hits and three walks in 1.2 innings of relief. Joel Hake walked the only batter he faced in the sixth inning, and Dalton Earich struck out three during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.

Houston starter Lael Lockhart Jr. was responsible for all three YSU runs, only one of them earned, on six hits during his 4.2 innings. He notched six strikeouts and was perfect over the first three frames.

The Penguins and Cougars will continue their three-game series Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on UHCougars.com and YSNLive.com.