University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Ready to Host Memphis this Weekend
4/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas - Cougar Field has historically been a tough place for opposing baseball teams, and at no time has the University of Houston been more inhospitable to visiting squads than now.
The Cougars, fresh off an 10-2 thumping of No. 18 Texas A&M on Tuesday, plays host to Conference USA rival Memphis in a three-game series, starting with 7 p.m. games on Friday and Saturday. The series wraps up with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
With their win over the Aggies, the Cougars, who are ranked No. 7 in the latest Baseball America poll, ran their current home winning streak to six games and have been dominating in those contests.
During their streak, UH has batted .345 as a team while outscoring opponents 52-6. On the mound, UH hurlers have thrown to a 1.00 team ERA with 45 strikeouts and only nine walks. Defensively, the Cougars have committed only four errors in 243 chances for a .984 fielding percentage.
Sophomore righthander Brad Sullivan looks for his first win in his last two decisions when he takes the mound against the Tigers. This season, Sullivan ranks among the top two C-USA leaders in all pitching Triple Crown categories with a 5-0 record, 75 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA in 57.0 innings
In his last start, Sullivan tossed seven strikeouts and scattered seven hits and four runs over 6.1 innings but did not pick up the decision as East Carolina rallied late. It was the first time in nine games that Sullivan has pitched this season that the Cougars did not win.
Sophomore southpaw Danny Zell (3-0, 1.98 ERA) and sophomore righthander Gene Flores (2-2, 6.14) are scheduled to start games two and three of the series.
Junior utility star Jesse Crain continues to lead the Cougars with a .331 batting average but was joined atop the Cougars in that category by junior catcher Chris Snyder, who went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs against Texas A&M on Tuesday.
Brett Cooley blasted a three-run home run against Texas A&M to break a close game open in the third inning and now leads UH with eight home runs and 25 RBIs.
History will be on the side of the Cougars when the two teams meet this weekend. UH brings a 14-2 record in the all-time series into this weekend and has won six straight over the Tigers. The Cougars are also a perfect 6-0 against Memphis at Cougar Field.
Memphis (12-17, 6-6 C-USA) comes into the series after splitting a pair of non-conference games earlier this week against Ole Miss and Austin Peay.
Freshman righthander Michael Novarese (2-2, 7.84) or senior southpaw Ryan O'Malley (3-2, 4.54) are expected to start game one for the Tigers.
Andy Gesell leads the Tigers with a .371 batting average, while Brent Diugach tops the squad with six home runs. Jay Fik leads Memphis with 20 RBIs.
