University of Houston Athletics
Baseball to Meet Texas Tech on Tuesday in Midland
3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2004
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team returns to action at 7 p.m., Tuesday when it meets Texas Tech at First American Bank Ballpark in Midland, Texas.
The Cougars (8-14) will have revenge on their minds as the Red Raiders took a 12-7 win in 11 innings over UH during the second day of the Minute Maid Park College Classic in Houston on Feb. 14.
UH comes into the game on the heels of a disappointing 4-3 loss at No. 18 Southern Miss on Sunday in the finale of a Conference USA series in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Senior DH Brett Cooley is the team's leading active with a .291 batting average, five home runs and 20 RBIs. Senior third baseman Nick Bott and junior shortstop Stuart Musslewhite have recorded higher batting averages in 2004 but both are expected to be sidelined Tuesday with hand injuries.
However, the team's hottest hitter is catcher Rob Johnson, who leads the Cougars with a six-game hitting streak and has raised his batting average 92 points to its current .288 mark, fourth best on the team.
Freshman shortstop Brad Depoy is expected to make his first collegiate start Tuesday against the Red Raiders. This season, The Woodlands, Texas, native has compiled two strikeouts and a 5.79 ERA in 4.21 innings.
With his start, he will become the third straight freshman to start for the Cougars, who pitches righthanders Shea Hancock and Brad Lincoln in the final two games of the USM series.
Texas Tech comes into the game after winning the last two games of a non-conference series against Clemson last weekend in Lubbock. Madison Edwards leads the Red Raiders with a .435 batting average, while Michael Mask and Josh Brady are tied for the team lead with seven home runs.
Brady leads all Red Raiders with 36 RBIs.
Righthander John Milton is expected to start for Texas Tech. This season, Milton has compiled a 2-0 record with a 4.50 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 20.0 innings of work.
Tuesday's game marks the third professional facility in which the Cougars will play. UH has already competed at Minute Maid Park to open the season and competed at PETCO Park, the new home of the San Diego Padres, on March 11-14.
