University of Houston Athletics
Baseball to Meet Rice on Tuesday in Silver Glove Series
3/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 29, 2004
HOUSTON - After losing two of three games to Conference USA rival TCU last weekend, the University of Houston baseball team will take part in another important series when it meets crosstown rival Rice at 7 p.m., Tuesday in Game Three of the annual Silver Glove Series at Reckling Park.
The Series is tied at 1-1 after UH claimed a 3-2 win over the Owls on March 16 at Cougar Field. It marked the first time since the 2001 season that the Series was split after the first two contests. Rice had jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series in each of the last two seasons.
The game can be heard live on KAXF 88.3 FM or over the Internet at www.UHCougars.com. Fans can follow live stats of all three games at www.UHCougars.com by clicking on the Gametracker link on the bottom of the main page.
UH enters the game on the heels of a tough 18-7 loss to TCU on Sunday in the finale of a C-USA series. Despite the loss, several Cougars distinguished themselves with productive outings at the plate. Sophomore third baseman Kevin Roberts recorded at least two hits with a double and two RBIs in each of the last two games against the Horned Frogs.
Roberts has posted a .435 and is tied for third on the team with seven multi-hit games, despite making only 12 starts the entire season.
Senior DH Brett Cooley is the Cougars' Triple Crown leader with a .293 batting average, five home runs and 23 RBIs.
Sophomore southpaw Matt Farrington is expected to make the first start of his collegiate career on Tuesday. This season, the Sugar Land, Texas, native has made seven appearances out of the bullpen and assembled a 4.76 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 11.1 innings of work.
He becomes the first Cougar lefthander to start during the 2004 season. This will be the first time that Farrington has faced Rice from the mound. However, he has compiled a .212 batting average with three doubles, four runs and four RBIs in 10 career starts in the outfield against the Owls.
Rice, which has won its last four and six of its last seven, comes into the game after sweeping Western Athletic Conference rival Fresno State last weekend at Reckling Park. Southpaw Matt Ueckert (1-0, 3.65) is expected to take the hill for the Owls.
Senior outfielder Chris Kolkhorst leads Rice with a .381 batting average and .527 on-base percentage. Shortstop Paul Janish is tops with five home runs and 31 RBIs to lead the Owls in the final two Triple Crown categories.
