University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Opens Season Friday at Minute Maid Park College Classic
2/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 10, 2005
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team opens its 2005 season on Friday with a 3:30 p.m. showdown against No. 10 Baylor during the first day of the Minute Maid Park College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
The Cougars, who will be competing in the Classic for the fifth consecutive season, also will face No. 23 Oklahoma State at noon, Saturday and No. 9 Texas A&M at 6 p.m., Sunday.
Friday's and Saturday's games can be heard live on KLVL 1480 AM with former Cougar players Nick Torina and Pat Cauley calling all the action. In addition, all Cougar Baseball games can be heard live over the Internet at www.UHCougars.com.
Sophomore righthander Brad Lincoln is scheduled to make the Opening Day start for the Cougars against the Bears. A year ago, Lincoln pitched to a 3-2 record with 35 strikeouts and a 4.29 ERA in 56.2 innings of work.
The Clute, Texas, native also figures to be in the middle of the Cougar batting lineup in 2005 after an impressive fall season at the plate.
Offensively, junior infielder Kevin Roberts is expected to emerge as a leader. A year ago, Roberts batted .374 with six home runs and 31 RBIs. In addition, the Pearland, Texas, native was impressive on the mound with five wins and 67 strikeouts, both good enough to rank second among UH hurlers.
With numbers like that, Roberts was recently honored as the Greater Houston Area College Preseason Player of the Year by the Houston Athletic Committee.
Junior outfielder Travis Tully batted .308 in 2004 and was the Cougars' lone representative on the 2005 Conference USA All-Preseason Team. In addition, Tully recorded a 21-game hitting streak midway through the 2004 season, the fourth-longest streak in school history.
Baylor enters the Classic after posting a 29-31 overall record in 2004. Junior righthander Mark McCormick is scheduled to take the hill for the Bears after throwing to a 2-4 record with 42 strikeouts and a 4.70 ERA in 46.0 innings.
Offensively, Reid Brees topped Baylor with a .355 average, while Josh Ford led the way with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs.
