University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Opens Three-Game Weekend Series vs. Monmouth
2/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team continues its homestand this weekend as it plays host to first-time opponent Monmouth in a three-game, non-conference series at Cougar Field.
The series begins with 7 p.m. games on Friday and Saturday before wrapping up at 1 p.m., Sunday. Fans should note that Saturday's game time was pushed back earlier this week and will not be played at its originally scheduled time. As a result, the Baseball Alumni Reunion promotion also scheduled for that day was postponed.
All three games can be heard live over the Internet at www.UHCougars.com with former UH letterwinners Nick Torina and Pat Cauley calling all the action. Fans also can follow play-by-play action by clicking on the "Live Stats" link on the schedule at www.UHCougars.com.
The Cougars (4-5) snapped a season-long three-game losing streak in a big way Wednesday night with a dominating 12-3 win over Northwestern State at their home stadium.
The Hawks open their 2006 season against the Cougars and are one of three first-time opponents that Houston will face, joining Marshall and UC Irvine.
Junior righthander Brad Lincoln will take the hill for the opener of the Monmouth series on Friday. This season, Lincoln has pitched to a 1-1 record with 24 strikeouts and only four walks in 17.1 innings of work. The Clute, Texas, native saw his career-best 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings streak snapped in the third inning of the second game of the Arizona State series on Feb. 18.
After a successful summer season in the prestigious Cape Cod League, Lincoln garnered attention nationally by Earning Preseason All-America Second-Team honors from Baseball America. In addition, he was named a Player to Watch by Conference USA and was named to the Clemens Award Watch List.
Besides his pitching prowess, Lincoln also is a regular in the heart of the Cougar lineup, playing DH or at first on the days he does not pitch. This season, he has compiled a .343 batting average with team highs of three home runs and 11 RBIs.
In his last pitching outing, Lincoln gave up six runs (five earned) off seven hits with eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings to collect the loss at No. 23 Arizona State in the second game of that series on Feb. 18.
This will be the first time that Lincoln has faced the Hawks.
Sophomore outfielder Bryan Tully leads the Cougars with a .393 batting average and is second on the squad with two home runs and seven RBIs.
