University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Looks for Revenge against Lamar on Tuesday
3/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 6, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team briefly returns to the friendly confines of Cougar Field when it meets Lamar at 7 p.m., Tuesday in a midweek, non-conference showdown.
The Cougars (8-8) will have revenge on their minds when they meet the Cardinals after Lamar rallied with three runs in their final two at bats a week ago to take a 5-4 win at Vincent-Beck Stadium. It was the first meeting between between the two teams since 1997, and now the Cougars and Cardinals will square off for the second time in an eight-day span.
The game 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 return home licking some wounds after dropping two of three at No. 8 LSU last weekend in Baton Rouge, La.
Junior southpaw Clint Corrigan will make the first start of his collegiate career when he toes the rubber against Lamar on Tuesday night.
This season, Corrigan has compiled a 1-0 record with five strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA in six innings of relief. He earned the win in his first collegiate appearance after striking out the only batter he faced in the top of the 10th inning and then enjoyed the Cougars' four-run rally in the bottom of the frame during an 11-10 win over Texas-San Antonio on Opening Day at Cougar Field on Feb. 7.
This will be his first appearance since the series finale against Monmouth on Feb. 26 at Cougar Field. He threw one inning of relief with a walk and two strikeouts during the series finale against the Hawks.
Corrigan joined starter Luis Flores and reliever Aaron Brown as the first players to throw a shutout since Matt Farrington at Conference USA rival Memphis on March 18, 2005.
With Tuesday's start, Corrigan will become the first lefthander to start for the Cougars on the hill since Brian Henderson in the championship game of the 2003 Houston Super Regional on June 9, 2003.
This will be the first time that Corrigan has faced the Cardinals.
Sophomore infielder Bryan Tully leads the team with a .345 batting average, while junior infielder/pitcher Brad Lincoln is tops with three home runs and 18 RBIs. Lincoln enters Tuesday's game as the reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Week after striking out seven batters with only two runs off four hits in eight innings at No. 8 LSU on Friday during the series opener.
For the second time in eight days, the Cougars will face Lamar on the baseball diamond. The Cardinals rallied late to take a 5-4 win in Beaumont, Texas, on Feb. 28.
Still, the Cougars own an impressive 43-22 (.662) lead in the all-time series, which began in 1952 and was played at least once every year from 1987-97.
The Cardinals' win on Feb. 28 marked the first time since April 30, 1997, that these two teams met. It also gave Lamar a two-game winning streak over the Cougars.
The Cougars have posted a 23-9 (.719) record against Lamar on their home field during the all-time series. Houston has won its last five home encounters against the Cardinals dating back to 1993 and has not lost to Lamar on its home field since an 11-10 loss on April 28, 1992.
Lamar (10-6) rides into the game on a five-game winning streak. Freshman southpaw Justin Walker is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals on the mound. This season, Walker has compiled a 1-0 record with five strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA in 8.1 innings of work.
Junior infielder Ryan Baker leads the Cardinals with a .422 batting average, while senior catcher C.J. Ebarb is tops with 20 RBIs. Ebarb and sophomore outfielder Collin DeLome are tied for the team lead with four home runs apiece.
