University of Houston Athletics
Baseball to Meet UAB in Road Series this Weekend
4/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Fresh off its fifth consecutive win, the 13th-ranked University of Houston baseball team returns to its Conference USA schedule this weekend when they meet UAB in a three-game series at Young Memorial Field.
The series begins at 7 p.m., Friday, continues at 2 p.m., Saturday and wraps up at 11 a.m., Sunday. 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 come into the series after taking a 4-3 win over area-rival Sam Houston State on Wednesday at Cougar Field. It was the team's 17th win in their last 21 games and its 29th victory overall this season, equaling the win total during the entire 2005 campaign.
After erupting offensively over the last three weeks, the Cougars used some solid pitching against the Bearkats to take the win. Starter Matt Farrington allowed only two earned runs while tossing six strikeouts in 7.1 innings, while junior reliever Shea Hancock earned a clutch save in a tight situation.
Offensively against the Bearkats, the Cougars saw their streak with at least 10 hits snapped at eight games and did not record an extra-base hit for only the third time this season.
Junior righthander Brad Lincoln will take the hill for the opener of the UAB series on Friday. He enters this weekend's series on a career-best seven-game winning streak. This season, Lincoln leads the Cougars with 109 strikeouts and only 20 walks in 89.0 innings of work. The Clute, Texas, native joined Brad Sullivan (2002-03) and Shane Nance (1997, 1999) as the only pitchers in UH history to record 100+ strikeouts in two seasons during his collegiate career.
He saw his streak of 10 consecutive starts with at least seven strikeouts come to an end in the first game of the series at No. 22 Southern Miss on April 14. However, he has recorded at least seven strikeouts in 11 of his 12 starts this season.
Besides his pitching prowess, Lincoln also is a regular in the heart of the Cougar lineup, playing DH or at first base on the days he does not pitch. This season, he has compiled a .290 batting average with team highs of 11 home runs and 42 RBIs.
In his last pitching start, Lincoln overcame a rough start to lead the Cougars to a 3-2 win over Memphis in the series opener on April 21. After throwing 84 pitches through the first four innings, he settled down to throw only 40 more pitches the rest of the way, retiring the last 13 batters that he faced.
Although he did not pick up a decision, he struck out 11 while scattering two runs off six hits in eight innings of work
Friday's game will be Lincoln's third career start against the Blazers. In two previous outings, Lincoln has compiled a 2-0 record with 13 strikeouts and a 0.50 ERA in 18.0 innings of work.
In addition to his pitching numbers, Lincoln also has compiled a .615 batting average (8-for-13) with three doubles and five RBIs in six games at the plate during his career.
Junior outfielder Jake Stewart leads the Cougars with a .355 batting average and has hit safely in each of his last 10 games. Senior infielder Isa Garcia is second on the team with a .335 batting average and has added a team-high 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts
For the 10th consecutive season, the Cougars will face UAB on the baseball diamond. The Cougars own a 22-5 (.815) lead in the all-time series, which began in 1997 and has been played at least three times every year since. The Cougars have won nine of their last 10 games against UAB with only a 7-4 Blazer victory on March 26, 2005, in Birmingham preventing a longer streak.
The Cougars have posted a 9-1 (.900) all-time record against the Blazers in Birmingham. The Cougars enter this weekend's series on a three-game winning streak against UAB after sweeping the 2004 regular-season series.
The Blazers enjoyed a 7-2 win on March 17, 2002, in their only win against the Cougars on their home field.
UAB (15-27, 2-10 C-USA) comes into the series after dropping a 14-8 decision to Alabama on Wednesday night. The Blazers enjoyed an 8-5 lead through seven innings before the Crimson Tide stormed back with nine runs during the final two innings.
Junior catcher Danny Sawyer leads the Blazers with a .323 batting average and 36 RBIs, while junior infielder Zac Ward is tops with five home runs.
Head coach Larry Giangrosso had not announced his probable starter as of press time.
