University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Continues Road Swing at Lamar on Tuesday
3/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 26, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team continues its lengthy stay on the road at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, as it meets Lamar at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
This will be the second time that these two teams have met during the regular season after the Cougars claimed a 7-1 victory in Houston on March 6.
UH comes into the game riding a tidal wave of momentum after sweeping at Conference USA rival UCF last weekend to open their league schedule. Cougar hurlers were the story of the series, allowing only four runs, all unearned. during the entire series.
In fact, UH pitchers have not allowed an earned run in their last 28.2 innings dating back to the series finale at No. 22 San Diego on March 18.
Freshman southpaw Donnie Joseph will make his fifth start of the season when he toes the rubber against the Cardinals. This season, the Buda native has assembled an 0-0 record with 12 strikeouts and a 6.65 ERA in 21.2 innings.
In his last start, Joseph was impressive during the Cougars' 7-1 win over Lamar on March 6 during the first midweek start of his career. He allowed only one unearned run off five hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings. However, Joseph did not figure in the decision after being forced to leave the game when he was struck in the leg by a line drive.
His strikeout total was a personal single-game high.
In his last outing, Joseph collected a hold after holding C-USA rival UCF scoreless in 0.2 innings during the series finale Sunday.
Sophomore DH Jimmy Cesario continues to lead the Cougars with a .347 batting average, while sophomore catcher Luis Flores is tops with six home runs after blasting a two-run shot at UCF in the series finale Sunday. Senior infielder Dustin Kingsbury, who has started each of the last 146 games, leads all Cougar sluggers with 25 RBIs.
For the second straight season and the second time during the 2007 season, the Cougars will meet Lamar on the baseball diamond. The Cougars have compiled an impressive 45-22 (.672) record against the Cardinals in the all-time series, which began in 1952.
The Cougars have posted a 15-10 (.600) all-time record against Lamar in Beaumont. However, the Cougars will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak there on Tuesday. A year ago, Lamar enjoyed a 5-4 win over the Cougars on Feb. 28, 2006. UH has not won in Beaumont since an 8-7 decision on April 30, 1996.
Cougar Baseball games can be heard live on UHCougars.com with former UH letterwinner Nick Torina calling the play-by-play action and Pat Cauley providing color analysis. To access the free broadcast, fans should click on the "Schedules and Results" link on the baseball main page. From there, fans can click on the "Audio Broadcasts" link, which will bring up the 2007 radio schedule.
Fans also can follow live stats via the Internet by clicking the "Gametracker" link on the UH front page or on the Cougar Baseball schedule page.
Lamar (18-10, 5-1 SLC) comes into the game after winning two of three at Stephen F. Austin last weekend. Senior righthander Cody Williams is scheduled to make the start on the mound. This season, Williams has compiled four strikeouts with a 6.43 innings in seven innings out of the bullpen.
Erik Kanaby leads the Cardinals with a .425 batting average, while Collin DeLome is tops with four home runs. Michael Ambort leads the team with 32 RBIs.
