University of Houston Athletics
Baseball to Meet Baylor on Tuesday in Waco
4/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 2, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team wraps up its eight-game stay on the road when it squares off at Baylor at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday at Baylor Ballpark.
UH comes into the game riding a wave of momentum after taking a 17-10 win in 10 innings at Lamar on March 27. In that game, the Cougars trailed 3-0 after one inning, led 9-3 after four and trailed 10-9 after eight before tying the game in the ninth and exploding in the first extra frame.
With that win, the Cougars pushed their winning streak to a season-best-tying four straight games and moved to three games over. 500 for the first time in 2007.
The Cougars should come into the game well rested after enjoying their bye weekend during the regular Conference USA schedule. This marks the first time since 1999 that the Cougars took a weekend off during the regular season.
The Cougars also will be looking to sweep the season series against the Bears. UH claimed a 4-2 win over Baylor on Feb. 9 during the first day of the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
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.
Freshman southpaw Donnie Joseph makes his sixth start of the 2007 season when he toes the rubber against Baylor. This season, the Buda native has compiled an 0-0 record with 14 strikeouts and a 7.62 ERA in 26.0 innings.
Although he has not earned an official decision of any kind to date this season, Joseph picked up a hold in relief against Conference USA rival UCF during the series finale on March 25. While he allowed three hits in 0.2 innings, Joseph kept the Golden Knights scoreless.
In his last start, Joseph allowed six runs off six hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts in 4.1 innings at Lamar on March 27. However, he did not pick up a decision as the Cougars led, trailed, rallied and then exploded for a 17-10 win in 10 innings against the Cardinals in Beaumont.
Tuesday's game will be Joseph's first career outing against Baylor.
Sophomore infielder Jimmy Cesario continues to lead the Cougars with a .346 batting average, while senior infielder Dustin Kingsbury, who has started each of the last 147 consecutive games, is tops with 26 RBIs. Sophomore catcher Luis Flores leads all Cougar slugger with six home runs, while senior first baseman Josh Stirneman is a close second with five long balls.
This marks the 44th consecutive season that the Cougars will square off against Baylor on the diamond. Baylor owns an 83-60 (.580) lead in the all-time series, which began in 1951 but has been played at least once every season since 1964.
The Cougars bring a three-game winning streak against the Bears into Tuesday's game after enjoying a 4-2 win on Feb. 9 during the first day of the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
The Cougars are 28-35 (.444) all-time against the Bears in Waco. However, the team can boast of the most recent success there after earning a 9-3 win on April 5, 2005, in the last meeting. The Cougars have not enjoyed consecutive wins over the Bears in Waco since sweeping a Southwest Conference doubleheader on March 28, 1992.
The Bears (16-14, 2-7 Big 12) come into Tuesday's game after being swept at No. 14 Oklahoma State last weekend in Stillwater, Okla. Freshman righthander Wade Mackey is scheduled to start on the mound for the Bears. This season, he has compiled a 1-0 record with 16 strikeouts and a 1.47 ERA in 18.1 innings.
Freshman infielder Raynor Campbell leads the Bears with a .333 batting average, while sophomore shortstop Beamer Weems is tops with four home runs and 27 RBIs.
