University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Set to Meet Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday Afternoon
4/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 9, 2007
HOUSTON - Fresh after rallying to win last weekend's Conference USA series against UAB, the University of Houston baseball team hits the road again to face Stephen F. Austin in a non-conference showdown at 3 p.m., Tuesday at Jaycees Field in Nacogdoches.
The Cougars, who lost a 10-5 decision to the Blazers in the series opener Friday, rebounded nicely, scoring 10 runs in each of the next two games to win the regular-season series against the Blazers.
Fans also can follow live stats of Tuesday's game via the Internet by clicking the "Gametracker" link on the UH front page or on the Cougar Baseball schedule page. Tuesday's game will not be broadcast on the Internet at UHCougars.com.
Freshman southpaw Donnie Joseph makes his seventh start of the season when he takes the hill Tuesday afternoon against the Lumberjacks. This season, the Buda native has posted an 0-0 record with 17 strikeouts and a 7.42 ERA in 30.1 innings. Tuesday's start will be his third straight midweek start.
In his last start, Joseph allowed three runs off six hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 4.1 innings at Baylor on April 3. However, he did not pick up a decision as the Cougars tied the game before allowing seven runs in the final two innings in a 12-6 loss to the Bears.
Tuesday's game will be Joseph's second appearance but first career start against the Lumberjacks. In one previous relief outing, he allowed a run off three hits with a strikeout during the season opener for both teams on Feb. 6 at Cougar Field.
Sophomore outfielder Jimmy Cesario continues to lead the Cougars with a .364 batting average, while sophomore catcher Luis Flores is tops with six home runs. Senior third baseman Dustin Kingsbury - who has started each of the last 151 games for the Cougars, and senior first baseman Josh Stirneman are tied for the team lead with 28 RBIs.
For the second straight season, the Cougars will face Stephen F. Austin in a home-and-away series. UH owns a 31-10 (.756) lead in the all-time series, which began in 1947 and was played at least twice every season from 1988 to 1994.
The Cougars own the most recent success after enjoying a 15-6 win on Feb. 7 during the 2007 season opener for both teams at Cougar Field. It was the 20th win for the Cougars over the Lumberjacks in the last 21 games.
The Cougars are 9-3 (.750) all-time against the Lumberjacks in Nacogdoches. However, SFA can boast of the most recent success after taking a surprising 3-2 win at Jaycees Field on May 2, 2006.
The Lumberjacks (18-16, 6-6 SLC) come into Tuesday's game as winners of six of their last eight games, despite losing two of three games at Southland Conference rival Northwestern State last weekend.
Southpaw Lance Luetge is scheduled to take the hill for the Lumberjacks. This season, Luetge has compiled a 4-2 record with 32 strikeouts and a 4.40 ERA in 47.0 innings.
Steven Hill is the Lumberjacks' Triple Crown leader, posting a .382 batting average with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs.
