University of Houston Athletics
Baseball to Face McNeese State on Tuesday
3/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 24, 2008
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston baseball team returns to action at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the Cougars travel to square off against McNeese State at the Cowboy Diamond in Lake Charles, La.
Houston (14-7) enters Tuesday's game after opening Conference play over the weekend, taking two-of-three on the road from nationally ranked C-USA rival East Carolina. With the pair of wins over the Pirates, the Cougars have notched victories in ten of their last 13 contests.
Junior right-hander Chris Wright is scheduled to make his first career start for Houston when he takes the mound against the Cowboys. This season Wright has posted an ERA of 5.09 in eight appearances, striking out 15 batters in 17.2 innings.
Senior Bryan Pounds is off to a great start at the plate this season, powering the Cougars' offense with team bests in average (.427), home runs (4) and RBI (24).
Pounds, who saw his career-best 19-game hitting streak snapped on Saturday, rapped out three hits and drove in a trio of runs to help lift Houston to a 8-5 win over the Pirates on Sunday.
After missing most of last season due to a shoulder injury, fellow senior Jake Stewart has become an important cog in the Cougar offensive attack. The Santa Fe native is hitting .375 this season, ripping 14 extra-base hits and driving in 17 RBI.
Last weekend against East Carolina, Stewart went 5-for-12, scoring five runs, plating three RBI and belting his third home run of the year.
Fans can hear all three of this weekend's games live on UHCougars.com with Jeremy Branham calling the play-by-play and former UH letterwinner Pat Cauley providing the analysis.
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. Houston leads the all-time series against McNeese State, owning a 39-12 record. Tuesday's game will mark the first time in more than ten years that the Cougars have faced the Cowboys in Louisiana, posting a 9-5 extra-inning win in March of 1997.
Sophomore right-hander Jonathan Conrad is scheduled to start for the Cowboys. Conrad has pitched to an 0-2 record with a 9.42 ERA in four games this season.
At the plate, junior shortstop Shon Landry has emerged as the Cowboys' leading hitter. This season Landry is hitting .346 with five homers and 23 RBI.
Following their game against McNeese State, the Cougars return to Houston to take on crosstown- and C-USA-rival Rice at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday inside the friendly confines of Cougar Field.
