University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Resumes Silver Glove Series Against Rice on Friday
5/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 8, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team returns to action Friday at 6:30 p.m. when the Cougars face Conference USA- and crosstown-rival No. 5 Rice at Reckling Park as both teams battle for bragging rights and the 2008 Silver Glove Trophy.
The three-game series will continue at 2 p.m., Saturday, before wrapping up with the finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Splitting a pair of non-conference games earlier in the season, the teams enter the weekend with the series knotted at 1-1.
After dropping a heartbreaking 12-11 loss at Rice in February, Bryan Pounds blasted a pair of home runs to power Houston to an 8-5 win over the Owls at Cougar Field in March.
This marks the 11th year the two clubs have squared off in the annual Silver Glove Series. The Cougars will look to bring the trophy home for only the second time in series history. The 2000 Cougars remain the only team to defeat the Owls during the regular-season series.
Wes Musick will make his 12th start of the season for Houston, as the sophomore southpaw takes the mound on Friday. Musick has pitched to a 7-3 record with a 4.04 ERA, fanning a team-leading 65 batters in 71.1 innings this season.
In his last start on May 2 against Memphis, the Lufkin native earned a no-decision after allowing four runs and striking out eight Tigers in seven innings of work. Friday's game against Rice will mark Musick's first career outing against the Owls.
Leftfielder Jake Stewart has reemerged as a potent offensive weapon for the Cougars this year after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury.
Stewart leads the club with 13 home runs and 32 extra-base hits to go along with his .348 batting average, 42 RBI and 21 stolen bases.
Since returning from a wrist injury in the middle of April, infielder Jimmy Cesario also has been swinging a hot bat for the Cougars.
Cesario has belted four home runs in his past 12 games, including a game-winning, three-run shot on Friday to lead UH to a 7-4 win over Memphis.
All three games can be heard live at UHCougars.com with Jeremy Branham calling the play-by-play, while former UH letterwinner Pat Cauley provides the analysis.
Fans also can follow live stats via the Internet by clicking the "GameTracker" link on the UH Athletics home page.
Right-hander Ryan Berry is slated to toe the rubber for the Owls in Friday's opener. Berry is 5-3 with a 3.10 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 69.2 innings of work this season.
Offensively, the Owls are lead by outfielder Diego Seastrunk and catcher Adam Zornes. Seastrunk leads the team with a .370, 71 hits and 44 RBI, while Zornes has belted a team-high nine home runs this year.
