University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Cougars Host Delaware in 2012 Opener
2/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2012
| HOUSTON COUGARS (0-0 • 0-0 C-USA) vs DELAWARE BLUE HENS (0-0 • 0-0 CAA) | |
|---|---|
| Time | Fri., Feb. 17 (6:30 p.m.) • Sat., Feb. 18 (2 p.m.) • Sun., Feb. 19 (1 p.m.) |
| Location | Cougar Field (3,500) • Houston, Texas |
| Radio | UHCougars.com (Jeremy Branham & Pat Cauley) |
| Live Stats | |
| Series History | First Meeting in History |
| Last Meeting | First Meeting in History |
| Game Notes | Houston Notes  Conference USA Notebook |
| Social Media |  Facebook •  Twitter |
HOUST0N--The University of Houston baseball team is geared and ready to begin its 2012 campaign this weekend as the Cougars play host to Delaware in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Cougar Field.
Houston will continue the three-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Blue Hens.
Fans can hear all three games of the series live on UHCougars.com and livestats will also be available via the Internet by clicking on the Gametracker link on the baseball schedule page.
FOR THE FANS
The first 250 fans will receive the 2012 Houston Baseball poster. Opening Night will feature the first "Friday Frenzy" concession deals for the 2012 season, which includes $1 hotdogs, $2 soft drinks, and $3 beers.
On Saturday, fans can take part in baseball bingo, while Sunday serves as "Kids' Day." The Kid Zone will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and includes an inflatable, games, face painting, and more!
2012 tickets are still available. New for the 2012 season is the Flex Plan, which is 30 general admission tickets for only $150. With the Flex Plan, you can use one ticket to each of the team's 28 home games or multiple tickets to fewer games creating added flexibility to fit your schedule. Single game tickets are also still available and start at $8 for adults and $6 for youth for general admission seating.
Tickets can be purchased at the Houston Athletics Ticket Office in the Athletics/Alumni Center or on the phone at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online at www.UHCougars.com. The gates and the ticket booth will be open one hour prior to the start of the game.
ON THE BUMP
Houston will look to senior Jared Ray on Friday, a veteran righty, who is coming off a late-season return after shoulder surgery in 2010. Ray pitched 24.2 innings last season and compiled an ERA of 3.28 with a 1-1 record.
Getting the call on Saturday will be senior Jordan Lewis. The left-hander led the team with 15 starts and 81.2 innings pitched in 2011 and notched a 5-3 record and a 3.75 ERA.
Impressing the coaching staff early and getting his chance in the starting rotation on Sunday will be freshman Aaron Garza. The Galveston Ball product was a 10th round selection by Toronto in last year's First Year player draft, but Garza chose to attend UH.
Senior Mo Wiley will be key out of the pen for the Cougars after starting 14 games last season. The righty finished with a 4-4 record and a 4.63 ERA. Also crucial out of the pen will be junior Jordan Mannisto, a reliever who won four games and garnered four saves in 2011 with a 3.78 ERA.
A LOOK AT DELAWARE
Delaware, a member of the Colonial Athletic Association, was selected to finish seventh out of 11 teams in the CAA during the preseason coaches' poll. The Blue Hens return Preseason Honorable Mention All-CAA second baseman DJ Long. Long hit .298 and started all 53 games a year ago.
Delaware is coached by Jim Sherman, who begins his 12th season at the helm. The squad returns 15 letterwinners and is coming off a 27-26 2011 record and a fifth place finish in the CAA with a 16-14 mark.
Getting the nod of Friday night for Delaware will be right-hander Eric Young, who was 5-2 in 13 starts last season. He compiled a 4.00 ERA in 72.0 innings with 40 strikeouts.
On Saturday, Delaware will look to Chad Kuhl, a righty, who was 1-4 with a 6.39 ERA in 2011. He had nine starts and pitched 49.1 innings, fanning 46.
Wrapping up the series on Sunday for the Blue Hens will be Corey Crispell, the righty, who was 6-3 with a 2.86 ERA in just two starts. He tossed 56.2 innings and had 17 appearances.
HOUSTON vs. DELAWARE HISTORY
Houston and Delaware will meet for the first time in the history of the Cougar Baseball program on Friday.
SUCCESS IN OPENERS
The 2012 home opener marks the sixth straight opener played at Cougar Field. Houston holds an all-time record of 39-26 (.600) in its openers. The Cougars posted a win over UT-Arlington a year ago, which snapped a two-game losing streak in their season debut.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can also stay connected to action at www.facebook.com/HoustonCougarBaseball or on Twitter @UHCougarBB.
UP NEXT
Following the weekend series, Houston will continue its home slate with a single game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Cougar Field.
