University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Cougars Prep for Series at Texas Tech
4/12/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 12, 2012
| HOUSTON COUGARS (12-18-1) at TEXAS TECH (19-15) | |
|---|---|
| Date/Time | April 13-15, 2012 - 6:30 p.m. / 5 p.m. / 1 p.m. |
| Location | Lubbock, Texas |
| Radio | UHCougars.com (Jeremy Branham & Pat Cauley) |
| Live Stats | |
| Series History | Houston owns all-time series, 44-39 |
| Last Meeting | at Houston College Classic; TT won 10-4 (March 4, 2012) |
| Game Notes | Houston Notes  Conference USA Notebook |
| Social Media |  Facebook •  Twitter |
HOUSTON--The University of Houston baseball team will spend its C-USA bye weekend in Lubbock, Texas taking on Texas Tech in a three-game set. The Cougars will open the series on Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. Saturday contest before wrapping up on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Houston enters the weekend series with a 12-18-1 overall record and is coming off a 4-3 victory over non-conference foe Lamar on Tuesday. Against Lamar, sophomore Chase Wellbrock pitched a career-high 7.0 shutout innings in relief to earn his second win this season. The righty allowed just five hits and struck out four, without issuing a single run. Senior Mo Wiley picked up the save, his fourth of the year. Sophomore Landon Appling, junior Jacob Lueneburg, and freshman Price Jacobs combined for six of Houston's eight hits as each registered a two-hit effort.
A LOOK AT HOUSTON
Sitting a 12-18-1 this year and 3-9-1 on the road, Houston is 11-11 in non-conference action this season and is looking to improve on its 10-0 record when leading after the 7th inning.
As a team, the Cougars are hitting .260 and have recorded an on-base percentage of .338. Leading the way offensively is Lueneburg with a .308 average, followed by junior Chase Jensen's .296 average, team-high 34 hits and 27 RBI. Senior Codey Morehouse is hitting .319 in 47 at-bats as well.
Junior Austin Pruitt paces the pitching staff with a 2.17 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched. The righty is 2-2 this season in seven starts. Following Pruitt in starts is senior Jordan Lewis (7.01 ERA, 3-5, 9 AP, 8 GS, 34.2 IP, 20 K), senior Jared Ray (7.43 ERA, 1-4, 8 AP, 7 GS, 36.1 IP, 29 K), and freshman Aaron Garza (5.08 ERA, 1-3, 8 AP, 7 GS, 28.1 IP, 19 K). Throwing well out of the pen of late has been sophomore Chase Wellbrock (3.24 ERA, 2-1, 8 AP, 16.2 IP, 14 K), senior Mo Wiley (5.01 ERA, 1-0, 12 AP, 4 SV), and junior Matt Hernandez (5.74 ERA, 0-1, 10 AP, 1 GS, 15.2 IP, 10 K).
A LOOK AT TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech is coming off a 7-1 win over Dallas Baptist on Wednesday to improve to 19-15 overall and 16-6 at home. The Red Raiders are hitting .298 as a team and are slugging .424 with 12 homeruns. Barrett Barnes leads the offensive attack with a .367 clip with six homeruns, 12 doubles and 33 RBI. Jamodrick McGruder follows with a .357 clip.
ON THE BUMP FOR TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech's weekend rotation features all right-handers in John Neeley, Duke von Schamann, and Trey Masek.
Friday - RHP John Neeley
4.60 ERA, 2-4, 10 AP, 5 GS, 1 SV, 29.1 IP, 19 K
Saturday - RHP Duke von Schamann
1.97 ERA, 4-3, 8 AP, 8 GS, 3 CG, 59.1 IP, 43 K
Sunday - RHP Trey Masek
3.29 ERA, 1-3, 12 AP, 3 GS, 1 SV, 27.1 IP, 29 K
SERIES HISTORY
Houston and Texas Tech's series history dates back to 1973 and the two teams have already met once this season at the Houston College Classic. Houston leads the all-time series, 44-39, despite dropping a 10-4 game on March 4 this year. The Cougars are 15-22 all-time in Lubbock. The last time Houston traveled to Lubbock was in 1996. The last eight meetings have been at a neutral location with Houston winning five of them.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can follow all the action this weekend via live audio at UHCougars.com with play-by-play from Jeremy Branham and Pat Cauley as well as on GameTracker. To also stay connected, follow us on Twitter @UHCougarBB.
UP NEXT
After returning home from Texas Tech, Houston will meet Sam Houston State next Tuesday in Huntsville, Texas for a 6:30 p.m. non-conference contest before hosting Marshall at home the following weekend in a three-game series.
