University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Promotions Set for February at Cougar Field
2/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS | FEBRUARY PROMOTIONS
HOUSTON - As the 2015 Houston Baseball season is set to begin this week, swing by Cougar Field to support your Cougars all month long, while enjoying specials, prizes, giveaways and more.
With Friday Frenzy, Baseball Bingo and Sunday Kids Day to look forward to every home weekend at Cougar Field, the weekdays can slide by a little bit faster for the entire family.
Kick off the weekend by grabbing $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas and $4 beers (*21 years of age) every Friday night at Cougar Field.
Join the Cougars on Saturdays to play Houston Cougar Bingo. Fill out your card throughout the game and win fun Houston prizes from our GAMEDAY CENTRAL, located on the concourse behind home plate.
Finish the weekend with fun for the whole family. Catch a game, while the kids explore the Kids Zone, located on the berm down the first base line. Filled with games, inflatables and crafts, Kids Zone is the perfect place for a young Houston Baseball fan to enjoy every Sunday at Cougar Field. Sundays also provide the opportunity for Kids to participate in Anthem Buddies, Run the Bases after the game and an autograph session with the 2015 Cougars.
Themed games fill the month of February, ensuring some fun Houston Baseball games, including special giveaways on several nights.
Avoid the restaurant crowds and bring your Valentine to 'Love & Bae-sball' Night on February 14 at Cougar Field as they take on Minnesota. The first 250 fans will receive a pink Valentine's Day themed shirt.
Be one of the first 500 fans through the gate on February 17 to watch the Cougars face Texas Southern and receive Mardi Gras Beads to celebrate Fat Tuesday.
Help us 'Pack the Park' against Alabama on February 20 as the first 250 fans through the gates will receive a free red UH Solo cup.
Dig out those fanny packs and leg warmers and head to Cougar Field on February 28 for 80's throwback night as they take on Columbia. Be one of the first 250 fans in attendance to receive a red 'Go Coogs' slap bracelet.
Prepped and ready to open its 2015 season, No. 3 Houston Baseball will host Minnesota in a three-game series at Cougar Field this weekend, Feb. 13-15. The Cougars will open play on Friday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 6:30 p.m. matchup on Saturday and wrap with a series finale at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
PROMOTIONS
Friday, February 13 - 6:30 p.m.
Friday Frenzy: $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beers* (must be 21 years)
Saturday, February 14 - 6:30 p.m.
Love & Bae-sball: T-Shirt Giveaway to the first 250 fans through the gates
Saturday Bingo: Play Bingo, Win Prizes.
Sunday, February 15 - 1:00 p.m.
Sunday Kids Day: Kids Zone with inflatables, Kids Run the Bases, Postgame Autographs
**University of Houston students - FREE with your Student ID.
QUICK HITS ON HOUSTON
Houston, under fifth-year head coach Todd Whitting, returns to the field with six of its nine offensive starters from last year's Championship team. The Cougars welcome back .300+ hitters Kyle Survance and Connor Hollis. Hollis hit .321 in 29 starts as a true freshman, while recording an on-base percentage of .415. Survance hit .308 and was named the Baton Rouge Regional MVP. He finished second in the American Athletic Conference with 31 stolen bases, led the team with 53 runs scored and was second-best on the team with 32 RBI as the leadoff hitter.
Also returning to the lineup will be junior infielder Justin Montemayor. Montemayor hit .298 last season and was a First Team All-Conference honoree as the Cougars' designated hitter.
Senior Michael Pyeatt is set to begin his fourth and final season at Houston and is coming off a junior campaign that saw him hit .297, while junior second baseman Josh Vidales hit .285 and was tabbed the American Athletic Conference Championship MVP. Vidales tallied a .388 on-base percentage and drew 38 walks.
Junior Ashford Fulmer returns as Houston's top power hitter, having belted four homeruns and drove in 32 RBI with a .267 average last season.
Having a few holes to fill early, the Cougars will look to junior college transfers Ian Rice and Chris Iriart as well as freshman Connor Wong and Zac Taylor for immediate contributions to the lineup.
Rice, a junior out of Chipola JC will start at catcher for the Cougars and hit near the middle of the order, while Iriart, a transfer out of Orange Coast College, will be placed in the lineup as the designated hitter.
Wong, making his collegiate debut as a true freshman out of Pearland HS, will start at shortstop for Houston, while Taylor, a freshman out of Downers Grove, Ill. looks to make an impact in the outfield, utilizing his speed.
The key behind Houston's success in 2014 was the depth and work by its pitching staff, that finished ranked among the nation's Top 10 in five categories, including No. 2 in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (1.82) and No. 8 in ERA (2.35).
Houston returns all pitchers from its starting rotation, highlighted by junior Preseason All-American and Golden Spikes Award Watch List honoree right-hander Jake Lemoine (6-8, 2.87 ERA, 106.2 IP, 87 K). Also returning among the rotation are Freshman All-American and righty Andrew Lantrip (6-0, 1.87 ERA, 43.1 IP, 33 K) as well as senior veteran right-hander Aaron Garza (9-5, 2.92 ERA, 108.0 IP, 57 K). Senior righty David Longville (1-0, 2.88 ERA, 59.1 IP, 36 K) was a consistent starter for the Cougars, both in the weekend rotation and during midweek play and he will return to that role for the 2015 season.
The Cougars lost two of its top backend pitchers in Tyler Ford and Chase Wellbrock, but will look to senior right-hander Jared Robinson (5-1, 1.35 ERA, 23 AP, 46.2 IP, 41 K) and junior right-hander Bubba Maxwell (3-0, 3.24 ERA, 15 AP, 25.0 IP, 20 K).
Houston will welcome in a crop of new and talented pitchers, who are expected to provide depth to the rotation under pitching coach Frank Anderson.
Highlighting the newcomer class is junior transfer Patrick Weigel, out of Oxnard JC and Ventura, Calif. He is joined by fellow junior college righties Austin Moore and Marshall Kasowski. Freshman left-hander Seth Romero out of West Columbia, Texas made an appearance in the Cougars' Alumni Game and is expected to provide work in middle-to-late game situations.
As a team, Houston has been ranked among the nation's Top 10 in all major polls, and as high as No. 3 by Baseball America - the highest ranking during preseason in program history.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
With 31 home games set for 2015 at Cougar Field and a Top 10 nationally-ranked preseason program representing the University of Houston, the Cougars are proud to announce that single-game tickets are now on sale at UHCougars.com/Basetickets.
Along with the online option, fans can purchase tickets by visiting the Athletics Ticket Office at TDECU Stadium Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m. or can call 713-GO-COOGS.
Houston Baseball will offer variable pricing on its single-game tickets and group rates.
For the first time ever, the pricing breakdown will be determined whether or not you purchase your single-game tickets online vs. at the gate the day of the game as well as whether the Cougars play on a weekday (Monday-Thursday) or weekend (Friday-Sunday).
Weekday: Monday-Thursday; Weekend: Friday-Sunday.
As noted in the table, variable pricing occurs. For weekday (Tuesday nights) online purchases, fans can take in a game, ranging from $5-$7 depending on the choice of seating. If you choose to purchase the day of the game as a Weekday Walk-Up, you will pay roughly $2 more than the online price ($7-$9).
Weekend (Friday-Sunday) online pricing will range from $6-$8 per game, while Weekend Walk-Up pricing the day of the game will run a fan anywhere from $8-$10.
GROUP RATES
Group rates are also available (as noted in the table). Weekday (Tuesday) and Weekend (Friday-Sunday) pricing occurs. Groups of 10-24 are set at $4-$5 per person, while groups of 25+ are $3-$4 per person.
With single-game tickets available now, Houston Baseball still encourages supporters to become Season Ticket members and enjoy the attractive pricing and rewards that come with up-front purchasing for the entire 2015 season.
WHY ARE SEASON TICKETS MORE ATTRACTIVE?
Season Tickets are as low as $99 for general admission seating and the program offers an Anytime Tickets package that allows fans to use the 31 tickets how they choose (1 per game, multiple per game or all in one game). The Anytime Tickets are only available in general admission seating.
For just $200, you can enjoy reserved chairback seating on the lower level of the concourse at the stadium.
A new additional "Reserved 2" seating option for the 2015 season is also available with an assigned seat in sections 200, 201 and 202 for $150.
If you breakdown the season ticket pricing of $99 General Admission, the pricing of $150 for Reserved 2 or even the pricing of $200 for Reserved 1 (chairback), you are spending less money per game than purchasing single-game tickets.
HOW TO PURCHASE
To purchase tickets in advance, fans must visit the Athletics Ticket Stadium Office located on the northeast corner of TDECU Stadium, just outside of Gate 1 off Cullen Boulevard. Parking is available in the TDECU Stadium parking garage with the first 30 minutes free of charge. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m., to 5:30 p.m. or you can call 713-GO-COOGS.
JOIN THE DUGOUT CLUB
Nationally-ranked Houston Baseball would like to encourage those wishing to support the efforts and success of the baseball student-athletes to consider joining the Dugout Club for as low as $25 a month or $300 annually.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
LEVELS
PINCH HITTER
For a minimum monthly installment of $25 or a minimum one-time gift of $300, supporters can take advantage of the Pinch Hitter level, which will guarantee an invitation for two to exclusive Dugout Club events and Houston Baseball team apparel.
DIAMOND
For a minimum monthly installment of $100 or a minimum one-time gift of $1,000, supporters can take advantage of the Diamond level, which will guarantee batting practice passes for two to any home game, invitation for two to exclusive Dugout Club events and Houston Baseball apparel.
**Cougar Pride points will be applied accordingly.
For more information on joining the Dugout Club, please contact the Houston Baseball office at (713) 743-9396.
For more information regarding Cougar Pride, please call (713) 743-GOUH.
A LOOK AT THE 2015 SCHEDULE
For the ninth consecutive season, Houston will open its slate at Cougar Field, having accumulated a winning record of 14-6, which includes three straight weekend sweeps the past three seasons under Whitting - who will begin his fifth season at the helm.
"I'm really excited about this year's schedule," Whitting said. "It is probably one of the most competitive ones we have made since our staff took over in 2010."
Houston will open the season hosting Minnesota on Feb. 13-15. The Cougars and Gophers will meet for the first time since 1987 as they have met 25 previous times.
The home slate for the Cougars will continue with their third straight weekend series at Cougar Field when it welcomes first-time opponent Columbia for a four-game series, set for Feb. 27-March 1.
"Our fans will have a great opportunity to see us play against great opponents here in our city," Whitting said.
QUICK HITS
OUR CITY
• 31 home games; 36 in the city of Houston
• First seven games of the season played at Cougar Field
• 19 of first 21 games played in the city of Houston
• First five weekends played in city of Houston - four at Cougar Field
OPENING WEEKEND
• Houston will host Opening Weekend for the ninth consecutive season
• Cougars are 14-6 all-time during Opening Weekend under Whitting
• Cougars have swept the last three Opening Weekend series under Whitting
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /HoustonCougarBaseball. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.
