University of Houston Athletics
PREVIEW: Baseball on the Road at New Mexico
3/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| #21 HOUSTON (14-7) at NEW MEXICO (11-7) | |
| SERIES BREAKDOWN |
| LOCATION | Albuquerque, N.M. - Lobo Field |
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | GAMEDAY CENTRAL |
| LISTEN LIVE | UHCougars.com/baseradio | ESPN Deportes 1180 AM |
| WATCH LIVE | Lobo TV |
| GAMETRACKER | Friday | | |
| SERIES HISTORY | First all-time meeting. |
| LAST MEETING | First all-time meeting. |
| GAME NOTES | Houston Notes |
| WEEKEND PITCHING ROTATION | |
| 7 PM CT - FRIDAY | HOU | RHP Andrew Lantrip (So., 4-1, 1.27) UNM | LHP Toller Boardman (4-0, 2.43) |
| 3 PM CT - SATURDAY | HOU | TBA UNM | RHP Tyler Stevens (1-0, 2.61) |
| 2 PM CT - SUNDAY | HOU | TBA UNM | LHP Carson Schneider (2-1, 3.31) |
HOUSTON - No. 21 Houston Baseball will make its first weekend road trip outside the city of Houston when it travels to New Mexico to take on the Lobos in a three-game series this weekend in Albuqueruque, N.M. with the series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
The three-game set will continue with a 3 p.m. CT start on Saturday and wrap with a 2 p.m. start on Sunday.
You can follow all the action by listening in live at UHCougars.com/baseradio with Jeremy Branham on ... or by following via GAMEDAY CENTRAL at UHCougars.com/gameday, which includes links to GameTracker and video through GoLobos.com.
QUICK HITS ON HOUSTON
Houston, under fifth-year head coach Todd Whitting, owns a 14-7 record and is riding a six-game win streak after earning an 8-3 win over No. 8 Rice at Cougar Field Tuesday for its fourth straight win over the Owls - the first time accomplishing that since the 1990-91 seasons.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Houston scored 48 runs in its last five games and totaled 59 hits, which saw five homeruns, two triples and eight doubles. The Cougars upped their team batting average to .279 following after an 11-hit effort vs. Rice.
An offensive effort for the ages erupted at Sam Houston State on March 10 when the Cougars saw a 19-hit performance lead to 17 runs and 16 RBI as every Cougar starter recorded a base hit in the win.
Junior Josh Vidales - who was recently named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll - is leading the offensive charge with a .387 average on a team-leading 29 hits and 19 RBI to accompany his .500 on-base percentage and 13 walks. Vidales belted his second homerun of his career for a two-RBI effort in the win over Rice.
Junior Chris Iriart, who leads the team with four homeruns, and is now hitting .338 with 25 hits and 14 RBI, while junior Jacob Campbell is hitting .305 with 18 hits, and 11 RBI. Freshman Zac Taylor improved his average to .304 and leads the team with 23 runs scored after his 3-for-3 performance vs. Rice.
On the base paths, Houston is 37-of-43 as junior Kyle Survance leads the way with a conference-best 15 stolen bases, while Taylor follows with 10.
As a team, Houston has drawn 134 free passes (106 walks, 28 HBP) to its 138 strikeouts.
ON THE BUMP
On the bump, Houston's pitching staff owns a 2.97 ERA and in 191.0 innings pitched, the Cougars have fanned 147 and walked just 40, while holding opponents to a .248 average.
Starter Andrew Lantrip leads the pitching staff with a 1.27 ERA and a 4-1 record. He has fanned 30 in his 35.1 innings of work, which includes a career-high 12 strikeout effort in a win over Buffalo last Friday.
Joining Lantrip with multiple wins is junior reliever Patrick Weigel - who was tabbed the American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week - following his career-high 11 strikeout effort in 7.1 shutout frames en route to win No. 2 on the year. He holds a 1.83 ERA and in 19.2 innings, he has fanned 22.
Freshman Seth Romero is coming off one of the most impressive outings of his short career with a career-high nine strikeouts without allowing an earned run in 6.1 innings in first career start to beat Rice to improve to 2-1 and lower his season ERA to 2.08.
Junior starter Jake Lemoine is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, while senior Taylor Cobb is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and in 12.2 innings, has fanned 12 after making his first start of his Cougar career in last Sunday's series finale vs. Buffalo.
Out of the pen, junior Kyle Dowdy leads the team with seven appearances and is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA, while senior Aaron Garza has made his last two appearances out of the pen - earning his first career save in a 1.1 inning shutout effort to close out the win vs. Rice.
QUICK HITS ON NEW MEXICO
New Mexico enters the weekend series with an overall record of 11-7 and a 7-3 mark at home. The Lobos are coming off a 4-3 midweek loss to No. 7 Arizona State, while saw New Mexico tie the game in the seventh inning, but allow an eighth-inning run in the loss.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Offensively, New Mexico is hitting .259 as a team and slugging .377 with nine homeruns and 30 doubles, led by Cory Voss' .333 average. Chris DeVito paces the team with 12 runs and 17 RBI, while hitting .290.
As a team, the Lobos have only stolen 12-of-17 on the base paths, led by Sam Haggerty's four stolen bases.
ON THE BUMP
New Mexico's pitching staff owns a 4.30 ERA and in 159.0 innings, the Lobos have fanned 93 and walked 60. Opponents are hitting .275 against the staff.
The team will throw LHP Toller Boardman on Friday, who paces the starters in ERA with a 2.43 to accompany his 4-0 record. In 33.1 innings, he has fanned 18 and walked just three. RHP Tyler Stevens will start on Saturday, who is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA in just two starts and seven appearances, while LHP Carson Schneider will get the nod on Sunday, who is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA with one start on the year.
SERIES HISTORY
- Houston and New Mexico will meet for the first time in program history this weekend.
- New Mexico is one of four first-time opponents for the Cougars this season and the last that Houston will play after playing Hawaii, Columbia, and Buffalo.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday, March 20 - 7 p.m. CT
Houston: RHP Andrew Lantrip (4-1, 1.27 ERA)
New Mexico: LHP Toller Boardman (4-0, 2.43 ERA)
Saturday, March 21 - 3 p.m. CT
Houston: TBA
New Mexico: RHP Tyler Stevens (1-0, 2.61 ERA)
Sunday, March 22 - 2 p.m. CT
Houston: TBA
New Mexico: LHP Carson Schneider (2-1, 3.31 ERA)
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
With 31 home games set for 2015 at Cougar Field and a nationally-ranked 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).
| 2015 Houston Baseball Single-Game Ticket Prices | ||||
| Weekday | Weekend | Weekday Walk-Up | Weekend Walk-Up | |
| Reserved 1 | $7 | $8 | $9 | $10 |
| Reserved 2 | $6 | $7 | $8 | $9 |
| GA | $5 | $6 | $7 | $8 |
| 2015 Houston Baseball Group Rates | ||||
| Weekday | Weekend | |||
| 10-24 | $4 | $5 | ||
| 25+ | $3 | $4 | ||
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.
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.
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.
