University of Houston Athletics
PREVIEW: Baseball Back Home to Host Tulane
4/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| #22 HOUSTON (21-12, 2-4) vs. TULANE (21-12, 2-4) | |
| SERIES BREAKDOWN |
| LOCATION | Houston, Texas - Cougar Field |
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | GAMEDAY CENTRAL |
| LISTEN LIVE | UHCougars.com/baseradio |
| WATCH LIVE | Houston All-Access |
| GAMETRACKER | | | |
| SERIES HISTORY | Houston and Tulane have met 63 previous times. |
| SERIES RECORD | Houston leads all-time series, 34-29. |
| GAME NOTES | Houston Notes | Tulane Notes |
| PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION | |
| 6:30 PM - FRIDAY | HOU | Andrew Lantrip (6-2, 2.53 ERA) TUL | RHP Corey Merrill (1-3, 2.14 ERA) |
| 2 PM - SATURDAY | HOU | TBA TUL | RHP Emerson Gibbs (3-0, 2.05 ERA) |
| 1 PM - SUNDAY | HOU | TBA TUL | RHP Alex Massey (2-2, 3.57 ERA) |
HOUSTON - No. 22 Houston Baseball returns home for its first weekend series in over a month when it welcomes American Athletic Conference foe, Tulane to Cougar Field for three games, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
The series will continues at 2 p.m. Saturday and wrap at 1 p.m. Sunday. Houston and Tulane will meet later in the year, in New Orleans on May 1-3, for the second three-game series scheduled between the two clubs.
PROMOTIONS
Friday, April 10 - Game Sponsor: ICON
- Friday Frenzy: $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beers (21 years or older)
Saturday, April 11 - Game Sponsor: Houston Community Newspaper
- Baseball Bingo ... play Bingo all game long, win Prizes!
Sunday, April 12
Superhero Day/Shasta's Kids Club Day
- First 500 fans receive a free UH cape
- Encouraging fans to dress up. Best costume wins a prize.
You can follow all the action by also listening in live at UHCougars.com/baseradio with Jeremy Branham on the call ... or by following via GAMEDAY CENTRAL at UHCougars.com/gameday.
QUICK HITS ON HOUSTON
Houston, under fifth-year head coach Todd Whitting, is looking to snap its three-game road skid when it returns home for the first time since March 24. The Cougars will enter the weekend series with a 21-12 overall record and a 2-4 mark in American Athletic Conference play. Houston dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker on the road at Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Offensively, Houston is hitting .277 as a team and slugging .399, which is thanks in large part to its 23 homeruns hit on the year, ranking second among all American Athletic Conference programs. Along with its power, the Cougars hold a .376 on-base percentage and have drawn 186 free passes to its 201 strikeouts.
Leading the charge is junior Chris Iriart, who is hitting .375 and slugging a lofty .733. He paces the league with 10 homeruns - the most by a Cougar since Chris Wallace had 10 back in 2010. Iriart leads the team with 44 hits, 31 runs scored and is second on the team with 24 RBI. He enters the weekend series riding a 15-game hit streak and an 18-game on-base streak.
Junior Josh Vidales follows with a .339 and is second on the team with 42 hits and 28 runs scored. Freshman Connor Wong is first on the team with 25 RBI and junior Kyle Survance leads the league with 20 stolen bases.
ON THE BUMP
Houston's pitching staff owns a 3.60 ERA and in 295.1 innings pitched, the Cougars have fanned 222 and walked 81. Opponents are hitting .270 against the staff.
Six Cougars have double-digit wins, led by weekend starter Andrew Lantrip, who is 6-2 with a 2.53 ERA. The right-hander is coming off his second complete game this season in a 9.0-inning win over Memphis. Lantrip has fanned 39 in 53.1 innings.
Freshman Seth Romero is 3-3 with a 2.36 ERA in 11 appearances and two starts. Despite suffering the loss at Memphis, the southpaw fanned six and allowed just one earned run in 7.1 innings. He leads the pitching staff with 40 strikeouts in 34.1 innings this season.
Reliever Patrick Weigel ties Romero with a team-high 11 appearances and has made one start, holding a 2-0 record and a 3.82 ERA. He has 34 strikeouts in 33.1 innings this season.
Also coming out of the bullpen with 11 appearances is junior Kyle Dowdy (4.02 ERA, 3-1) and senior Aaron Garza (5.46 ERA, 0-2).
QUICK HITS ON TULANE
Tulane, led by Cougar letterwinner (1984-85) and former Sam Houston State head coach David Pierce, will enter the weekend series with the exact same record as Houston at 21-12 and 2-4 in American Athletic Conference play. The Green Wave is riding a two-game win streak, which saw them post 12 hits in a 7-1 midweek win over Nicholls State on Tuesday.
Tulane has dropped back-to-back conference series to UConn at home at East Carolina on the road.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
As a team, Tulane is hitting .252 with 21 homeruns and a slugging percentage of .359. the Green Wave has accounted for 117 walks and 265 strikeouts for a .335 on-base percentage. The squad is 31-of-49 on the base paths.
Leading the way offensively is Stephen Alemais with a .338 average, a team-leading 46 hits, 29 runs scored and eight doubles to accompany 18 stolen bases - good enough for second in the league behind Houston's Survance.
Behind Alemais is John Gandolfo with a .326 average and 29 hits, while Hunter Williams leads the team with 20 RBI.
ON THE BUMP
The Tulane pitching staff ranks in the league's top half in most categories, entering the weekend series with a 2.72 ERA and in 298.1 innings, the staff has fanned 232 and walked 109. The Green Wave pitching is holding opponents to a .237 average, led by four starters, who own a sub 3.00 ERA.
Houston is expected to see RHP Corey Merrill (2.14 ERA, 1-3, 8 GS) on Friday and RHP Emerson Gibbs (2.05 ERA, 3-0, 5 GS) on Saturday.
RHP Patrick Duester leads the team with a 4-2 record and a 1.89 ERA with two saves in 10 appearances.
SERIES HISTORY
• Houston and Tulane have met 63 previous times, dating back to 1986.
• Houston leads the all-time series, 34-29 and are 16-10 at home vs. the Green Wave.
• Last Meeting: at C-USA Championship (Reckling Park): Tulane 3, Houston 2 (May 25, 2013)
• Houston won the 2013 conference series on the road in New Orleans, 2-1.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday, April 10
Houston: RHP Andrew Lantrip (6-2, 2.53 ERA)
Tulane: RHP Corey Merrill (1-3, 2.14 ERA)
Saturday, April 11
Houston: TBA
Tulane: RHP Emerson Gibbs (3-0, 2.05 ERA)
Sunday, April 12
Houston: TBA
Tulane: TBA
ON DECK
Following the weekend series vs. Tulane, the Cougars will remain in the city of Houston and travel across Hwy. 288 to take on Rice for Game 2 of the Silver Glove Series at Reckling Park. Game is slated for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Houston Baseball will then host Cincinnati in a three-game weekend series at Cougar Field, beginning Friday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m.
You can follow all the action by listening in live at UHCougars.com/baseradio with Jeremy Branham on the call or by following via GAMEDAY CENTRAL at UHCougars.com/gameday.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single game tickets for the remaining 14 home games at Cougar Field can be purchased by clicking here: 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 offers 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 | ||
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.
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.
