University of Houston Athletics
PREVIEW: Baseball to Play ECU in Championship Game
5/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CLEARWATER, FLA. -- After knocking off Memphis on Saturday, No. 14 (1) Houston Baseball advances to the American Athletic Conference Championship game and will face (2) East Carolina at 11 a.m. CT Sunday on ESPNU for the league's tournament title and the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Sunday's Championship game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
You can also 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.
BASEBALL REGIONAL PRESALE INFORMATION
Based on its body of work including the American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship, the University of Houston is in the running to be selected as a 2015 NCAA Regional site on May 29 - May 31.
As a benefit to baseball season ticket members and Cougar Pride members, the Houston Athletics Department is offering an exclusive opportunity to pre-purchase All-Session tickets before the general public should Houston be selected as a regional host by the NCAA. Tickets for all seven games start at just $50.
NCAA will announce NCAA Regional hosts at 8 p.m. CT Sunday on ESPN's Bottom Line.
Houston fans should check their email for the exclusive offer and ticket link from the Houston Athletics Ticket Office. If you do not receive an email from the Houston Athletics Ticket Office and believe you are qualified for the presale, please contact the Houston Athletics Ticket Office at 713-462-6647 or seasontix@uh.edu.
Please note, if the University of Houston does not host an NCAA Regional, fans who pre-registered for tickets will have the option for either a refund or you can use the money towards your 2016 baseball season tickets renewal.
Group 1 (Presale Opens May 19)
- Baseball Season Ticket Members
- Corbin J. Robertson Society Members
- Baseball Coaches Committee Members
Group 2 (Presale Opens May 21)
- Diamond Club Members who are not Baseball Season Ticket Members
- Pinch Hitter Members who are not Baseball Season Ticket Members
- University of Houston Faculty & Staff
Group 3 (Presale Opens May 22)
- Cougar Pride Donors who are not Baseball Season Ticket Members
- Houston Sports Season Ticket Members who are not Baseball Season Ticket Members
Group 4 (Presale Opens May 23)
- General Public Sale
All tickets are delayed print-at-home and will be emailed to ticket buyers once the NCAA Regional Field and game times are set by the NCAA.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WATCH PARTY AT LUCKY'S PUB
Houston Athletics will host an American Athletic Conference Championship Watch Party at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday at Lucky's Pub in Downtown Houston.
What: American Championship Game Watch Party
When: Sunday, May 24
Time: 11 a.m. CT (game begins) -- Doors opne at 10 a.m.
Where: Lucky's Pub (Downtown -- 801 St. Emanuel) | Houston, Texas 77003
NUMBERS OF NOTE HEADING INTO CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
2 -- Houston will make its second straight American Championship game appearance.
2 -- Houston has notched back-to-back 40-win seasons, the first time since 1999 and 2000.
3 -- Kyle Dowdy went on to throw his third complete game of the year in win over Memphis on Saturday.
5 -- Corey Julks tallied a career-high five RBI in the victory vs. Memphis.
6 -- Connor Wong drove in a tournament-record six RBI in the win over the Tigers.
8 -- Houston has now won eight straight games.
13 -- Ashford Fulmer singled in the second to extend on-base streak to 13 straight games.
14 -- Ian Rice singled in the third to extend his on-base streak to 14 games.
15 -- Jacob Campbell singled in the third inning to extend his on-base streak to 15 games.
17 -- Houston scored an American Athletic Conference tournament-record 17 runs in win over Memphis.
19 -- Houston has won 19 of the last 22 games played this season.
21 -- Kyle Survance tripled in the first to extend his on-base streak to 21 straight games.ÂÂ
24 -- Houston tallied a tournament record 24 hits in win over Memphis surpassing their previous high of 20 a year ago vs. UCF.
A LOOK AT THE TOURNAMENT
In the three wins for Houston, freshman Corey Julks paces the offense with a .636 average, seven hits, nine RBI and has scored four runs. Freshman Connor Wong follows, hitting .583 with seven hits and six RBI.
As a team, Houston has scored 32 runs and tallied 39 hits in three games.
On the bump, the Cougars own a 2.42 ERA and have struck out 26 and walked 10 in the three games. Starters Andrew Lantrip and Kyle Dowdy have wins, while reliever Aaron Fletcher earned a victory out of the bullpen in Game 1 vs. Cincinnati. Seth Romero has the lone save.
Opponents are hitting .165 against the Cougars' pitching staff.
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Houston 17, Memphis 3
Houston used a 24-hit effort to score 17 runs and back Cougar starter Kyle Dowdy, who was solid in his ninth win of the year. Dowdy (8.0,3,3,1,3,2) went the distance, allowing just one earned run on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts to improve to 9-2 on the year.
The 24-hits was five shy of the single-game Houston team record, which was 29 vs. Memphis on April 3, 1999, but the 24-hits in a conference-tournament record in any conference Houston has ever played in, surpassing a previous high of 23 hits, happening vs. Charlotte on May 18, 1997 in Conference USA play.
The offense was dynamic on the day as freshmen Corey Julks and Connor Wong combined for 10 of Houston's 24 hits and 11 of the Cougars' 17 RBI.
Wong (5x6, 3 R, 6 RBI) broke an American Athletic Conference tournament record with six RBI on the day, all coming on a five-hit effort -- both career-bests for the freshman. He went on to also score three runs in the win.
Julks (5x6, 3 R, 5 RBI) notched a career-day as well, tallying five hits and five RBI, while scoring three runs.
Every Cougar in the order tallied a hit and all but two scored a run.
Junior Josh Vidales (3x5, 3 R, 2 RBI) and junior Ian Rice (3x6 2 RBI) each had a three-hit day and drove in a pair of RBI, while junior Ashford Fulmer (2x5, R, RBI) and junior Justin Montemayor (1x4, RBI) each had a hit and RBI.
Adding to the hit column and scoring runs for the Cougars was junior Jacob Campbell with a three-hit day, going 3-for-6 with two runs, while junior Kyle Survance tripled to open the game and scored two runs and junior Chris Iriart had a hit, walked twice and scored three times.
Houston 7, USF 3
Sophomore Andrew Lantrip (7.0,5,3,3,3,10) struck out 10 hitters, allowing just three runs on five hits and three walks to improve to 8-3 on the year. The Livingston, Texas native was able to face the minimum through the first four innings, recording five of his 10 strikeouts during that stretch.
Houston tallied seven hits in the game, led by freshman Corey Julks (1x2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2B), junior Jacob Campbell (1x5, 2 RBI) and junior Ashford Fulmer (1x2, R, 2 RBI, BB) each with two RBI. Freshman Connor Wong paced the team with two hits, while scoring a run and junior Kyle Survance (1x5, R) and junior Chris Iriart (1x3, 2 R) had a hit and combined for three runs scored.
Houston 8, Cincinnati 4
Houston used freshman arms Aaron Fletcher (2.0,1,1,0,1,4) and Seth Romero (3.0,0,0,0,1,6) to help come-from-behind and win, 8-4 over the Bearcats.
Cougar starter David Longville (4.0,6,3,3,1,1) left when Cincinnati tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth after a solo homerun evened the score. He would go on to receive the no-decision, after allowing three runs on six hits and one walk in 4.0 innings with one strikeout.
Fletcher improved to 2-0 as he worked around a Cincinnati threat in the fifth, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing no earned runs on one hit, one walk with a career-high four strikeouts.
He handed the ball over to American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year Romero, who fanned six in 3.0 hitless innings with one walk to earn his team-leading seventh save of the year.
The Houston offense tallied eight hits in the win, led by junior Kyle Survance, who had a three-hit game with two runs scored and two RBI, which included his second homerun of the season.
Joining Survance with a two-RBI game was junior Ashford Fulmer (1x4, R, 2 RBI) -- who put the Cougars back ahead in the sixth on a two-out, two-run triple into right center.
Freshman Corey Julks (1x3, R, 2 RBI) belted his third homerun of the year, driving in two to help the Cougars extend their lead late, while junior Jacob Campbell (1x4, R, 2 RBI) put Houston ahead in the first with his two-run double.
Adding a hit and scoring a run were juniors Ian Rice (1x3, R, BB) and Chris Iriart (1x4, R, BB). Freshman Connor Wong scored a run after drawing a career-best three walks.
LAST TIME OUT vs. EAST CAROLINA
Houston and East Carolina met at Cougar Field back on May 8-10. The Cougars earned the series win over the Pirates, 2-1. Houston won Game 1, 10-1 and Game 3, 11-1 in seven innings, while East Carolina took Game 2, 4-1. The Pirates advance to the Championship Game, having gone 3-0 in the league tournament as well with wins over UCF, Tulane and UConn.
MONDAY'S NCAA SELECTION SHOW WATCH PARTY
Houston Baseball is prepared to return to NCAA Championship play for the second consecutive season and watch party details are set for the selection show, which will take place on Monday, May 25 at 11 a.m. CT. Join the Cougars at Lucky's Pub in its Downtown Houston location (801 St. Emanuel) to learn Houston's NCAA postseason fate. Doors open at 10 a.m.
What: Houston Baseball Watch Party for NCAA Selection Show
When: Monday, May 25
Time: 11 a.m. CT (show begins) -- Doors open at 10 a.m.
Where: Lucky's Pub (Downtown -- 801 St. Emanuel) | Houston, Texas 77003
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.
