University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Baseball to Host George Washington
3/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| #16 HOUSTON (13-7) vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON (8-13) | |
| WEEKEND BREAKDOWN |
| LOCATION | Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park |
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | GAMEDAY CENTRAL |
| LISTEN LIVE | UHCougars.com/baseradio |
| WATCH LIVE | UHCougars.com |
| GAMETRACKER | | | |
| SERIES HISTORY | Houston and GWU will meet for first time. |
| SERIES RECORD | First meeting. |
| GAME NOTES | Game Notes |
| PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION | |
| 6:30 PM - THURSDAY | HOU | TBA GWU | RHP Bobby LaWarne |
| 6:30 PM - FRIDAY | HOU | RHP Andrew Lantrip GWU | LHP Shane Sweeney |
| 1 PM - SATURDAY | HOU | LHP Seth Romero GWU | RHP Jacob Williams |
HOUSTON â€" No. 16 Houston Baseball will quickly return to action when it welcomes A-10's George Washington to town for a three-game series set to begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue at 6:30 p.m. Friday and wrap at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Cougars will enter the weekend series with a 13-7 overall record, coming off a tough 7-4 midweek loss at home to Rice to open the Silver Glove Series.
FOLLOW ALONG
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio
Watch Live: UHCougars.com
PROMOTIONS: Throwback Weekend
Thursday, March 24
Throwback Weekend: 70s â€" Best costume wins a prize!
Friday, March 25
Throwback Weekend: 80s â€" Best costume wins a prize!
Friday Frenzy: $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beers* (must be 21 years)
Saturday, March 26
Throwback Weekend: 90s â€" Best costume wins a prize!
Saturday Bingo: Play Bingo, Win Prizes.
ON DECK
Following Houston's weekend series with George Washington, the Cougars will wrap up their nine-game home stand with a midweek matchup vs. Top 5 Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
HITS ON HOUSTON
Despite falling to Rice on Tuesday, the Cougars are winners of nine of their last 11 games and will look to win their fifth weekend series in as many tries this season against GWU.
Houston's pitching was the story in the series sweep of GCU last weekend as Andrew Lantrip and Seth Romero racked up back-to-back complete games in the doubleheader sweep on Saturday, March 19.
Lantrip tossed his fourth career complete game, but first career complete game shutout, while tallying seven strikeouts and no walks, while holding the Lopes to just two hits.
Romero, this week's National Pitcher of the Week and American Pitcher of the Week, was equally impressive in Game 2 with a career-high 13 strikeouts in his 1-hit bid, while allowing just one unearned run and two walks for his first ever 9.0-inning complete game.
The Cougars own a 2.49 team ERA and have 191 strikeouts to just 38 walks in 20 games played this season. The staff is holding its opponents to a .208 average.
Lantrip continues to lead the nation with his 39:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and is 3-2 with a 1.53 ERA this season. Romero paces the staff with a 0.78 ERA and 3-0 record and has struck out 32 in 23.0 innings.
Game 3 starter John King improved to 3-1 with his win over GCU and now owns a 3.86 ERA and has 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.
Out of the bullpen, Houston has relied on Nick Hernandez, who owns the team-lead with four saves and has a 2.40 ERA in eight relief appearances. Bubba Maxwell has two saves and has struck out 17 in 13.0 innings to accompany his 2.08 ERA.
As of March 21, the pitching staff ranked among the nation's Top 10 in five different categories, while ranking first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.82) and walks allowed per nine innings (2.04).
Offensively, the Cougars own a .276 batting average and have belted 17 home runs in 20 games, while tallying 34 doubles and six triples for a slugging percentage of .419.
Joe Davis continues to pace the offense and leads the American Athletic Conference with a .413 clip, 33 hits and 26 RBI, while tallying five home runs in his freshman campaign.
Connor Wong follows with a .346 average and a team-high 19 runs scored from the leadoff position. He has reached base in 19 of the 20 games this season.
Senior Michael Pyeatt is hitting .327 and is currently riding an active 12-game hit streak into the series with GWU.
ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON
George Washington is a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference and is located in Arlington, Virginia. The Colonials will enter the weekend series at Houston with an 8-13 overall record and are coming off a 3-2 midweek loss at home to Georgetown.
As a team, George Washington is hitting .297 and slugging .384 with 42 doubles, five triples and four home runs. The Colonials are 25-of-38 on the base paths. Five players are hitting over .300, led by Mark Osis with a .392 clip and a team-leading 31 hits, while Kevin Mahala has 23 RBI and 13 doubles to pace in each of those categories.
The pitching staff owns a 4.60 ERA and has struck out 131 in 188.0 innings this season, while walking 89. The Colonials will start RHP Bobby LaWarne on Thursday vs. the Cougars, as he holds a 2-1 record in five starts with a 3.63 ERA. In 34.2 innings, LaWarne has fanned 24 and walked 10.
Houston will face LHP Shane Sweeney on Friday with a 1-0 record and a 4.57 ERA. In 21.2 innings, six appearances and four starts, he has struck out 15 and walked eight.
Jacob Williams will start on Saturday vs. the Cougars and is 2-1 in five starts with a 3.82 ERA, while fanning 17 and walking nine in 33.0 innings.
Opponents are hitting .290 against the pitching staff this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Houston and George Washington will meet for the first time in program history.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Thursday, March 24
Houston: TBA
George Washington: RHP Bobby LaWarne (3.63, 2-1)
Friday, March 25
Houston: RHP Andrew Lantrip (1.53, 3-2)
George Washington: LHP Shane Sweeney (4.57, 1-0)
Saturday, March 26
Houston: LHP Seth Romero (0.78, 3-0)
George Washington: RHP Jacob Williams (3.82, 2-1)
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
BUY SEASON/ SINGLE-GAME / GROUP TICKETS
Houston Baseball has 19 remaining home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park and fans can purchase season tickets for as low as $99 online by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.
To purchase tickets in person, fans can 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.
Houston Baseball will offer variable pricing on its single-game tickets and group rates.
As noted in the table above, variable pricing occurs. For weekday (Tuesday/Wednesday) games, prices range from $5-$7 depending on the choice of seating.
Weekend ((Thursday) Friday-Sunday) online pricing will range from $6-$8 per game.
GROUP RATES
Group rates are also available (as noted in the table). Weekday (Tuesday/Wednesday) and Weekend ((Thursday) Friday-Sunday) pricing occurs. Groups of 10-24 are set at $4-$5 per person, while groups of 25+ are $3-$4 per person.
All UH main campus students are admitted FREE to regular-season baseball home games with a valid student ID.
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.
