University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Baseball to Host Tulane this Week
5/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| HOUSTON (32-20, 10-10) vs. TULANE (35-16, 13-6) | |
| WEEKEND BREAKDOWN |
| LOCATION | Houston, Texas / Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park |
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | GAMEDAY CENTRAL |
| LISTEN LIVE | UHCougars.com/baseradio |
| WATCH LIVE | UHCougars.com (Thursday) | CBSSN (Fri/Sat) |
| GAMETRACKER | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| SERIES HISTORY | Houston and Tulane have met 71 times. |
| SERIES RECORD | Houston leads 39-32. |
| GAME NOTES | Game Notes |
HOUSTON -- Houston Baseball will wrap up regular-season play this weekend when it welcomes No. 10 Tulane to Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park for a three-game American Athletic Conference series, beginning Thursday at 3 p.m.
The series will continue at 7 p.m. Friday and wrap at 3 p.m. Saturday. Note: the series will be played Thursday -- Saturday due to the Cougars traveling Sunday to Clearwater, Fla. for the conference tournament. The final two games of this series will air on CBS Sports Network.
The Cougars will enter the series with a 32-20 overall record and a 10-10 mark in American play. Houston is coming off a statement win over No. 13 Rice in Sugar Land, Texas -- where it posted 18 hits en route to a 24-6 victory to claim the 2016 Silver Glove Series and earn the trophy for the third straight year.
FOLLOW ALONG -- GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Watch Live: UHCougars.com (Thursday) / CBS Sports Network (Friday, Saturday)
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio
ON DECK
Following the series with Tulane, Houston Baseball will find out its seed in the American Athletic Conference Championship and plan to travel down to Clearwater, Fla. for next week's event. Full Championship information can be found at Championship Central.
PROMOTIONS: SENIOR WEEKEND
Thursday, May 19
Friday, May 20
Friday Frenzy: $1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beers* (must be 21 years)
Saturday, May 21
Saturday Bingo: Play Bingo, Win Prizes.
Kids Day: Kids Zone with inflatables, Kids Run the Bases, Postgame Autographs
SENIOR RECOGNTION
Houston Baseball will honor its six senior student-athletes and one senior manager prior to first pitch on Saturday. The scheduled first pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ... plan to arrive early to help honor these seniors.
- Josh Vidales (La Porte, Texas, 2B)
- Justin Montemayor (Austin, Texas, UTL)
- Jacob Campbell (Alvin, Texas, C)
- Robert Grilli (Toronto, Ontario, Canada, OF)
- Bubba Maxwell (Vidor, Texas, RHP)
- Michael Pyeatt (Lake Jackson, Texas, OF)
- Adam Zysk (Manager)
HITS ON HOUSTON
The Cougars will look to continue its winning ways of late, coming into the weekend, winners of eight of the last 10 games down the stretch -- including three wins against Top 25 programs in Rice (twice) and Louisiana.
Offensively, Houston is hitting .272 and slugging .380 with 68 doubles, 13 triples and 31 home runs. Leading the way at the plate is freshman Joe Davis, hitting .349 with a team-best 73 hits, 50 RBI, 16 doubles and 11 home runs. His 10 home runs broke the Houston Freshman All-Time Home Run record, last accomplished by Mike Musolino back in 1986 with nine. Davis added home run No. 11 to his resume against Rice on Tuesday -- which was his first career grand slam.
Following Davis at the plate is sophomore Corey Julks with a .324 average and sophomore Connor Wong with a .305 average and team-high 44 runs scored.
Senior Josh Vidales tallied career walk No. 132 in the win over Rice -- which tied him for the all-time Houston walk record set by Zak Presely (2007-10).
On the base paths, Houston is 56-of-71, led by sophomore Zac Taylor with 19-of-22.
Houston's pitching staff continues to rank among the nation's Top 10 in several categories, posting a 2.38 ERA with 402 strikeouts to 95 walks in 446.0 innings pitched this season. Opponents are hitting .220 against the Cougars.
Freshman Mitch Ullom paces the starters in wins with a 6-3 record, and with a 2.12 ERA in 12 appearances and 10 starts in his first collegiate season. He is coming off his third career complete game at Cincinnati.
Sophomore Seth Romero has 93 strikeouts in 79.2 innings and is 5-4 with 2.37 ERA in 12 appearances and 11 starts and earned a complete-game victory on the road at Cincinnati last weekend.
Junior Andrew Lantrip follows with a 2.40 ERA and a 6-5 record in 13 apperances and 12 starts. He has fanned 78 and walked just five to rank among the nation's leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio in a staff-leading 82.1 innings pitched.
Freshman Trey Cumbie, this week's American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week and named the Silver Glove Series MVP against Rice, is 4-2 with a 1.33 ERA in 13 appearances and four starts. He is coming off a week in which he tossed 13.2 shutout innings in two starts at Rice / at Cincinnati -- both leading to victories for the Cougars.
Out of the bullpen, Houston goes to junior Nick Hernandez, who is 2-0 with eight saves and a 1.30 ERA in a team-high 23 appearances. He has struck out 49 in 41.2 innings and is holding opponents to a .167 average.
ABOUT TULANE
Tulane enters the weekend series with a 35-16 overall record and a 13-6 mark in the American Athletic Conference to currently lead the league. The Green Wave is ranked in the Top 25 and among the nation's Top 10 at No. 10.
Tulane is coming off its first shutout of the season in a 2-0 loss to Nicholls State at home on Tuesday. Prior to that, the Green Wave earned a 2-1 series win over Memphis in American action.
As a team, Tulane leads the nation in shutout victories, tallying 12 this year. The pitching staff owns a 419 strikeouts to 155 walks in 456.2 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .243 against the Tulane pitchers.
Emerson Gibbs leads the way with a 6-2 record and a 2.33 ERA in 13 starts. He has struck out 76 in 882. Innings. Ross Massey follows with an 8-3 record and a 2.35 ERA in 15 appearances and 10 starts. Alex Massey is 5-4 with a 4.79 ERA in 12 appearances and 11 starts.
Out of the bullpen, Tulane relies on a handful of pitchers, led by Patrick Duester's 19 appearances. Corey Merrill has a team-leading three saves and is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 11 appearances and five starts.
Offensively, Tulane is hitting .273 as a team and slugging .433 with 89 doubles, 14 triples and 53 home runs.
Stephen Alemais paces the team with a .321 average, while Jeremy Montalbano is hitting .291 with a team-best 40 RBI. Hunter Hope leads the squad with 12 home runs and is hitting .287.
SERIES HISTORY vs. TULANE
Houston and Tulane has met 71 previous times, dating back to the 1986 season. The Cougars own the all-time series, 39-32 and are 18-11 all-time in Houston. The Cougars and Green Wave split the first two games of the year and were rained out in Game 3 in New Orleans back on April 29 -- May 1.
Houston was picked to win the American regular-season, receiving six first place votes, while Tulane was picked to finish second, receiving one first place vote. The Green Wave currently lead the league and are ranked 10th in the nation.
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 SINGLE-GAME / GROUP TICKETS
Houston Baseball has three 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.
