University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Houston Baseball Opening Weekend
2/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| #20 HOUSTON (0-0) vs. WAKE FOREST (0-0), NICHOLLS STATE (0-0) | |
| WEEKEND BREAKDOWN |
| LOCATION | Schroeder Park | Houston, Texas |
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | GAMEDAY CENTRAL |
| LISTEN LIVE | UHCougars.com/baseradio |
| WATCH LIVE | UHCougars.com |
| GAMETRACKER | | | |
| SERIES HISTORY | First time meeting vs. Wake Forest | 45th meeting vs. Nicholls State |
| SERIES RECORD | UH leads Nicholls State, 31-13 |
| GAME NOTES | Game Notes |
HOUSTON -- Baseball season is back in Houston and the No. 20 Cougars are set to host Wake Forest and Nicholls State at Schroeder Park for Opening Weekend, beginning this Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Houston will play Wake Forest Friday at 6:30 p.m., Nicholls State at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Wake Forest again on Sunday at 1 p.m. Along with those three games, the Cougars will host two non-Houston games in Wake Forest vs. Nicholls State (Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m.).
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday: Wake Forest vs. Nicholls State -- 2 pm | Houston vs. Wake Forest - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: Wake Forest vs. Nicholls State -- 2 pm | Houston vs. Nicholls State - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday: Houston vs. Wake Forest - 1 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
One purchased ticket will grant fans access to both games on Friday and Saturday. To purchase tickets, visit uhcougars.com/tickets or call 713-GO-COOGS. Gates open two hours prior to the first game of the day.
FOLLOW ALONG
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio (Houston games only)
Watch Live: Houston All-Access (paid subscription) (Houston games only)
GAMEDAY Central: UHCougars.com/gameday
QUICK HITS
- Head coach Todd Whitting begins his seventh season. He owns a Houston record of 208-150-1 and has led the Cougars to two NCAA Regional appearances, a conference tournament title (2014) and a conference regular-season title (2015).
- Houston is ranked as high as No. 20 in the Perfect Game's Preseason Top 25 poll.
- Houston returns its top four hitters from 2016 team in Corey Julks (.332, 34 R), Joe Davis (.331, 14 HR, 58 RBI), Connor Wong (.304, 5 HR) and Connor Hollis (.294).
- The Cougars have led the American Athletic Conference in ERA all three years of its existence, including a 2.48 ERA in 2016.
- Houston returns 12 from the 2016 team and welcomes 21 newcomers to the 2017 squad.
- Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park is home to 29 home games this season.
PROBABLE ROTATION
Friday, February 17
Houston: LHP Seth Romero (0.00 ERA, 0-0)
Wake Forest: TBA
Saturday, February 18
Houston: TBA
Nicholls State: TBA
Sunday, February 19
Houston: TBA
Wake Forest: TBA
LAST SEASON
- 36-23 overall record; 11-12 American Athletic Conference record
- 23-9 home record at Schroeder Park
- Notched is fourth straight 35+ win season
- Advanced to American Athletic Conference Championship game for the third straight year
- Captured the Silver Glove Series for the third straight year with a 2-1 record over Rice
- Five Cougars named to All-Conference teams
- Joe Davis named a five-time First Team Freshman All-American, American Conference Rookie of the Year and an All-Region selection
OPENING WEEKENDS
- Houston will host Opening Weekend games for the 12th straight year.
- The Cougars own a 17-1 record under head coach Todd Whitting during Opening Weekends
- Houston has five weekend sweeps during Opening Weekend in Whitting's six seasons
QUICK HITS ON WAKE FOREST
- Houston and Wake Forest meet for the first time in program history
- Wake Forest finished 2016 with a 35-27 overall record and 13-17 mark in ACC play
- Advanced to NCAA College Station Regional in 2016
- Picked to finish fifth in 2017 ACC Atlantic Division
- 2016 All-ACC selections return: OF Stuart Fairchild (2nd), INF Gavin Sheets (3rd) and RHP Parker Dunshee (3rd)
- Fairchild and Dunshee earned Preseason All-America honors for 2017
- Wake Forest lost D1Baseball National Player of the Year Will Craig to MLB Draft
QUICK HITS ON NICHOLLS STATE
- Houston and Nicholls State have met 44 previous times
- Cougars own a 31-13 all-time record over Colonels and are 25-5 all-time at home
- Houston has won the last five meetings vs. Nicholls State, including a 2014 Opening Weekend sweep
- Nicholls State finished 2016 with a 26-30 overall record and a 14-16 mark in the SLC
- 2016 All-Southland Conference selections return: DH Kyle Knauth (2nd), OF Gavin Wehby (HM)
- Knauth earned Preseason All-SLC honors on the Second Team
HOUSTON PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seth Romero | Junior -- LHP -- West Columbia, Texas
- Three-time Preseason All-American
- Named Baseball America Top College Prospect at No. 10
- Named to American Athletic Conference Preseason Team
- 2016 ABCA All-Region First Team, American Conference Second Team, National Pitcher of the Month (March)
- 2016 Stats: 2.29 ERA, 6-4, 13 GS, 2 CG, 94.1 IP, 113 K, .186 B/AVG
- Led the American in strikeouts and WHIP (0.93) in 2016
Joe Davis | Sophomore -- 1B/DH -- Austin, Texas
- Three-time Preseason All-American
- American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year
- Five-time Freshman All-American
- 2016 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year
- College Home Run Derby Finalist
- 2016 Third Team All-American, Second Team All-Region
- 2016 Stats: .331 AVG, 65 H, 17 2B, 14 HR, 58 RBI, 86 TB, .439 SLG%
- Led the American in RBI, total bases and slugging percentage, broke Houston freshman home run record
ON DECK
Following Opening Weekend at Schroeder Park, Houston will remain at home for its first midweek matchup of 2017 when it hosts cross-town opponent Houston Baptist Tuesday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m.
- $2 MIDWEEKS | $2 tickets and $2 hot dogs every Tuesday and Wednesday home game | UHCougars.com/tickets or call 713-GO-COOGS
SEASON LONG PROMOTIONS
Along with group options, Houston Baseball has announced three season-long promotions that will be in affect during the 2017 season at home. CLICK HERE for more information.
FRIDAY FRENZY | Every Friday night at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park ($1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beer)
SUNDAY KIDS DAY | Every Sunday at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park, kids will be able to run the bases following the game and enjoy postgame autographs
SINGLE GAME TICKETS ON SALE
Single game tickets are on sale at uhcougars.com/tickets . Fans can enjoy a few single game tickets options for the 29 homes games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park during the 2017 season.
WEEKEND SERIES
Reserved: $8 / game | General Admission: $5 / game
MIDWEEK GAMES
$2 General Admission tickets | $2 hot dogs
SATURDAY MINI-PLAN & SUNDAY FAMILY PACK
An attractive Saturday Mini Plan and Sunday Family Pack are also available, allowing fans to purchase one mini plan for $25, securing a ticket to every Saturday home game or a Family Pack for Four for just $30 to any Sunday game at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park in 2017.
For just $25, the Saturday Mini Plan guarantees you a seat during all seven Saturday home games, which comes out to a ticket price of $3.57 each. You have the choice between Reserved or General Admission seating for the same price.
To purchase a Saturday Mini Plan deal, CLICK HERE or call our Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS.
The Family Pack features four general admission tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four popcorns to any Sunday home game for $30.
In order to purchase this deal, the purchaser must CLICK HERE use the promo code: FAMILYPACK.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
Houston Baseball 2017 season tickets are still on sale as low as $99, and fans are encouraged to secure their ticket to all 29 home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park this upcoming season by purchasing today.
Season tickets for 29 regular-season home games at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park are available for $200 for the reserved chairback seating on the lower level of the concourse at the stadium.
For the third straight year, the additional "Reserved 2" seating option for the 2017 season is available as fans can purchase an assigned seat in sections 200, 201 and 202 for $150.
General admission seating will run in sections 203-209 and are available for $99 for the entire season.
The 2017 `30 Ticket Flex Plan' provides 30 general admission tickets that you can use in a variety of ways. You can use all 30 tickets for one game, a ticket for each home game of the season or any combination in-between.
General Admission season tickets start for as low as $99 (30 home games/$3.30 per ticket), while Reserved season tickets start at only $150 (30 home games/$5.00 per ticket).
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.
