University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Opening Weekend vs. Holy Cross
2/14/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| #21 HOUSTON (0-0) vs. HOLY CROSS (0-0) | |
| WEEKEND BREAKDOWN |
| LOCATION | Schroeder Park | Houston, Texas |
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | GAMEDAY CENTRAL |
| LISTEN LIVE | UHCougars.com/baseradio |
| WATCH LIVE | UHCougars.com/allaccess |
| GAMETRACKER | | | |
| SERIES HISTORY | Houston and Holy Cross will meet for the first time in program history. |
| SERIES RECORD | First Meeting |
| GAME NOTES | Game Notes |
HOUSTON - Baseball season is back in Houston and the No. 21 Cougars are set to host Holy Cross at Schroeder Park for Opening Weekend, beginning this Friday at 6:30 p.m. The series will continue at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and wrap at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Gates open two hours prior to first pitch.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday: Houston vs. Holy Cross | 6:30 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.)
Saturday: Houston vs. Holy Cross | 6:30 p.m. (Gates open at 4:30 p.m.)
Sunday: Houston vs. Holy Cross | 1 p.m. (Gates open at 11 a.m.)
TICKET INFORMATION
Season Tickets, single game tickets and the Flex 20 plan are all available for purchase. To purchase tickets, visit uhcougars.com/tickets or call 713-GO-COOGS.
GAMEDAY GIVEAWAY
FRIDAY ONLY!
The first 500 fans through the gates at Schroeder Park will receive a championship mini-bat, courtesy of Coca Cola. The bat is stamped with a UH logo and a 2017 American Champions mark.
FOLLOW ALONG
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio
Watch Live: Houston All-Access (paid subscription)
GAMEDAY Central: UHCougars.com/gameday
QUICK HITS ON HOUSTON
- Head coach Todd Whitting begins his eighth season. He owns a Houston record of 250-171-1 and has led the Cougars to three NCAA appearances and four conference titles in the last four seasons.
- Houston is ranked as high as No. 21 in the Perfect Game's Preseason Top 25 poll.
- Houston returns six of its nine starting defensive players from the 2017 championship team in seniors Connor Hollis (2B), Cooper Coldiron (SS), juniors Joe Davis (1B), Grayson Padgett (OF) and sophomores Lael Lockhart Jr. (OF) and Jared Triolo (3B).
- First Team All-American and reigning American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year Trey Cumbie returns and will lead the pitching staff after tallying a conference-best 2.04 ERA, 10 wins and four complete games in 2017.
- Houston welcomes 12 newcomers to the 2018 team.
- Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park is home to 29 home games this season.
PROBABLE ROTATION
Friday, February 16
Houston: LHP Trey Cumbie
** 2018 Preseason All-American; Preseason American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year
Holy Cross: TBA
Saturday, February 17
Houston: LHP Aaron Fletcher
** Making first career start; was Houston's closer in 2017; was Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List
Holy Cross: TBA
Sunday, February 18
Houston: RHP Ryan Randel
** JUCO transfer from Orange Coast College; will make Houston debut on Sunday
Holy Cross: TBA
LAST SEASON
- 42-21 overall record; 15-9 American Athletic Conference record
- 23-9 home record at Schroeder Park
- Notched its third 40+ win season in last four years
- Captured the American regular-season title and championship tournament title -- becoming first UH team since 2000 to win both in the same season
- Jake Scheiner (Player of the Year) and Trey Cumbie (Pitcher of the Year) took home top honors by the conference -- marking the first time ever Houston has won both major awards in the same season
- Houston had five players drafted in the Top 10 rounds of the 2017 MLB Draft
- Trey Cumbie was named a First Team All-American and Jake Scheiner was a consensus All-American -- both firsts since Brad Lincoln in 2006
- Houston hit 60 home runs -- the most by a Cougar offense since the 2006 team hit 71.
OPENING WEEKENDS
- Houston will host Opening Weekend games for the 13th straight year.
- The Cougars own a 20-1 record under head coach Todd Whitting during Opening Weekends
- Houston has six weekend sweeps during Opening Weekend in Whitting's seven seasons
QUICK HITS ON HOLY CROSS
- Holy Cross is coming off a Patriot League Championship in 2017
- Crusaders made their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1978 a year ago
- Holy Cross is led by Greg DiCenzo, who is 245-264-1 in his 10 years at the helm
- Sophomore OF Austin Masel returns after earning Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors and was named a Freshman All-American
- Junior RHP Danny Barlok and senior INF Thomas Russo also earned Preseason All-Patriot League honors
- Holy Cross was voted to finish third by the Patriot League head coaches in the 2018 preseason poll
HOUSTON PLAYERS TO WATCH
Trey Cumbie | Junior -- LHP -- Lufkin, Texas
- 2018 Preseason All-American
- 2018 Preseason American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year
- 2018 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List
- 2017 Stats: 2.04 ERA, 10-2, 4 CG, 101.1 IP, 82 K
- Led the American in ERA, wins and complete games
Joe Davis | Junior -- 1B/DH -- Austin, Texas
- Tied for 9th all-time in program history with 22 career home runs
- 2018 Preseason All-American
- 2018 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List
- 2017 Preseason American Athletic Conference Player of the Year
- 2017 Stats: .299 avg., 8 HR, 46 RBI, .451 slg.
ON DECK
Following Opening Weekend at Schroeder Park, Houston will hit the road for the next four games, beginning with a midweek tilt at Sam Houston State -- Game 1 of the Don Sanders Cup on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Cougars will travel then to Fullerton, Calif. to take on 2017 College World Series opponent, Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series.
- $2 TUESDAYS | $2 tickets every Tuesday home game
- SEASON LONG PROMOTIONS
- FRIDAY FRENZY | Every Friday night at Schroeder Park ($1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beer)
- SUNDAY KIDS DAY | Every Sunday at Schroeder Park, kids will be able to run the bases following the game and enjoy postgame autographs
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date with all Houston Baseball news and highlights by following us on Twitter @UHCougarBB or on Facebook at /UHCougarBB. Fans can also follow head coach Todd Whitting @toddwhitting on Twitter.
