University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Houston Set for USF this Weekend
4/5/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| HOUSTON (17-11, 4-2) vs. USF (20-9, 4-2) | |
| 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 USF have met 40 previous times. |
| SERIES RECORD | The Cougars own the all-time series, 25-15, |
| GAME NOTES | Game Notes |
HOUSTON â€" Houston Baseball returns to Schroeder Park this weekend for a three-game American Athletic Conference series vs. USF, set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The series will continue at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and wrap at 1 p.m. Sunday.
FOLLOW ALONG
Listen Live: UHCougars.com/baseradio
Watch Live: UHCougars.com/allaccess
GAMEDAY Central: UHCougars.com/gameday
HOUSTON HITS
- Houston enters the weekend series with a 17-11 overall record and a 4-2 mark in American play.
- The Cougars are coming off a series loss at Cincinnati, but return home this weekend, where they are 14-3 this season.
- Houston's Tuesday game at Texas A&M was rained out and will not be rescheduled.
- As a team, Houston is hitting .253 with 48 doubles, led by three Cougars with a .330+ average.
- Sophomore Jared Triolo is hitting .349 with a team-best 38 hits to lead the way offensively, while sophomore Lael Lockhart and junior Joe Davis each own a .337 average.
- Lockhart and senior Connor Hollis lead the team with 10 doubles, Hollis paces team with 22 runs and senior Cooper Coldiron owns the team lead with 20 RBI.
- Triolo has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games and has a hit in 13 straight, while Lockhart has reached base in 14 straight.
- The Houston pitching staff owns a 2.85 ERA and has struck out 256 hitters in 259.0 innings.
- The Cougars are led by junior Aaron Fletcher, who paces the staff with a 4-1 mark and a 1.22 ERA through seven starts.
- Junior All-American Trey Cumbie is 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA and has tallied two complete-game shutouts this season. He ranks 17th in the nation and second in the conference with 61 strikeouts in 47.1 innings and fifth in the nation with a 0.72 WHIP.
- Senior Joey Pulido (3-1) and sophomore Carter Henry (1-0, 2 SV) share the team lead with 11 relief appearances and are a combined 4-1 with two saves out of the pen.
USF
- USF enters the American series with a 20-9 overall record and a 4-2 mark in league play.
- The Bulls are coming off
- Offensively, USF is hitting .298 with 80 doubles and 21 home runs to accompany 182 RBI.
- Leading the way at the plate is David Villar's .368 average, four home runs, 14 doubles and 29 runs.
- Duke Stunkel is hitting .357 with 11 doubles, while JD Dutka and Coco Montes are each hitting .330.
- USF's pitching staff owns a 2.71 ERA with four saves and three shutouts in 259.0 innings.
- The staff has fanned 290 hitters and walked 108 with opponents hitting .227 against.
- Preseason All-American and LHP Shane McClanahan will throw Friday. He owns a 1.55 ERA and is 3-3 in seven starts. The southpaw has fanned 73 in 40.2 innings.
- RHP Peter Strzelecki will start Saturday and is 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA through seven starts. He has fanned 53 in 40.0 innings.
- Sunday starter RHP Collin Sullivan is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in six starts, tallying 31 strikeouts in 28.0 innings.
- LHP Andrew Perez paces the staff out of the bullpen with four saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 4-2 mark in a team-high 11 appearances.
SERIES HISTORY vs. USF
- Houston and USF have met 40 times in program history, dating back to 1982.
- The Cougars lead the all-time series, 25-15-0.
- Houston dropped the 2017 series on the road in Tampa, 2-1.
- Last Time Out: April 30, 2017 | USF 5, Houston 4 (Tampa, Fla.)
- The Cougars are 14-5 all-time vs. USF at home.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Lael Lockhart Jr.
- Has reached base in 14 straight games.
- Had five hits and three RBI in series at Cincinnati.
- Has doubled in three straight games to pace the Cougars with 10 total on the year.
- Tied for the team lead with 11 relief appearances.
- Paces team with two saves and lowered his ERA to 1.66 with a shutout inning at Cincinnati.
- Hasn't allowed a run in his last two appearances, earning saves in each of them.
ON DECK
Following the weekend series, Houston will remain at home next Tuesday, April 10 to face Rice in the second of three games for the Silver Glove Series. Tickets for the game are only $2 general admission. CLICK HEREfor tickets.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
FRIDAY FRENZY | Every Friday night at Schroeder Park ($1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beer)
SATURDAY: Team Reunion Day for the 2008 Conference Championship Team + Regional participant pregame.
SUNDAY KIDS DAY | Every Sunday at Schroeder Park, kids will be able to run the bases following the game and enjoy postgame autographs
Salute to Service Sunday | Active Duty, Veteran Service Members & First Responders receive $3 general admission tickets by CLICKING HERE.
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.
