University of Houston Athletics
Preview: Opening Weekend vs. Northwestern State
2/14/2019 3:58:00 PM | Baseball
Cougars are 22-2 during Opening Weekend under Head Coach Todd Whitting
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team opens the 2019 season hosting Northwestern State in a three-game series at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park starting Friday.
Games on Friday and Saturday get underway at 6:30 p.m., while the Sunday finale is slated for 1 p.m. Gates open two hours prior to first pitch for every game.
On Friday, two-time MLB All-Star and Gold Glove winner Michael Bourn will throw out the first pitch. A 2001-03 letterwinner at Houston, Bourn was a two-time All-Conference USA selection. The Houston native led the Cougars in stolen bases all three years and still ranks second all-time in program history with 90 stolen bases and third with 167 runs scored. For more on Bourn, click HERE.
UP TO THE PLATE
Houston (0-0) vs. Northwestern State (0-0)
Feb. 15-17 | Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
G1: Live Stats | Live Stream | Live Audio
G2: Live Stats | Live Stream | Live Audio
G3: Live Stats | Live Stream | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Houston leads, 25-10
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Houston LHP Tyler Bielamowicz (0-2, 11.00) vs. NWST LHP Ridge Heisler (7-3, 3.40)
Saturday: Houston RHP Ryan Randel (5-4, 4.58) vs. NWST RHP Jerry Maddox (8-3, 1.88)
Sunday: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (1-2, 6.64) vs. NWST RHP Nathan Jones (4-6, 3.84)
Statistics based on 2018 season
SINGLES
• The series marks the 14th straight year the Cougars have hosted games during Opening Weekend, and Houston is 29-13 in that span.
• Under Head Coach Todd Whitting, the program is 22-2 during Opening Weekend, sweeping six of the eight series it has played.
• Houston leads the Demons in the all-time series, 25-10.
• The Cougars return seven offensive starters from a season ago.
• In 2018, Houston captured the American Athletic Conference regular-season title, the program's fifth title in the last five seasons. The Cougars finished 38-25 overall, their sixth straight season with at least 36 wins, and 16-8 in league play to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, the program's 22nd all-time NCAA Regional appearance.
• Entering 2019, senior Joe Davis and junior Jared Triolo were named unanimous selections to The American's Preseason All-Conference Team. Voted on by The American head coaches, Triolo was tabbed as the league's preseason favorite at third base with Davis taking the top spot at the designated hitter position.
• Davis has also been named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List, while junior reliever Carter Henry was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award Watch List.
• Houston was picked second in The American Preseason Poll, receiving 55 votes with two first-place nods.
ON NORTHWESTERN STATE
• The Demons enter 2019 coming off a 38-24 season with a berth in the NCAA Corvallis Regional.
• Northwestern State won the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament to punch their first ticket to NCAA Regionals.
• The Demons return senior right-handed pitcher and Southland 2018 Newcomer of the Year Jerry Maddox and J.P. Lagreco, who won the SLC Home Run Derby last season at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
• Head Coach Bobby Barbier was named the Clay Gould SLC Coach of the Year in 2018. Â
ON DECK
Following Opening Weekend, the Cougars will travel to Lake Charles, La., on Tuesday to face McNeese in a 6 p.m. tilt.
PARKING IN 2019
Gameday parking will be offered in a different capacity than in prior years. Anyone entering Lot 16B (across the street from right field) will be subjected to paying a third party company employed by campus. This lot will no longer be an option for free parking on gamedays. All other lots surrounding the stadium will be free of charge two hours prior to first pitch.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarBB, and "Like" UHCougarBB on Facebook.
JOIN DUGOUT CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Baseball program by joining the Dugout Club. To find out more information about the Dugout Club, visit UHCougarPride.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH.
