University of Houston Athletics
Preview: vs. No. 24 Arizona
2/21/2019 2:24:00 PM | Baseball
Cougars host Wildcats in 6:30/7:30/1:30 p.m. tilts
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team hosts No. 24 Arizona in a three-game series at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park starting Friday.
Friday's action gets underway with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch, while Saturday's and Sunday's games start at 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Fans should note the Saturday and Sunday game times are different that the initially printed times. Time changes were announced on Feb. 13.
On Saturday, the first 500 fans who bring their ticket from the Houston-USF men's basketball game will get in for FREE, with the next 500 getting HALF-PRICED tickets while supplies last.
Gates open two hours prior to first pitch.
UP TO THE PLATE
Houston (2-2) vs. No. 24 Arizona (5-0)
Feb. 22-24 | 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: Series is tied, 2-2
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Houston LHP Tyler Bielamowicz (0-0, 11.57) vs. Arizona LHP Randy Labaut (1-0, 3.60)
Saturday: Houston RHP Ryan Randel (0-0, 3.60) vs. Arizona LHP Andrew Nardi (1-0, 3.60)
Sunday: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (0-0, 0.00) vs. Arizona RHP Bryce Collins (0-0, 4.50)
SINGLES
• Houston enters the weekend with a 2-2 record. The Cougars bested Northwestern State, 5-3 and 5-4, with a pair of walkoffs in the bottom of the ninth on Friday and Saturday. On Friday night, junior shortstop Kobe Hyland hit a two-run, walk-off home run, and on Saturday, sophomore catcher Kyle Lovelace hit a walk-off single to clinch the series. Houston fell 2-1 in 11 innings in the series finale and 13-5 in 14 innings to McNeese on Wednesday.
• Senior first baseman Joe Davis recorded a three-run home run on Friday and had a double on Sunday for his 82nd and 83rd career extra-base hits to break the Houston all-time record, previously held Brandon Caraway (82, 1997-2000). Against the Cowboys on Wednesday, Davis added another home run and double.
• Davis leads the Cougars with a .375/.474/.875 slash, having gone 6-for-16 with two doubles, two home runs, three walks, seven RBI and three runs scored through the team's first four games.
• Davis, freshman second baseman Brad Burckel and junior third baseman Jared Triolo have reached base in all four games to start the season.
• On the mound, junior right-handed pitcher Devon Roedahl picked up two wins in relief over Opening Weekend. Roedahl, who tossed three scoreless innings, recording two strikeouts to one walk between the two games, co-leads the nation with a 2-0 record.
• On Friday night, junior right-handed pitcher Fred Villarreal tossed five and one-third scoreless innings in relief.
• Junior southpaw Lael Lockhart Jr. recorded five scoreless innings, logging a career-high eight strikeouts in a no-decision on Sunday.
• Houston is batting .235 as a team and has a 4.40 ERA, compared to opponents' .226 average and 3.46 ERA.
ON ARIZONA
• The Wildcats enter the weekend with a 5-0 record. Arizona swept UMass Lowell, 12-4, 18-4, 19-4 and 20-5, in a four-game series on Opening Weekend before beating Rice, 16-5, on Wednesday.
• Arizona checks in at No. 24 in the Collegiate Baseball poll and No. 30 on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll.
• The Wildcats lead the Pac-12 in slugging percentage (.644), on-base percentage (.542), hits (74), runs (85), doubles (20), home runs (7), RBI (75) and walks (58).
• Arizona is batting .387 as a team and has a 3.20 ERA, compared to opponents' .240 average and 14.27 ERA.
• Junior Cameron Cannon leads the team with a .632/.720/.1.000 slash, having gone 12-for-19 with seven doubles, five walks, six RBI and 14 runs scored.
• Arizona was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 Preseason Poll.
• Historically, Arizona has 17 NCAA College World Series appearances, most recently being the runner-up in 2016.
ON DECK
Following Arizona, the Cougars will open their road schedule with a 6 p.m., Tuesday matchup at Lamar in Beaumont, Texas.
PARKING IN 2019
Gameday parking is 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.
