University of Houston
Sam Houston State
Preview: vs. Sam Houston State, at Stephen F. Austin
3/25/2019 5:02:00 PM | Baseball
Cougar step out of conference play with midweek twin bill
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team steps out of American Athletic Conference play for two games, hosting Sam Houston State on Tuesday at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park and visiting Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Tuesday's game gets underway at 6:30 p.m., while the Cougars' tilt at SFA is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
Houston's game with Sam Houston State marks the first of three as the two teams play for the Don Sanders Cup. The annual three-game series was announced in 2017 and is named in appreciation of Don Sanders' generosity to both programs.
UP TO THE PLATE
Houston (11-11, 1-2 The American) vs. Sam Houston State (15-6, 7-2 Southland)
March 26 | Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Live Stats | Live Stream | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Houston trails, 82-84
Houston at Stephen F. Austin (13-12, 7-2 Southland)
March 27 | Nacogdoches, Texas
Live Stats | Live Stream (Facebook Live) | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Houston leads, 37-11
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday: Houston LHP Clay Aguilar (1-2, 4.62) vs. SHSU RHP Landon Ausley (1-0, 7.84)
Wednesday: Houston TBA vs. SFA TBA
SINGLES
• Houston, in the midst of a stretch of 10 games in 13 days, enters the week with an 11-11 overall record.
• Over the weekend, freshman Derrick Cherry made his collegiate debut as the Cougars' designated hitter. He finished 3-for-10 with one double, one home run, three walks, four RBI and one run scored.
• Senior first baseman Joe Davis leads The American in RBI (27) and is second in home runs (8) and third in slugging percentage (.683). The Austin native also leads the team in batting average (.317) and on-base percentage (.406).
• Junior third baseman Jared Triolo leads the team in walks (13) and runs scored (15).
• Junior right-handed pitcher Devon Roedahl co-leads The American in wins (3), with all coming out of the bullpen.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Fred Villarreal leads conference in ERA (1.05) and is tied for fifth in saves (3).
• Villarreal co-led the nation with a 0.00 ERA through Houston's first 10 games. His streak without allowing an earned run to start the season ended at 13 and one-third innings with two runs surrendered against Rice on March 5.
• Senior designated hitter Rey Fuentes III was named to the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic All-Tournament Team on March 5. At the tournament, Fuentes III batted .300 with one double, one home run, one RBI and three runs scored. The homer, which came against Texas State on March 2, was the first of his career.
• Houston is batting .215 as a team and has a 4.01 ERA, compared to opponents' .233 average and 3.52 ERA.
ON SAM HOUSTON STATE
• The Bearkats enter the week with a 15-6 record.
• SHSU is coming off a 2-1 series win at New Orleans over the weekend, and on Monday, Junior Hayden Wesneski was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week for his complete-game in the rubber game against the Privateers on Sunday.
• Senior right fielder Jordan Cannon leads the Southland Conference and ranks fifth in the nation in batting average (.450) and sixth in on-base percentage (.560).
• Freshman left fielder Colton Cowser leads SHSU in slugging percentage (.578), hits (30) and RBI (25), and is one of four Bearkats to have hit three home runs.
• Bearkats Hunter Hearn (First Team), Clayton Harp (Second Team) and Wesneski (Second Team) were named Preseason All-SLC. All three were named All-Conference in 2018.
• The Bearkats, who have won four SLC titles in the last four seasons (2016 regular season and conference tournament, 2017 conference tournament, 2018 regular season), were tabbed to repeat in the SLC Preseason Poll entering the 2019 season.
• SHSU is batting .303 as a team and has a 4.86 ERA, compared to opponents' .273 average and 6.13 ERA.
ON STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
• The Lumberjacks enter Wednesday with a 13-12 record.
• SFA is coming off a 1-2 series loss at Central Arkansas in SLC play.
• Freshman right fielder Brandon Uhse leads the team in batting average (.313), while senior third baseman Manny Vasquez holds top marks in slugging percentage (.436), doubles (7) and home runs (3).
• 'Jacks Jake Georgiades (First Team) and Manny Vasquez (Second Team) were named Preseason All-SLC. Georgiades was named All-Conference in 2018.
• SFA, which finished 12th in the league in 2018, was picked 12th in the SLC Preseason Poll entering the 2019 season.
• The 'Jacks are batting .234 as a team and have a 4.92 ERA, compared to opponents' .264 average and 3.20 ERA.
Following Wednesday, the Cougars return to play in The American with a three-game series at Memphis starting Friday.
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.
