Preview: at Memphis*

Friday, March 29

Memphis, Tenn.

6:00 p.m.

University of Houston

Memphis

Tickets

3/28/2019 6:12:00 PM | Baseball

Cougars return to American Athletic Conference play after two midweek games

By: Kyle Rogers

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team continues American Athletic Conference play visiting Memphis in a three-game series in Memphis, Tenn., starting Friday.

Due to inclement weather forecasted on Saturday, the two teams will play a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Friday. Game two of the doubleheader will begin 45 minutes after the first game ends.

Sunday's series finale is as initially scheduled and will get underway at 1 p.m. at FedExPark.

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (1-3, 3.58) vs. Memphis LHP Hunter Smith (2-3, 5.34)
Saturday: Houston RHP Ryan Randel (2-1, 3.09) vs. Memphis RHP Alex Hicks (2-2, 2.83)
Sunday: Houston TBA vs. Memphis LHP Chris Durham (1-1, 5.40)

SINGLES
• Houston, in the midst of 10 games in 13 days, enters the weekend with a 13-11 overall record and 1-2 mark in The American.
• The Cougars are coming off a pair of midweek wins, defeating Sam Houston State, 2-1, on Tuesday at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park and at Stephen F. Austin, 16-1, in seven innings on Wednesday in Nacogdoches, Texas.
• Tuesday's win against the Bearkats marked the 300th career victory for Head Coach Todd Whitting.
• On Wednesday at SFA, the Cougars scratched across 16 runs on 17 hits. Senior first baseman Joe Davis went 4-for-5 with two multi-run home runs, six RBI and two runs scored. The four hits and six RBI each tied career highs, while the multi-homer performance is the first for Houston since Davis hit two at UConn on May 11, 2018.
• Also against the Lumberjacks, senior left fielder Grayson Padgett went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI and four runs scored. The four hits and four runs scored were career highs.
• Davis leads The American in RBI (33, tied for 13th in the country) and is second in home runs (10, tied for 10th in the country) and third in slugging percentage (.733, 17th in the country). The Austin native also leads the team in batting average (.349) and on-base percentage (.436).
• Junior third baseman Jared Triolo leads the team in runs scored (17) and is tied with Davis for the top mark in walks (13).
• 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 (0.98) and is tied for third in saves (4).
• 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 .226 as a team and has a 3.80 ERA, compared to opponents' .228 average and 3.95 ERA.

ON MEMPHIS
• The Tigers enter the weekend with an 11-12 overall record and 1-2 mark in The American.
• Senior left fielder Payton Marshall leads the team in batting average (.359), while freshman designated Hunter Goodman holds top marks in hits (34), doubles (10) and RBI (21).
• Two-way player Colton Neel co-leads the team in ERA (0.00) while holding down closer duties with four saves.
• The Tigers, who finished 5-19 in the league in 2018, were picked ninth in The American Preseason Poll entering the 2019 season.
• Memphis is batting .275 as a team and has a 4.86 ERA, compared to opponents' .264 average and 5.24 ERA.

ON DECK
Following the weekend, the Cougars will close their five-game road swing in a 6 p.m., Tuesday bout with 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.