Preview: at Wichita State*

Friday, April 12

Wichita, Kan.

6:00 p.m.

University of Houston

Wichita State

Tickets

4/11/2019 3:08:00 PM | Baseball

Cougars make first trip to Wichita, Kan., since 1996

By: Kyle Rogers

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team returns to American Athletic Conference play visiting Wichita State in a three-game series in Wichita, Kan., starting Friday.

Friday's game with the Shockers gets underway at 6 p.m., while Saturday's and Sunday's matchups are set for 2 p.m. and noon, respectively.

The series marks Houston's first visit to Wichita, Kan., since 1996.

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (2-4, 3.64) vs. WSU RHP Preston Snavely (3-2, 4.67)
Saturday: Houston LHP Clay Aguilar (2-3, 3.52) vs. WSU RHP Liam Eddy (3-3, 4.70)
Sunday: Houston TBA vs. WSU TBA

SINGLES
• Houston enters the weekend with an 18-15 overall record and 3-6 mark in The American.
• The Cougars are coming off a 12-7, Tuesday win at No. 29 Sam Houston State to clinch the Don Sanders Cup, Houston's first series win in the three-year history of the trophy.
• Last weekend, Houston went 1-2 against then No. 11 ECU at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park. On Friday against the Pirates, junior southpaw Lael Lockhart Jr. picked up the win behind a career-long seven and two-third innings pitched. The native of Friendswood, Texas, carried a no-hit bid two outs into the fifth inning, and after a Pirate reached on an error in the top of the first, Lockhart Jr. didn't allow a base runner to get to second base until the eighth inning. For his efforts, he was named to The American Weekly Honor Roll on Monday.
• Senior first baseman Joe Davis is tied for fourth in the nation in home runs (14) and 18th in in RBI (40), ranking second in the conference in both categories. He is also 20th in the NCAA in slugging percentage (.697). The Austin native also leads the team in batting average (.328), hits (39), walks (19) and on-base percentage (.421).
• Davis was named to the Midseason Perfect Game/Rawlings All-America Second Team on April 3. The midseason honor is the first for the Cougars since D1Baseball and Perfect Game tabbed Jake Scheiner to the First Team in 2017.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Devon Roedahl leads The American and is tied for 34th in the NCAA in wins (5), with all coming out of the bullpen.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Fred Villarreal leads the conference in ERA (1.26) and appearances (19), and is tied for first in saves (7). He is also second in the league in opponent batting average (.184).
• 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 .239 as a team and has a 4.03 ERA, compared to opponents' .233 average and 3.92 ERA.

ON WICHITA STATE
• The Shockers enter the weekend with an 18-15 overall record and 3-3 mark in The American.
• WSU fell 1-0 to Oklahoma State on Wednesday to open a eight-game homestand.
• Senior second baseman Luke Ritter leads The American in on-base percentage (.500) and is third in batting average (.386) and runs scored (35), and fourth in hits (49). He and redshirt senior shortstop Jordan Boyer co-lead the league in hit by pitch (11), while Boyer is second in batting average (389).
• Ritter was named to The American Preseason All-Conference Team.
• The Shockers, who finished 9-14-1 in conference play in 2018, were picked seventh in The American Preseason Poll entering the 2019 season.
• ECU is batting .295 as a team and has a 3.34 ERA, compared to opponents' .228 average and 5.77 ERA.

ON DECK
Following the weekend, the Cougars return to Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park for a four-game homestand.

Houston will host Texas A&M on Tuesday, in a game presented by ICON Information Consultants, before hosting Cincinnati in a three-game series running Thursday-Saturday. Any kid that wears their baseball uniform to Friday's game against the Bearcats will get free admission, while parents can buy tickets for $3.

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.