University of Houston
USF
Preview: at USF*
4/25/2019 6:45:00 PM | Baseball
Friday’s series opener will air on The American Digital Network
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team returns to American Athletic Conference play visiting USF in a three-game series starting Friday.
Friday's game with the Bulls gets underway at 6 p.m. CT, while Saturday's and Sunday's matchups are set for 5:30 p.m. CT and noon CT, respectively.
Friday's tilt will be broadcast on The American Digital Network. ADN games are available on Facebook on the conference's live event page, The American Digital Network Plus.
UP TO THE PLATE
Houston (25-16, 8-7 The American) at USF (19-20, 2-10 The American)
April 26-28 | Tampa, Fla.
G1: Live Stats | American Digital Network | Live Audio
G2: Live Stats | Live Audio
G3: Live Stats | Live Stream | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Houston leads, 28-15
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (3-5, 3.25) vs. USF RHP Baron Stuart (2-2, 5.18)
Saturday: Houston LHP Clay Aguilar (4-3, 3.19) vs. USF RHP Collin Sullivan (3-3, 4.85)
Sunday: Houston TBA vs. USF TBA
SINGLES
• Houston, which is receiving votes in the latest NCBWA Top 30 poll, enters the weekend with a 25-16 overall record and 8-7 mark in The American.
• The Cougars, winners of eight of their last nine games, are coming off a 9-3 win over Sam Houston State on Tuesday at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas, to complete the series sweep of the Don Sanders Cup. At the conclusion of the series Cougars Clay Aguilar, Tyler Bielamowicz, Derrick Cherry, Joe Davis and Jared Triolo were named to the Don Sanders Cup All-Series Team with Triolo being named MVP.
• On Monday, Triolo was named The American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, while junior closer Fred Villarreal was named to the Weekly Honor Roll. Triolo turned in .583/.706/.667 slash, going 7-for-12 with one double, four walks, one hit by pitch, four RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Villarreal posted a 0.00 ERA with two saves across three appearances out of the bullpen.
• On Wednesday, Villarreal was named among 45 players in the Midseason Update for the 15th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, given annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
• Davis is tied for seventh in the nation in home runs (16), tied for 20th in RBI (49) and is 23rd outright in slugging percentage (.690), ranking second in the conference in home runs and RBI. The Austin native also leads the team in walks (29) and on-base percentage (.444), while Triolo holds top marks in batting average (.336), hits (51), runs (33) and doubles (11).
• 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-hander Devon Roedahl leads The American in wins (6), with all coming out of the bullpen.
• Junior right-hander Fred Villarreal is tied for 16th in the country in saves (9) and 21st in ERA (1.65), leading the conference in ERA while tied for the top mark in saves. He also leads the league in appearances (24) and is second in opponent batting average (.192).
• 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 .252 as a team and has a 3.76 ERA, compared to opponents' .233 average and 4.30 ERA.
ON USF
• The Bulls enter the series with a 19-20 overall record and 2-10 mark in The American.
• USF is on a four-game win streak, sweeping The Citadel over the weekend and pickup up a 6-1 win at FGCU on Wednesday.
• Joe Genord leads the Bulls and ranks third in The American in slugging percentage (.688) and home runs (12) and is fourth in RBI (45). He also leads USF in batting average (.348) and doubles (12).
• Collin Sullivan, the projected Saturday starter, is fifth in the league in strikeouts (57) and sixth in opponent batting average (.224).
• The Bulls, who finished 14-9-1 in conference play in 2018, were picked fifth in The American Preseason Poll entering the 2019 season.
• USF is batting .267 as a team and has a 4.61 ERA, compared to opponents' .246 average and 5.08 ERA.
THE AMERICAN STANDINGS
1. ECU, 11-1
2. Tulane, 8-3
3. Houston, 8-7
    Cincinnati, 8-7
5. UConn, 7-8
6. Memphis, 5-6
7. Wichita State, 5-7
8. UCF, 5-10
9. USF, 2-10
ON DECK
Following the series, the Cougars will play their next nine games in the Houston area. After a visit to Rice on May 1, Houston hosts UNLV (May 3-5), FAU (May 8) and Tulane (May 10-12) at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park before facing the Owls in the Silver Glove Series finale on May 14 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
ON DECK
Following the series, the Cougars will play their next nine games in the Houston area. After a visit to Rice on May 1, Houston hosts UNLV (May 3-5), FAU (May 8) and Tulane (May 10-12) at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park before facing the Owls in the Silver Glove Series finale on May 14 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, 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.
