University of Houston
No. 29 Sam Houston State
Preview: at Sam Houston State, Tuesday
4/8/2019 3:42:00 PM | Baseball
Cougars, Bearkats meet for Game 2 of Don Sanders Cup
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team steps out of American Athletic Conference play with a visit to Sam Houston State on Tuesday in Huntsville, Texas.
First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium, and the game with the Bearkats marks the second 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.
The Cougars defeated SHSU, 2-1, on March 26. The game marked the 300th career win for Head Coach Todd Whitting.
UP TO THE PLATE
Houston (17-15, 3-6 The American) at Sam Houston State (20-9, 12-3 Southland)
April 9 | Don Sanders Stadium | Huntsville, Texas
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Live Audio
All-Time Series: Houston trails, 83-84
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Tuesday: Houston TBA vs. SHSU TBA
SINGLES
• Houston, embarking on a four-game road swing, enters Tuesday with a 17-15 overall record.
• The Cougars are coming off 3-2 week. Houston defeated Lamar, 8-7, on Tuesday in Beaumont, Texas, and FIU, 5-4, in walk-off fashion on Wednesday before taking the series opener against then No. 11 ECU, 2-0, on Friday.
• 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 fifth in the nation in home runs (13) and 20th in in RBI (39), ranking second in the conference in both categories. He is also 26th in the NCAA in slugging percentage (.697). The Austin native also leads the team in batting average (.322), hits (37), walks (18) and on-base percentage (.415), while he and junior third baseman Jared Triolo hold the top mark in doubles (7).
• 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 31st in the NCAA in wins (5), with all coming out of the bullpen.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Fred Villarreal leads conference in ERA (1.32) and appearances (18), and is tied for first in saves (6). He is also second in the league in opponent batting average (.183).
• 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 .236 as a team and has a 4.05 ERA, compared to opponents' .233 average and 3.95 ERA.
ON SAM HOUSTON STATE
• The Bearkats enter the week with a 20-9 record.
• SHSU, who is No. 29 in the Collegiate Baseball Top 30, is coming off a series sweep of Lamar in Southland Conference action winning 15-6, 6-5 and 8-4.
• Sophomore right fielder Jack Rogers was named the SLC Hitter of the Week on Monday. After recording a walk and an RBI double against Rice on Tuesday, Rogers hit safely in his first three at-bats in the series opener against Lamar, highlighting the game with an inside-the-park home run. In Saturday's doubleheader, Rogers hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth of first game and followed with a 2-for-5 effort in the series finale.
• Rogers is tied for the SLC lead in doubles (12) and is third in slugging percentage (.613). Senior designated hitter Jordan Cannon (.400) and freshman third base Colton Cowser (.385) ranks second and third in the SLC in batting average. Cannon is also second in on-base percentage (.490), while Cowser is also third in RBI (33).
• 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 .306 as a team and has a 4.73 ERA, compared to opponents' .277 average and 6.06 ERA.
Following Tuesday, the Cougars return to play in The American with a three-game series at Wichita State 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.
