Preview: Opening Weekend vs. Youngstown State

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball program opens its 2020 campaign hosting Youngstown State in a three-game series starting Friday at Sanders Field at Schroeder Park.

Games on Friday and Saturday get underway at 6:30 p.m., while the Sunday finale is slated for noon. Fans should note Sunday's first pitch was moved up an hour than listed on printed materials. Gates open two hours prior to first pitch for every game.

Friday night marks "Love at First Pitch" at the ballpark. Fans have the opportunity to purchase a BOGO (Buy One Get One) ticket plan that comes with a stuffed cougar doll for $15 by clicking HERE. In addition, the first 100 fans through the gate will receive a signed valentine from members of the team.

Prior to first pitch Friday, fans are asked to join the Cougars, as well as other college programs around the nation in 14 seconds of silence in remembrance of former Houston letterwinner and assistant coach John Altobelli. On Jan. 26, tragedy struck the University of Houston family, as Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, were passengers in the helicopter accident that claimed nine lives.

PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS (2019 STATISTICS)
Friday: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (4-6, 3.58) vs. YSU LHP Colin Clark (1-9, 7.00)
Saturday: Houston LHP Clay Aguilar (6-4, 3.06) vs. YSU LHP Collin Floyd (injured in 2019 – 3-8, 4.41 in 2018)
Sunday: Houston TBD vs. YSU RHP Travis Perry (2-5, 6.89)

SINGLES
• The series marks the 15th straight year the Cougars have hosted games during Opening Weekend. Houston is 31-14 in that span.
• Under Head Coach Todd Whitting, the program is 24-3 during Opening Weekend, sweeping six of the nine series it has played.
• Whitting is in his 10th season at the helm of his alma mater. With 320 wins, he ranks fourth all time in program history behind only Lovette Hill (343-325), Rolan Walton (378-235-5) and Rayner Noble (551-420).
• On Feb. 3, the program announced it would pay tribute to the Altobelli family by wearing a decal "JKA ALTO" with each of their initials on their batting helmets throughout the 2020 season.
• The Cougars enter 2020 ranked No. 35 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Fabulous 40 and are receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• Houston returns 18 letterwinners and welcome 17 newcomers to the fold on its 2020 squad. Of those, five offensive starters and two weekend starting pitchers are back from a season ago.
• Entering 2020, pitchers junior Clay Aguilar and senior Lael Lockhart Jr. were tabbed to The American Athletic Conference Preseason Team. Aguilar, who was named to The American All-Conference First Team last season, posted a 6-4 record with a 3.06 ERA across 16 appearances with 13 starts. Lockhart Jr. was a 4-6 record with a 3.58 ERA across 15 starts.
• Houston was picked second in The American 2020 Preseason Poll released on Dec. 30. The Cougars finished with 54 points and three first-place votes, second only to ECU, which garnered 62 points and six total votes.
• The Cougars finished with a 32-24 overall record and 12-12 mark in The American in 2019.

ON YOUNGSTOWN STATE
• The Penguins enter 2020 coming off a 13-41 season in 2019.
• Senior infielder Blaze Glenn, senior pitcher Collin Floyd and junior utility player Jeff Wehler were named Top Players to Watch in the Horizon League by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
• Penguins Wehler, Glenn, Floyd, junior pitcher Colin Clark and junior outfielder Dominick Bucko were ranked among D1Baseball's top-20 2020 draft prospects for 2020. In addition, outfielder Turner Grau was named among the website's top-10 impact freshmen.
• Youngstown State was picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll.
• The Penguins are led by fourth year Head Coach Dan Bertolini. He is 46-119 at the helm.

ON DECK
Following the series, the Cougars will take part in the inaugural Round Rock Classic. Taking place Feb. 21-23, at Dell Diamond, home of the Astros' Triple-A affiliate Round Rock Express, Houston will face Stanford, Tennessee and Texas Tech in a round-robin format.

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets for the 2020 University of Houston Baseball season are on sale, and fans have the opportunity to renew and/or purchase tickets to games Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park starting for $100.

Those interested in purchasing their season tickets can do so by visiting UHCougars.com/Tickets, calling Houston Athletics Ticketing at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647), or visiting the Ticket Office located just outside of Gate 1 (northeast corner) of TDECU Stadium. For more, click HERE.

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.

– UHCougars.com –

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Lael Lockhart Jr.

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