Baseball Opens Play In Conference USA Championship Wednesday
5/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 25, 2010
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team will open play at the 2010 Conference USA Championship at 7 p.m., Wednesday against Marshall at Cougar Field. The Cougars also will play Rice on Thursday and Southern Miss on Friday, with both games starting at 7 p.m.
If Houston wins its pod, the Cougars advance to the championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday. The contest will air live on CBS College Sports. Brent Stover will be calling the play by play and Rex Hudler will serve as the analyst.
Live video and gametracker will be available for all three games of the tournament. The live audio broadcast will also be available through UHCougars.com.
Houston earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament after winning the series against East Carolina last weekend. The Cougars won the first two games of the series to clinch a berth in the six-team tournament.
The Cougars will be making their 14th appearance in the C-USA Championship, where they hold a 31-20 overall record, including taking home the tournament title in 2008, 2000 and 1997. Last season UH finished 2-2 as the No. 4 seed in Hattiesburg, Miss.
The last time the tournament was held at Cougar Field was in 2004 and Houston finished 2-2 that season, while TCU took home the tournament title.
For the first time in the history of the event, the C-USA Championship consists of pool play with each team guaranteed three games. The six teams will be split into two pods with the first pod containing the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 seeds and the second pod having the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 6 seeds.
Each team plays the two other opponents in its pod and one opponent outside of its pod. The team with the best composite record in each pod advances to the championship game.
As the No. 5 seed, Houston will meet Marshall in the opening round of competition. The Thundering Herd is the No. 4 seed, after finishing 12-12 in C-USA. Earlier in the season, UH won the series against Marshall, 2-1, and improved to 15-3 all-time against the Thundering Herd.
Michael Goodnight will make the start on the mound for the Cougars. The sophomore is 6-7 in 15 starts this season, with a 5.45 ERA and a team-high 83 strikeouts.
The Thundering Herd will start Arik Sikula in the opener. Sikula went 5.1 innings against UH earlier this season, surrendering six runs on eight hits and collecting the loss in the series finale on May 16. He is 6-4 on the season with a team-low 3.33 ERA.
The Cougars continue play against top seeded Rice on Thursday, with William Kankel earning the start against the Owl's Mike Ojala. The senior from Houston is 3-6 with a 6.38 ERA in nine starts this season. Kankel went 3.2 innings earlier this year in a loss to Rice, allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Ojala made the start for Rice in the series finale on April 3. He pitched just 1.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits.
Houston will be looking to record its first win against the Owls this season, as their cross-town rivals swept the C-USA series at Reckling Park and won both mid week games as part of the annual Silver Glove Series.
The Owls lead the all-time series 82-64.
The final game of pool play will see the Cougars take on No. 2 seed Southern Miss. Pitchers for both teams have yet to be determined. UH was swept in the series against the Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg, Miss., on April 21-23.
The all-time series stands at 24-23 in Southern Miss' favor.
CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Houston Athletics Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or at UHCougars.com. Fans also can visit the Athletics Ticket Office on the first floor of the Athletics/Alumni Center from 8 a.m., to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
All-Session tickets (100 Level) are on sale now for only $95 with All-Session general admission (200 Level) tickets selling for $75.
Day Passes and single-session tickets go on sale at 8 a.m., Tuesday. Day Passes will cost $35 for reserved seating and $25 for general admission. Single-session tickets can be purchased for $15 for adult reserved tickets and $12 adult/$8 youth for general admission.
Fans can buy tickets for Saturday's Championship game for $20 for adult reserved tickets and $15 adult/$12 youth for general admission.
Students from all C-USA schools are admitted free with a valid school ID.
All-Session Tickets * On Sale Now
Reserved Seating (100 Level) * $95
General Admission (200 Level) * $75
Day Passes * On sale at 8 a.m., Tuesday
Reserved Seating * $35
General Admission * $25
Single-Session Tickets * On sale at 8 a.m. Tuesday
Adult Reserved * $15
Adult General Admission * $12
Youth General Admission * $8
Saturday Championship Tickets
Adult Reserved * $20
Adult General Admission * $15
Youth General Admission * $12
