University of Houston
No. 16 TCU
Preview: at Shinrers College Classic
2/28/2019 6:36:00 PM | Baseball
Cougars to play TCU, Texas State and Texas A&M as part of all-Texas Field
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Baseball team opens its road schedule participating in the 2019 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic starting Friday at Minute Maid Park.
The Cougars will play three games with one per day across the weekend, facing TCU at 3 p.m. on Friday, with bouts against Texas State and Texas A&M at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Due to construction at Minute Maid Park, the only fan entrance for the weekend will be the South Home Plate Entrance, located at 1701 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 77002. Additionally, in anticipation of larger crowds on Saturday, the Astros will also open up the Right Field Entrance.
For fans viewing from home, all nine games will be televised by AT&T SportsNet, the television home of the Houston Astros, and streamed on the AT&T SportsNet app. Fans are asked to check local listings for more information.
There are also many ways to stream all nine games live and for free. The games will be streamed on MLB.com, Astros.com and the MLB At Bat app. Additionally, the games will be available live on the Astros YouTube channel and the official social media accounts of the Astros, including Facebook Live and Twitter.
COLLEGE CLASSIC HISTORY
Houston is making its 18th appearance in College Classic. With 2017 being the only year the Cougars did not participate, Houston is 20-31 all-time in the tournament and has seen 30 players named to the All-Tournament Team.
UP TO THE PLATE
Houston (4-3) at Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic
March 1-3 | Minute Maid Park | Houston
TV: AT&T SportsNet/MLB.com
Live Audio
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
FRIDAY: Houston LHP Tyler Bielamowicz (0-0, 4.32) vs. TCU LHP Nick Lodolo (0-2, 3.00)
SATURDAY: Houston RHP Ryan Randel (1-0, 1.64) vs. Texas State RHP Hunter McMahon (1-1, 5.73)
SUNDAY: Houston LHP Lael Lockhart Jr. (0-1, 6.75) vs. Texas A&M LHP Jonathan Childress (0-1, 2.79)
SINGLES
• Houston is coming off a 2-1 series win over then No. 24 Arizona at Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park. The Cougars knocked off the nationally-ranked Wildcats, 2-1 and 9-7, before falling 9-4 in the series finale.
• Senior first baseman Joe Davis was named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. Across four games (McNeese, series vs. Arizona), the Austin native went 6-for-17 with two doubles, three home runs, three walks, seven RBI and four runs scored.
• Davis leads the Cougars with a .333/.455/.889 slash, totaling seven extra-base hits, with three doubles and four home runs, across the team's seven games.
• Davis' four home runs and freshman second baseman Brad Burckel's five hit by pitch rank eighth and 12th in the nation, respectively.
• Davis and junior third baseman Jared Triolo have reached base in all seven games to start the season.
• Junior right-handed pitcher Fred Villarreal is tied for the nation's lead with a 0.00 ERA out of the bullpen. Villarreal has scattered four hits while recording two walks to eight strikeouts across 10 and one-third innings.
• Roedahl leads the team with a 2-0 record. He picked up both victories over Northwestern State, tossing three scoreless innings to co-lead the nation with two wins after Opening Weekend. His two wins currently rank eighth nationally.
• Houston is batting .239 as a team and has a 4.50 ERA, compared to opponents' .217 average and 4.05 ERA.
ON TOURNAMENT OPPOSITION
• The all-Texas field features Houston facing off with TCU, Texas State and Texas A&M. Baylor and Rice are also in the tournament, but will not matchup with the Cougars.
• TCU comes into the weekend with a 5-2 record and is coming off a Wednesday game at Sam Houston State that was called in the second inning due to excessive fog.
• The Horned Frogs, which check in as high as No. 16 in the polls, were picked third and garnered one first-place vote in the Big 12 Preseason Poll.
• TCU is batting .311 as a team and have a 3.19 ERA, compared to opponents' .221 average and 6.67 ERA.
• Texas State, who plays Rice on Friday, enters with a 5-3 record and is coming off a 12-5 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday.
• The Bobcats were tabbed to finish second in the West Division according to the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll.
• Texas State is batting .293 as a team and has a 4.44 ERA, compared to opponents' .264 average and 7.10 ERA.
• Texas A&M, who plays Baylor and TCU prior to its meeting with Houston, enters with an 8-2 record and is coming off a 6-5 loss to Incarnate Word on Wednesday.
• The Aggies, who rank No. 23 in the country according to Collegiate Baseball, were picked to finish fifth in the Western Division of the SEC Preseason Poll.
• Texas A&M is batting .242 as a team and has a 2.40 ERA, compared to opponents' .206 average and 5.82 ERA.
TICKETS
Adult and youth daily tickets and three-day tournament passes are available online at Astros.com/CollegeClassic. Fans can purchase premium tickets or group tickets, for groups of 20 or more, by calling 713-259-8030.
Daily tickets purchased in advance are available for $20 for adults and $10 for youth (ages 14 and under). Three-day tournament passes can be purchased for $42 for adults and $24 for youth. Select parking in the Astros controlled lots will be sold for $25 and $20 (Diamond and Lot A).
ON DECK
Following the College Classic, the Cougars return to Don Sanders Field at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park to host Rice in the first game of the Silver Glove Series. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. with gates opening at 4:30 p.m.
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.
