http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/...l-preview/
NCAA baseball tournament: Houston Regional preview
Posted on May 25, 2015 | By Joseph Duarte
Cougar Field is hosting the NCAA baseball tournament for the first time since 2000.•
When: Friday through Monday•
Where: Cougar Field (3,500)•
Teams: Houston, Houston Baptist, Louisiana, Rice•
Format: Double-elimination•
What’s at stake: Winner advances to NCAA Super Regional to face winner of the Baton Rouge Regional
Regional schedule
Friday, May 29
Game 1: (2) Rice vs. (3) Louisiana 2:30 p.m. ESPN3
Game 2: (1) Houston vs. (4) Houston Baptist 7 p.m. ESPN3
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loserTBA
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winnerTBA
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loserTBA
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winnerTBA
Monday, June 1*
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loserTBA
All times Central
* If necessary
A Brief look at the four teams participating in the Houston Regional this weekend at Cougar Field:
HOUSTON•
Regional seed: 1•
Coach: Todd Whitting•
Record: 42-18•
Conference: American Athletic Conference (at-large bid)•
Nickname: Cougars•
NCAA postseason appearances: 20•
Last NCAA appearances: 2014•
Against regional field: 2-1 vs. Rice, 0-1 vs. Louisiana, 0-1 vs. Houston Baptist•
Last 10 games: 8-2•
Players to watch: LF Corey Julks (.309, 3 HR, 34 RBIs), 1B Chris Iriart (.306, 14 HRs, 39 RBIs), 2B Josh Vidales (.307, 70 hits, 2 HR, 38 RBIs), RHP Kyle Dowdy (9-2, 2.62 ERA), RHP Andrew Lantrip (8-3, 2.50 ERA), RF Kyle Survance (.301, 2 HR, 33 RBIs, 30-of-38 SBs), DH Jacob Campbell (.303, 5 HR, 40 RBIs), LHP Seth Romero (7-4, 2.15 ERA).•
Team batting average: .271•
Team ERA: 2.99
RICE
Regional seed: 2•
Coach: Wayne Graham•
Record: 35-20•
Conference: Conference USA (at-large bid)•
Nickname: Owls•
NCAA postseason appearances: 21•
Last NCAA appearances: 2014•
Against regional field: 1-2 vs. Houston, 1-0 vs. Houston Baptist•
Last 10 games: 6-4•
Players to watch: DH/C John Clay Reeves (.324, 8 HR, 55 RBIs), 2B Ford Stainback (.336, 72 hits), LF Kirby Taylor (.339, 11 2Bs, 1 HR, 29 RBIs), RHP Jordan Stephens (6-4, 3.12 ERA), LHP Blake Fox (8-2, 3.34 ERA), RHP Matt Ditman (3-3, 2.85 ERA, 10 saves), RHP Austin Orewiler (5-1, 2.63 ERA), RHP Kevin McCanna (7-3, 3.05 ERA), RF Charlie Warren (.330, 62 hits), CF Ryan Chandler (.291, 15 2Bs, 30 RBIs).•
Team batting average: .300•
Team ERA: 3.22
LOUISIANA
Regional seed: 3•
Coach: Tony Robichaux•
Record: 39-21•
Conference: Sun Belt (automatic bid)•
Nickname: Ragin’ Cajuns•
NCAA postseason appearances: 15•
Last NCAA appearances: 2014•
Against regional field: 1-0 vs. UH•
Last 10 games: 8-2•
Players to watch: 2B Stefan Trosclair (.358, 16 HR, 53 RBIs), CF Kyle Clement (.358, 8 HR, 29 RBIs), DH Tyler Girouard (.337, 3 HR, 28 RBIs), SS Blake Trahan (.336, 2 HR, 28 RBIs), LHP Gunner Leger (6-4, 2.95 ERA), RHP Wyatt Marks (6-1, 3.25 ERA), RHP Dylan Moore (3-3, 1.54 ERA, 11 saves), 1B Greg Davis (.253, 7 HR, 37 RBIs).•
Team batting average: .276•
Team ERA: 3.36
HOUSTON BAPTIST•
Regional seed: 4•
Coach: Jared Moon•
Record: 28-25•
Conference: Southland (automatic bid)•
Nickname: Huskies•
NCAA postseason appearances: First•
Against regional field: 1-0 vs. Houston, 0-1 vs. Rice•
Last 10 games: 6-4•
Players to watch: CF Zach Nehrir (.333, 73 hits, 4 HR, 43 RBIs), LHP Matthew Mccullough (8-2, 2.55 ERA), C Samm Wiggins (.325, 62 hits, 15 2Bs, 5 HR, 27 RBIs), RF Thomas Clay (.291, 15-of-15 SBs), 3B/RHP Curtis Jones (.308, 62 hits, 21 RBIs), RHP Taylor Wright (8-6, 2.99 ERA), RHP Dylan Zarosky (0-2, 2.95 ERA, 3 saves), RHP Matt Harding (1-1, 0.74 ERA), 2B Greg Espinosa (.307, 27 RBIs).•
Team batting average: .289•
Team ERA: 3.30