Tale of two struggling teams right now as both teams come in losers of 8 of their last 13. Coogs need to win this series badly as UCONN is at home the rest of the way in conference. Also would be nice to get some revenge on them after they beat us 4 times last year, including in the AAC Championship game.
UConn enters the weekend series vs. the Cougars with a 24-18 overall record and a 9-6 mark in league play. The Huskies swept East Carolina and Memphis, won a series over Cincinnati, lost a series at UCF and were swept by Tulane. UConn’s starting pitching is the key to its success, led by the arms of LHP Tim Cate, LHP Mason Feole and RHP Wills Montgomerie. As a staff, the Huskies own a 3.85 ERA with 14 saves three shutouts. UConn has fanned 429 hitters and walked 171 in 369.2 innings thus far. Cate will throw Friday and is 3-3 with a 3.50 ERA in eight starts. He has fanned 67 in 46.1 innings. Feole owns the most wins on the team at 6-1 and owns a 2.93 ERA in 11 appearances and 10 starts. He has fanned 56 in 58.1 innings. Montgomerie leads the league in strikeouts with 90 in 64.1 innings and is 5-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 11 starts. Offensively, UConn is hitting .264 and slugging .361 with 13 home runs, 12 triples and 75 doubles. Leading the way is Willy Yahn, who is hitting .323 with 43 hits and 15 RBI. Zac Susi paces the team with 52 hits and 35 RBI, while hitting .321.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UCONN
Houston and UConn have met just 11 times since the Huskies joined The American back in 2014. The Cougars own a slight 6-5 edge over UConn, but dropped all four games to the Huskies in 2016. Houston swept the 2015 series at home, but UConn took all three in Storrs, CT last year as well as upset the Cougars, 7-2 in the American Championship game on May 29 in Clearwater, Fla.
Grimsley makes his return from his injury as the Coogs (hopefully) start to get healthy. Should help out with outfield defense. Padgett also in the lineup at DH. Only 2 freshmen starting tonight.
Wong C
Lockhart RF
Davis 1B
Scheiner SS
Julks LF
Triolo 3B
Padgett DH
Hollis 2B
Grimsley CF
Bottom 1st
BOOM!!! 1st pitch homerun by Wong…Coogs lead 1-0
Lockhart Ks swinging
Davis bloop single to right
Scheiner singles to center, Davis to 2nd
Julks singles off the 3B, Davis scores, Scheiner to 3rd and Julks to 2nd on throwing error…Coogs lead 2-0
Wild pitch scores Scheiner, Julks to 3rd…Coogs lead 3-0
Triolo Ks swinging
Padgett Ks swinging
T2…UH leads 2-0
Wong 1st Coog since 2008 to hit 10 HR and steal 20 bases in a season (Jake Stewart)
Bottom 4th
Padgett singles to 2nd (no one covered 1st)
Hollis walks on 4 pitches, Padgett to 2nd
Sac bunt, fielder’s choice as throw goes to 3rd, all runners safe - bases loaded
Wong Ks swinging
Lockhart grounds into a fielders choice to 3rd, Padgett out at the plate - bases still loaded
Balk scores Hollis, runners move to 2nd/3rd…Coogs lead 4-0
Penders is arguing the balk call
Davis Ks swinging
Bottom 5th
Scheiner triples to right center
Julks with a deep sac fly to center…Coogs lead 5-0
Triolo flies out to center
Padgett walks
Hollis flies out to center
T6…UH leads 5-0
Coogs have tied the 2nd most hits ever recorded against Cate
Top 6th
Double, Flyout to center moves the runner to 3rd, groundout to short scores the run…Coogs lead 5-1
4 pitch walk and a popout to short ends the inning
