Stephen F. Austin
Houston
'Jacks Back at Jaycees Field for Wednesday Matinee Matchup against Houston
3/26/2019 2:11:00 PM | Baseball
SFA and Houston meet for first time since 2012
Game Twenty-Six
SFA (13-12) vs. Houston (11-12)
Wednesday, March 27 | 2:00 p.m. | Jaycees Field (1,000) | Nacogdoches, Texas
Watch (Facebook Live) | Live Stats | Weather Forecast
Pitching Matchup | RHP Trayson Kubo (0-0, 6.35 ERA) vs. TBA
LEADOFF HITS
• For the first time in seven years, the SFA baseball team prepares for a matchup against in-state rival Houston when the Cougars head north to Nacogdoches. First pitch in Wednesday afternoon's non-conference matchup at Jaycees Field is set for 2:00 p.m. as the 'Jacks go in search of their second-straight non-conference triumph.
• Sophomore outfielder Jared Martin heads into Wednesday's matinee matchup armed with a team-leading eight-game hitting streak. The second-year man leads the 'Jacks in runs scored (15), walks (13) and on-base percentage (.388) while also being one of five players on the squad with 10 or more RBI.
• Freshman outfielder Brandon Uhse leads SFA in batting average (.313) and hits (30) entering Wednesday's non-conference outing. The Grand Prairie, Texas, product is riding a four-game hitting streak and has notched two hits in each of his last two outings. His nine multi-hit games are the most by an SFA player this season.
• Junior right-hander Alex Palmer leads the team and ranks second in the Southland with 50 strikeouts on the year so far. Those 50 punchouts are the 24th-most by any NCAA Division I pitcher so far this season.
• Palmer's 11.74 strikeouts per nine innings average ranks as the best in the Southland and the 71st-highest nationally.
• SFA's pitching staff has posted a pair of shutouts in 2019. That's tied for the most in the Southland and the 34th-most in the nation.
• Through their first 25 games of the season, the 'Jacks rank third in the Southland and 74th across the national scene with a fielding percentage of .974.
• Eleven of the 'Jacks' 13 wins have come by three runs of less and those saves have been split up among four pitchers. Jesus Gamez and Jeremy Rodgiruez - who leads the Southland and ranks 18th nationally with 13 appearances - each have four saves to their credit while senior Tyler Starks has three.
SERIES HISTORY | SFA vs. HOUSTON
Record vs. Houston | 3-31 (.088)
Streak | Houston won four
In Nacogdoches, Texas | 2-12 (.556)
Streak | Houston won four
In Houston, Texas | 1-18 (.583)
Streak | Houston won one
At neutral sites | 0-1 (.000)
Streak | Houston won one
Last meeting | SFA 5, UH 6 (2/25/12)
SFA runs/per game | 100/3.4
UCA runs/per game | 252/7.4
Last UH win | UH 6, SFA 5 (2/25/12)
Last SFA win | at UH 7, SFA 11 (4/21/09)
SCOUTING HOUSTON | ROSTER | SCHEDULE | STATISTICS
• The Cougars' visit to Nacogdoches is the team's first since 2010 and signals the start of a stretch of five consecutive road contests for Houston.
• Three of Houston's next six contests will be against Southland adversaries as the Cougars are set to host Sam Houston State Tuesday before heading up to Nacogdoches. Houston's five-game road trip concludes with a stop in Beaumont, Texas, to battle Lamar on Tuesday, April 2.
• Wednesday afternoon's matchup with SFA represents the Cougars' fifth true road game this season. Houston is 2-2 on the road and 10-9 against non-conference foes so far in 2019. Six of the Cougars' last eight non-conference games have resulted in wins for Houston.
• First baseman Joe Davis represents one of the best batters in the American Athletic Conference. The senior leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage with his slash line of .333/.424/.718 and has belted eight of the team's 17 homers and six of its 24 doubles.
• Davis ranks 14th nationally in total homers and leads the AAC while ranking 38th in the land in RBI with 27.
• Jared Triolo is tied for the team lead in walks (12) and leads the Cougars with 15 runs scored. He's one of just three Houston players who have scored over seven runs this season.
• Fred Villareal has been the Cougars' most effective arm out of the bullpen having notched three of the team's five saves as well as two of its 11 wins. His 1.05 ERA is a staff-best.
ON DECK
• SFA's next six Southland Conference games will be played at Jaycees Field and that stretch starts Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. when the 'Jacks tangle with Southeastern Louisiana in game one of the three-game set between the clubs. The series with the Lions is presented by Grease Monkey and Excel Car Wash.
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