April 7, 2008

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston baseball team returns to action at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, when the Cougars square off against No. 8 Texas A&M at Cougar Field.

Houston, which is ranked No. 19 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll, enters Tuesday's contest following a three-game sweep over nationally ranked Conference USA rival UCF. The Cougars' offense pounded the Knights pitching staff, as UH outscored UCF 29-11.

Freshman right-hander Jared Ray will make his sixth start of the season when he takes the mound against Texas A&M. This season, the Waco native has yet to record a decision but has compiled 27 strikeouts and a 6.47 ERA in 32.0 innings of work.

In his last start against No. 12 Rice, Ray allowed three runs in 5.1 innings to help lead the Cougars past the crosstown-rival Owls in the second game of the Silver Glove Series.

Senior first baseman Bryan Pounds is off to a great start at the plate this season, powering the Cougars' offense with team bests in average (.431), home runs (6) and RBI (38).

Pounds has hit safely in 25 of his 27 games this season, including rattling off a career-long, 19-game hitting streak to begin the season. In the weekend sweep of UCF, the Houston native went 5-for -13 with five runs scored and four RBI.

A leadoff hitter for most of last year, senior second baseman Ryan Lormand has emerged as a middle-of-the-order threat the Cougars this season. Lormand is hitting .336, ripping six doubles and blasting two home runs. The Waco native leads the team with 13 stolen bases and is second on the club with 27 RBI.

Last weekend against the Knights, Lormand went 7-for-12 with five runs scored and three runs driven in.

Fans can hear all the action from Tuesday's game live on UHCougars.com with Jeremy Branham calling the play-by-play, while former UH letterwinner Pat Cauley provides the analysis.

Fans also can follow live stats via the Internet by clicking the "GameTracker" link on the UH front page.

Texas A&M leads the all-time series, posting a record of 103-52-1 against Houston. The Cougars will look to snap a three-game home losing streak to the Aggies when the two teams take the field.

Sophomore right-hander Scott Migl is scheduled to start for the Aggies. This season, Migl is 1-1 with a 5.47 ERA, making five starts and fanning 22 batters in 24.2 innings.

Texas A&M is led by seniors Dane Carter and Darby Brown. Carter leads the team with a .452 average, 37 runs scored and 93 total bases. Brown is tops on the club with eight home runs and 39 RBI.