Anna Sivadasan
Staff Writer
After playing six of its first 15 games against top 20 teams, the Houston Cougar baseball team (7-8) will resume its difficult schedule when it confronts the No. 20-ranked Michigan Wolverines for a three-game series starting at 7 p.m. today at Cougar Field.
The starting rotation for this weekend's games will be lefty Shane Nance tonight, righty Duncan McAdoo on Saturday and lefty Jon McDonald on Sunday.
The three have combined to win their last four starts.
"With those three starters on the mound, if they pitch like they've been pitching, we should be okay," said Cougar head coach Rayner Noble.
UH struggled to a 1-7 record at the start of the season, but has since regrouped to win four straight and six of its last seven games.
For the first time this season, the Cougar arms and bats are performing well at the same time.
"From one to nine, we're finally playing together as a team," said left fielder Brandon Caraway. "We're confident at the plate, we're getting good starts, and our bullpen's getting a lot of rest."
The team's turnaround has been marked by good hitting and improved overall pitching.
In its first eight games, the staff ERA was a dismal 10.34. However, during the last seven games, the pitching staff has compiled a record of 6-1 and an outstanding 2.57 ERA.
"Our pitching is starting to come around," Nance said. "Some of the younger guys are getting some innings and they're finally starting to relax on the mound."
The UH offense has also been a bright spot during the winning stretch, averaging a little over nine runs per game.
The red-hot Cougar bats have been led by junior catcher Bruce Rios. On his eight-game winning streak, Rios is batting .448 with 13 hits, 15 RBIs, four doubles and five home runs.
Because of shoulder problems, Rios has been limited to the designated hitter's role, which he said has helped his offensive game.
"It helps to just concentrate on the hitting and not worry about what the pitching staff is doing during the game," he said.
Michigan has started its season with a tough stretch of games. The Wolverines are currently on a 16-day, 13-game road trip through Texas.
UM split two games this week in College Station against No. 11 Texas A&M. Michigan played Rice Thursday at Cameron Field. The Wolverines were 4-4-1 heading into the Rice game.
Returning starters include first baseman Bryan Besco, outfielder Derek Besco and third baseman Mike Cervenak.
The Besco brothers co-lead the team with eight RBIs, and Cervenak is hitting a team-best .439 with three homers. He was also on an 11-game hitting streak (including two games last season) before the Rice game.
The Cougars lead the all-time series 5-1. The last time the two schools met was in 1996, when UH swept a four-game series at Cougar Field.