Around
The Bases
Sivadasan
Baseball, at any level, is a simple game.
The object of the sport is to score more runs than the other team by hitting, getting around the bases and crossing home plate.
By that definition, no one in Conference USA has done a better job than UH left fielder Brandon Caraway has this season.
The sophomore has been a catalyst for the Cougar baseball team, leading UH in 11 different offensive categories, including at-bats (187), runs scored (61), hits (64), stolen bases (24) and multi-hit games (19).
"I feel pretty good this year," he said. "Last year, I felt a little bit awkward, being that it was my first year to switch-hit and I'm naturally right-handed. This year I'm playing with a lot more confidence, and I'm doing my job so far."
Caraway's best attribute has been his consistency. His longest stretch without a hit this season has been two games, and he's done it only twice in 48 contests. He's hit a team-best .413 against lefties and has been UH's best clutch hitter, hitting .336 with two outs.
While C-USA is loaded with an abundance of talented outfielders, (UNC Charlotte's James Matan, UAB's Shayne Carnes, Saint Louis' Brett Bredensteiner and Tulane's Jason Sparks and Brian Hughes) Caraway is a sure bet to be on the postseason first- or second-team all-conference roster.
"I'm a competitor, and it's only natural to look at the stats (of other outfielders) and compare yourself," he said. "But I have different assets. I'm not really a power-hitter," he said. "I get on base, steal some bases, make things happen and score some runs."
Rising and Falling
Two teams headed in opposite directions met in Birmingham last weekend with the C-USA-leading Tulane Green Wave sweeping the UAB Blazers.
After starting the season with a conference-best 8-1 record, the Blazers have lost 10 of their last 12 league games to fall into sixth place.
Tulane, however, is playing its best baseball of the season. The No. 18-ranked Green Wave has won five straight and eight of its last 10 games.
Tulane also has the inside track to repeat as regular season champs.
Already leading Houston by one game, the Green Wave plays its remaining six contests at home, where it is 15-3.
C-USA Pitcher of the Week
For the second time this season, UH lefty Shane Nance has been named conference pitcher of the week. The sophomore improved his conference record to 5-1 and lowered his C-USA ERA to 2.25 on Friday night, shutting out the Louisville Cardinals 5-0.
Nance pitched a complete-game three-hitter, striking out a career-high 12 UL batters with eight swinging. In his last six starts, he has gone at least seven innings with an ERA of 1.36.
C-USA Hitter of the Week
Center fielder Mike Medrano is the first Cougar to be named hitter of the week this season.
Medrano batted .444 (8-for-18) with nine RBIs, four doubles and two homers. He led the team in total bases (18) and had a slugging percentage of 1.000 in four games.
His two homers were the game-tying and game-winning shots against the No. 12-ranked Texas A&M Aggies at College Station.
The Numbers Game
Southern Miss senior first baseman Jeremy Schied needs three hits to reach the 300-hit milestone for his career.
UAB senior outfielder Shayne Carnes has tied the Blazers' single-season home run record with 17.
The UNC Charlotte pitching staff has set a new school-record for strikeouts with 409.