Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Sports

Flores to make comeback vs. Northwestern

by RONNIE TURNER
The Daily Cougar

Sophomore catcher/pitcher Luis Flores has seen action in each of Houston's first 13 games, but has only pitched sparingly while working his way back from an arm injury. Yet, that could all change this weekend.

Flores, who was held back from pitching at the start of the season because of a strained muscle in his right forearm, will likely make his first start of the year when the Cougars (6-7) meet Northwestern State at 7 p.m. Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Cougar Field.

UH head coach Rayner Noble said that Flores would probably receive the start following the righthander's best outing of the season last weekend at the Southwest Diamond Classic. In the Cougars' 7-5 loss to Dallas Baptist, Flores tossed three shutout innings of relief, allowing only two hits and no walks.

"He looked like his old self," Noble said afterwards. "He was getting after it, and he was up to 90 (miles per hour), which was a good sign. We're going to try to get him back into the rotation." 

If given the start, Flores, who was the team's Sunday starter a season ago when he went 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA, would take the spot of freshman southpaw Donnie Joseph, who struggled in his last two starts.

The task of cooling off a hot Northwestern State team won't be an easy one for Flores, or whoever starts for UH. The Demons (4-7, not counting Wednesday's game against Louisiana-Lafayette) swept Grambling State in a three-game series over the past weekend.

Northwestern State put on an offensive clinic against Grambling State, outscoring their opponent 36-11 for the series. 

The Cougars have already experienced that type of embarrassment this season after being outscored 35-18 in a three-game series sweep at the hands of UC-Irvine less than two weeks ago.

The remainder of the three-man weekend rotation will probably stay intact with junior righthander Aaron Brown (1-0, 6.46) and redshirt freshman southpaw Wes Musick (2-2, 5.82).

Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu