HOUSTON – Highlighted by 32 home games, 38 in the city of Houston, a neutral site matchup against the University of Texas, home contests against Texas A&M and Baylor and three first-time opponents, Houston Baseball and head coach Todd Whitting have unveiled an exciting 2016 schedule, announced Wednesday.
For the 10th consecutive season, Houston will open its slate at Cougar Field. In the five seasons under Whitting, Houston has accumulated a winning record of 14-1 in those season-opening series, which includes four weekend sweeps.
“We are excited about the challenges that are ahead during the 2016 season. Not only will we compete in the American Athletic Conference, which is one of the toughest leagues in the nation (#3 RPI in 2015), but we will once again play an aggressive schedule against non-conference opponents,” Whitting, who will begin his sixth season at the helm said. “With 20 games against 2015 NCAA Regional teams, we must diligently prepare for success during this offseason. We are excited to build off back-to-back 40+ win seasons against some of the best competition in the country.”
Houston will open the season hosting the Big East’s Villanova Feb. 19-21. The Cougars and Wildcats will meet for the first time in the program’s history.
Houston will then play its first 12 games in the city of Houston, and first four at Cougar Field. The Cougars have one scheduled non-conference road series slated, as Houston will travel to face the SEC’s Alabama on March 11-13. The two teams met last season with the Cougars earning a 2-1 series win at Cougar Field.
“I am excited that our team will be in Houston for 38 of our 56 games,” Whitting said. “We have a proud and energetic fan base and I am thrilled they will have the opportunity to see us play numerous times in four different venues in Houston. The passion for our fans and excitement in Houston for University of Houston Athletics is at a very high level and we look forward to the opportunity to showcase our program throughout the season.”
The Cougars will then make its 16th straight appearance in the Houston College Classic, dating back to 2001 when it faces Texas Tech (Feb. 26), Arkansas (Feb. 27) and TCU (Feb 28) at Minute Maid Park.
“The College Classic sets the bar for every tournament in Division I baseball. It will once again have elite competition in a regional-type atmosphere, which I hope will help prepare us for a long postseason run,” Whitting said. “I am appreciative of the Houston Astros organization for not only hosting a great event, but for inviting us back for the 16th straight year.”
Houston will welcome in-state rival, Baylor, for a three-game series at Cougar Field as well as the WAC’s Grand Canyon (March 18-20) and Atlantic 10’s George Washington (March 24-26) during the month of March.
American Athletic Conference play will begin for the Cougars with a road trip to East Carolina (April 1-3), before returning home to host UCF (April 8-10).
A trip to UConn (April 15-17) will be followed by a home series vs. USF (April 23-24), while the final four weekends of American play will consist of two series vs. Tulane (a-April 29-May 1; h-May 19-21), a home series vs. Memphis (May 6-8) and a final regular-season road trip to Cincinnati (May 14-17).
“The American Athletic Conference will once again be one of the premier leagues in Division I baseball. Last year was a banner year in regards to sending four of the eight teams in the league to the postseason,” Whitting said. “I thought we had a couple more that were deserving as well. There are no weekends off in the American and it is a battle each and every week, as we really do not have any weak or underachieving teams at this time. Each institution in our conference is committed to winning at the highest level of college baseball.”
Houston and Rice will meet at three different venues for the third straight season, beginning with a March 22 contest at Cougar Field, followed by a May 10 contest at Reckling Park, on the Rice campus, and a final game on May 17 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas – home of the Sugar Land Skeeters.
The Cougars own the last two Silver Glove Series after earning a 2-1 series win over the Owls last season and sweeping them in 2014.
The city of Houston will be provided with a true Lone Star State showdown when Houston and Texas meet on Tuesday, April 12 for a non-conference midweek game in Sugar Land, Texas at Constellation Field.
The game is a designated home game for the Longhorns with the Cougars serving as the visiting team in the contest.
“Our fans and players have had a great experience playing at Constellation Field the past few years,” Whitting said. “It is a great opportunity for the large number of UH Alumni in Fort Bend County and the surrounding area who may not have had the opportunity to experience a Houston Baseball game against two quality opponents. I am quite sure our fans will show up in full force for an overwhelming UH crowd.”
In midweek play in 2016, Houston will host McNeese State (Feb. 23), UTSA (March 1), Prairie View A&M (March 8), Texas Southern (March 16), Rice (March 22), Texas A&M (March 29), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (April 19), and Sam Houston State (April 26), while making road trips to Lamar (March 15), McNeese State (April 5), Sam Houston State (May 3) and Rice (May 10).
Coming off a 2015 American Athletic Conference regular-season title, the Cougars will participate in the American Athletic Conference Championship set for May 24-29 in Clearwater, Fla., at Bright House Field for the third straight season.
2016 Houston Baseball Schedule (PDF)
