Feb. 1, 2008

HOUSTON - University of Houston baseball fans will be able to reminisce about great moments in program history as several notable former Cougars are scheduled to appear during the program's Alumni Game at 1 p.m., Saturday at Cougar Field.

Current Houston Astros righthander Woody Williams, 2006 National Player of the Year Brad Lincoln and 2002 consensus All-American pitcher Brad Sullivan are scheduled to be in attendance during the Alumni Game.

Former Cougar letterwinners will square off against one another during the Alumni Game, beginning at 1 p.m., Saturday. Once the old-timers are finished, fans can catch a glimpse of the 2008 Cougars, who will compete in an intrasquad scrimmage around 2:30 p.m.

Both the Alumni Game and the scrimmage are free and open to the public.

Following the game, fans are invited to a picnic at Cougar Field where they can eat and enjoy good times with current and former Cougar players.

While the game is free and open to the public, fans must pay in advance and make reservations to attend the picnic. Fans who wish to attend the picnic must call or email Brandi Clark (713-743-9456 or brclark2@central.uh.edu). Prices to attend the picnic are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children 12 and under.

Williams, now in his 16th season playing Major League Baseball, was one of the most versatile players in school history. As a letterwinner from 1987 to 1988, Williams saw significant playing time at shortstop and teamed with Mickey House and Ross Goolsby against Texas Southern in 1988 to smash three consecutive home runs.

As a Major Leaguer, Williams has played for the Astros, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays, with whom he won the World Series in 1993. He joins former pitcher Ben Weber as the only former Cougars to compete and win a World Series during his career.

Lincoln lettered from 2004 to 2006 and capped his junior season by becoming one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. As a pitcher, he was a consensus First-Team All-American after compiling a 12-2 record with a 1.69 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 127.2 innings of work.

However, the Clute native also batted .295 with 14 home runs and a team-best 53 RBIs on the way to being named to the All-Conference USA First Team as a DH. He joined former Cougar shortstop/closer Jesse Crain to be named to the league's First Teams at two different positions.

For his impressive efforts, Lincoln was named the national player of the year by four media organizations and received the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy.

Sullivan was a three-year letterwinner from 2002 to 2003 and established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in school history. In 2002, the Nederland native threw to a 13-1 record with a UH single-season record 157 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA in 128.2 innings of work.

He was a consensus First-Team All-American and was named one of three finalists for the R.E. "Bob" Smith Award, given at the time to the nation's top collegiate players.

The Cougars open the 2008 season on Feb. 22-24 when they play host to Pacific in a three-game, non-conference series. That series begins at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 22, continues at 3 p.m., Feb. 23 and wraps up at 1 p.m., Feb. 24.