June 2, 2003

HOUSTON - For the third time in the last four years, the University of Houston baseball team has established itself as one of the country's finest collegiate programs.

The Cougars, who clinched a berth in the NCAA Super Regional by sweeping No. 10 Texas A&M at College Station, Texas, late Sunday night, will now meet No. 1 Rice in the NCAA Super Regional at Houston this weekend.

That three-game series begins at 6:05 p.m., Saturday and continues at 2:05 p.m., Sunday. If necessary, game three of the series will be played at 12:05 p.m., Monday. All three games will be held at Rice's Reckling Park with the winner advancing to the NCAA College World Series and a first-round matchup against the winner of the Ohio State-Southwest Missouri State Super Regional.

Saturday's contest will be available on ESPN's Grand Slam package, while the Sunday game will be shown on ESPN2. If necessary, Monday's game will be broadcast on ESPN.

The entire series can be heard live on KAXF 88.3 FM or over the Internet at www.UHcougars.com with pre-game slated to begin about 15 minutes before first pitch. Fans also can view live stats at www.NCAAsports.com.

After losing in the first round to Alabama, the Cougars reeled off four straight wins in two days to clinch their third NCAA Regional title in the last four years. After winning the first game of the day 7-6 against Texas A&M, UH rallied with five runs over the final three innings and took advantage of a key Aggie error to win the championship in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday night.

Junior infielder Cole Bruce, who batted .500 in the tournament with five extra-base hits was named the Regional's Most Outstanding Player, the second year in a row that a Cougar has won that award. Pitcher Ryan Wagner, third baseman Hyung Cho and outfielder Michael Bourn also were named to the All-Tournament Team.

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Tickets to the 2003 NCAA Super Regional at Houston are going quickly, so fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. Tournament booklets, covering all three games of the series if necessary, are available for $33. To place an order, fans should call the UH Ticket Office at 713-GO-COOGS.