June 6, 2002

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Houston baseball team begins the 2002 NCAA Super Regional at Austin when it faces Texas at 7 p.m. Friday in game one of the series at Disch-Falk Field.

With a pair of wins over the third-ranked Longhorns this weekend, the Cougars will advance to the NCAA College World Series for the third time in school history but the first time since 1967. UH (47-15) earned its place in the NCAA Super Regional with a convincing sweep of New Mexico State and 15th-ranked and host Arizona State last weekend during the NCAA Regional at Mesa.

It marks the second time in the last three seasons that UH has competed in an NCAA Super Regional. In 2000, UH lost 2-1 to San Jose State in a three-game series at Cougar Field.

Sophomore righthander Brad Sullivan, who was recently named a First-Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine, is scheduled to start game on the mound for the Cougars. On Thursday, Sullivan was also recognized as one of three finalists for the Rotary Smith Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate player.

In 2000, Sullivan has emerged as one of the nation's finest pitchers. The Nederland, Texas, native has compiled a 12-1 record with a 1.93 ERA and a UH single-season record 151 strikeouts in 121.1 innings of work. The Conference USA Pitcher of the Year, Sullivan has also come on strong down the stretch, having allowed only one run in his last 29.0 innings and tossing shutouts in two of his last three starts.

Offensively, the Cougars continue to be lead by junior catcher Chris Snyder, who was drafted in the second round Wednesday by the Arizona Diamondbacks. This season, Snyder has recorded a .347 batting average with 15 home runs and a UH single-season record 70 RBIs.

Junior first baseman Brett Cooley tops the Cougars with 18 home runs, the second-highest total in UH single-season history. Together, Cooley and Snyder have combined to blast 33 home runs, the highest total by a Cougar duo in school history.

Junior shortstop/relief pitcher Jesse Crain is third on the team with 11 home runs and has added a .317 batting average with 47 RBIs.

The Cougars will meet the Longhorns in the NCAA postseason for the eighth time in school history. While UT has posted a 7-4-1 record against UH in those games, the Cougars can boast of the most recent success after taking an 8-5 win over the Longhorns in an elimination game during the 1999 NCAA Regional at Houston.

Offense should be scarce this weekend, as the series features two of the top pitching staffs in the country. UT owns the nation's best ERA with a 2.78 mark, while the Cougars are a close third with its 3.02 ERA.

This will be the second time this season that the Cougars and Texas have met after UT took a 7-6 win during day two of the Astros College Classic on Feb. 9.

Junior southpaw Brad Halsey is tentatively scheduled to start for the Longhorns in game one. This season, Halsey has tallied a 7-2 record with a 2.79 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 96.2 innings.

The Longhorn offense is led by junior outfielder Dustin Majewski, who is hitting .402 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs. Senior first baseman Jeff Ontiveros tops UT with 16 home runs and 51 RBIs.