Even though Easter is on Sunday, the Cougars are hoping not to lay any eggs this weekend.
UH (19-19, 6-3 Conference USA) will try to remain atop the conferece standings as they host a three game series against conference nemesis East Carolina (24-12, 6-6).
The Cougars are in a four-way tie for first place with Memphis, Rice and Southern Miss.
“We are only a couple of weeks into league play, but I couldn’t be happier with where we are at,” head coach Todd Whitting said. “If we didn’t let that game at Marshall slip away from us we would be in first place all by ourselves. The good thing about the position we are in is that we control our own destiny.”
In order to remain at the top of C-USA the Cougars are going to have to have strong performances at the plate and on the mound.
The Cougars’ chances of performing well at the mound will be a bit higher the rest of the season as they welcome back pitcher Jared Ray.
Ray has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since 2009. He sat out the entire 2010 season rehabbing the injury and is primed for a comeback. Ray is scheduled to start on Thursday and is chomping at the bit to get out on the mound.
“I’m just excited,” Ray said. “At one point I thought that I would never pitch again. I’m just excited to be able to be out there and have the opportunity to pitch again.”
Ray is not only excited to get back on the mound, he also believes that he can regain the form that made him a regular Friday night starter in 2009.
“I expect to do well,” he said. “Just because I haven’t pitched in two years doesn’t mean that I forgot how to pitch.
“My expectations for myself are very high and I think that they are realistic. I expect to do well and pick up where I left off.”
Whitting is being cautious with Ray and said that he doesn’t want to rush him.
“Time will tell what Jared brings to us,” Whitting said. “He hasn’t pitched in two years, but hopefully he’ll come out and be that guy that he was.
“His simulated games have gone very well and so have his bullpen sessions, but I want to see how he does in competition. But, it would not surprise me if he goes out there and dominates.”
Ray and the Cougars will face an ECU team that comes to Cougar Field having won three of its last four contests.
The Pirates have a 6-6 record in conference play, but have recorded the second-most total wins in the conference with 25.
Catcher Zach Wright leads the Pirates’ offensive attack. Wright provides the power in the lineup and leads the team in home runs (9), RBI (27), runs scored (30) and slugging percentage (.585).
The Cougars won last seasons series against ECU two games to one, but ECU holds the all-time series lead against UH 18-15.
The series will get started at 6:30 p.m. today at Cougar Field. It will resume at 6:30 p.m. Friday and wrap up at 1 p.m. Saturday.
