Oct. 17, 2012

 

Pairings set for 2013 Houston College Classic

 

The match-ups have been announced for the 2013 Houston College Classic, to be played March 1-3 at Minute Maid Park, the home of the Houston Astros.

 

Local squads from Rice and Houston, both members of Conference USA, will join a pair of state teams and two out-of-state opponents for the six-team event. The other participants include Baylor of the Big 12, Texas A&M of the SEC, North Carolina of the ACC and California of the Pac-12.

 

Baylor was the No. 4 national seed in this past season’s NCAA Tournament. The Bears finished 49-17 overall and 20-4 in the Big 12, capturing the regular season title. Baylor, led by head coach Steve Smith (pictured above), won the Waco Regional and lost in the Waco Super Regional to Arkansas.

 

California posted an overall mark of 29-25 in 2012 and 12-18 in the Pac-12. The Golden Bears finished in a tie for eighth place in the conference standings.

 

Houston went 18-35 overall this past season and 5-18 in Conference USA, finishing in eighth place in the league. The Cougars went 1-2 in the conference tournament.

 

North Carolina was the No. 6 national seed in the 2012 NCAA tourney. The Tar Heels were 46-16 overall and 22-8 in ACC play, finishing first in the Coastal Division. UNC went 2-2 in the Chapel Hill Regional, falling in the championship game to St. John’s.

 

Rice went 41-19 this past season and 17-7 in Conference USA, claiming the regular season crown. The Owls went 1-2 in the Houston Regional, won by Arkansas.

 

Texas A&M begins its first season in the SEC. The Aggies hosted the College Station Regional in 2012, which was won by TCU. Texas A&M was 43-18 overall and 16-8 in its final season in the Big 12, finishing second in the standings.

 

California, North Carolina and Texas A&M all reached the College World Series in 2011.

 

2013 Houston College Classic (Minute Maid Park)

 

Friday, March 1

Baylor vs. California, 12 p.m.

North Carolina vs. Rice, 3:30 p.m.

Houston vs. Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

 

Saturday, March 2

California vs. North Carolina, 12 p.m.

Baylor vs. Houston, 3:30 p.m.

Rice vs. Texas A&M, 7 p.m.

 

Sunday, March 3

California vs. Houston, 11 a.m.

North Carolina vs. Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m.

Baylor vs. Rice, 6 p.m.

 

(photo courtesy of Baylor Media Relations Office)