Month: February 2025

Early Lead Erased, Houston Drops Opener at UT Arlington

Connor McGinnis waits to bat in the first inning Friday during a mound visit.

A big first inning advantage for Houston was not enough to outlast UT Arlington at Clay Gould Ballpark Friday afternoon as the Cougars dropped the game 7-4.

The game opened with great promise as a Tre Broussard walk was followed by a walk to Cade Climie . . . Connor McGinnis got the scoring started with a single that plated Broussard and kept the line moving for the Cougars offense . . . With one out, Carsten Sabathia emptied the bases with a double to the left field wall and the Mavericks went to the bullpen trailing 3-0.

UT Arlington quickly returned the favor and scored three runs to tie the game and force Houston to its bullpen in the first inning as well . . . Andres Perez took the mound with the bases loaded and one out and got a swinging strikeout and a pop-up on the infield to prevent further damage.

The Mavericks took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the second inning . . . That score remained until the top of the fourth inning when the Cougars scored their final run of the afternoon.

Sabathia (2-for-4) led off the frame with a single, which was followed by an Aaron Lugo single . . . After a Malachi Lott sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position, catcher Riley Jackson lifted a fly ball to left field which allowed Sabathia to cross the plate and get Houston to within a run, 5-4.

The Mavericks added a run in the fourth inning and another in the sixth inning to eventually walk away winners in game one of the weekend series.

Sabathia and Lugo accounted for four of the eight Houston hits in the game, both players went 2-for-4 . . . The Cougars used four pitchers in relief on Friday, the four had to carry the game for the final 8 2/3 innings.

The season is young and the coaches do want to get a look at some of the equally young pitchers on the staff, perhaps some who have not seen action yet this season . . . Paul Schmitz and Graysen Drezek will start the next two game, respectively, and both have proven that when effective, they can give the Cougars sone distance into a game, they might need to do that to avoid depleting the bullpen, especially with back-to-back midweek games ahead this next week

The Cougars will get right back to work on Saturday when they continue the series in Arlington with a first pitch set for 2pm . . . As already referenced, right-hander Schmitz will be on the mound for Houston.

. . .

Cougars Rally in the Eighth, Top Sam Houston 4-3

Kendall Hoffman made the midweek start to open the Don Sanders Cup Series.

Houston used a two-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning to take game one of the Don Sanders Cup Series over Sam Houston on Tuesday night at Schroeder Park.

The Bearkats plated runs in each of the first two innings to build an early lead on Houston starter Kendall Hoffman who was making his first start in a Houston uniform . . . The first run was unearned, the result of a one-out error that later came around to score.

Malachi Lott got Houston on the board with a home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning, it was Lott’s first home run of the season, this one coming against his team of just a year ago.

Connor McGinnis turned the same feat as Lott an inning later when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a home run over the right field . . . McGinnis has homered in back-to-back games.

Still trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Tre Broussard reached base when a fly ball to the left field corner was dropped, and Broussard ended up at second base on the error . . . Cade Climie batted next and walked to put two runners on base with no outs . . . With two outs, Carsten Sabathia doubled to left-center field to plate two runs and the Cougars held their first lead of the night, 4-3.

Richie Roman took the mound in the top of the ninth inning holding a one-run lead . . . Roman worked around two singles, striking out two on the way to closing out the victory . . . Roman earned the Save, his fifth of the season, he has earned the Save in all five of the Houston wins this season.

Hoffman pitched three innings to open the game and retired the final six batters he faced . . . Left-hander Chris Perez pitched a scoreless sixth inning in relief, striking out the side and working around an error behind him.

Defensively, Aaron Lugo made two outstanding plays at second base, one in the fourth inning and another in the fifth inning.

Houston (5-2) has a day off prior to traveling north to Arlington on Thursday before opening a weekend series against UT Arlington on Friday . . . First pitch from Arlington is set for 4pm.

. . .

Houston Takes Road Series at Cal, Wins Sunday 7-4

Houston closed out its weekend road trip at Cal on Sunday with a win.

Houston is leaving Berkeley with a series win after topping California 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at Stu Gordon Stadium to close out their first road trip of the season.

With the game still scoreless, center fielder Tre Broussard led off the top of the third inning by hitting his first home run in a Houston uniform, this one to right field.

The Golden Bears got a run right back in their half of the third inning when an error at shortstop led to an unearned run against Cougars starter Graysen Drezek to tie the game.

Still squared at one in the top of the fifth inning, Tyler Cox, batting in the nine spot, got the inning started with a single up the middle . . . A single by Broussard moved Cox to third base and Cal went to their bullpen . . . Broussard promptly stole second base after the pitching change before Cade Climie homered over the left field wall, the three-run blast gave Houston a 4-1 lead.

A walk to Connor McGinnis followed by a throwing error by the pitcher moved him along to third base . . . Carsten Sabathia lifted a fly ball to left field and McGinnis crossed the plate as the fourth run of the inning on the sacrifice fly and Houston pushed its lead to 5-1.

Drezek departed after five innings having allowed just two hits and no earned runs . . . Drezek faced the minimum in three of his five innings pitched.

“Drez is reaping the benefits of a kid who works extremely hard and deserves success,” head coach Todd Whitting said after the game about the starting effort by his big right-hander. 

“I’m proud of him for giving us a chance to take the series over Cal.”

Antoine Jean took the mound in relief of Drezek to start the bottom of the sixth inning and he worked with ease through the Golden Bears order retiring the first ten batters he faced, getting the game into the ninth inning.

Still leading by four runs in the top of the ninth inning, Broussard (3-for-5) doubled to lead off the frame, his third hit in as many at-bats . . . Broussard was at third base having stolen his way there, when one out later McGinnis (3-for-4) homered to right field, his second blast of the season, and the Cougars possessed a 7-1 lead.

After retiring the first ten batters he faced, Jean walked two consecutive batters with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Cougars went to the bullpen . . . After a three-run home run to center field cut the Cougars lead to 7-4, Richie Roman took the mound, still with just one out . . . Roman struck out two Cal batters to bring the game to a close, thus securing the game and the series win . . . Roman earned the Save, his fourth of the season, he has picked up the Save in every Houston win to open the season . . . Drezek is 1-0 on the year after the victory.

Coach Whitting was asked about Brousard’s day at the plate, “Tre can be one of the most dynamic players in the country. I am proud of him for how he responded with a big game after a couple of tough ones.”

The Houston offense had six different batters earn hits in the game with the top three in the order all accounting for multiple hits, eight in total.

The Cougars (4-2) return to Houston having won their first road series of the season and both of their first two series to open the season . . . Houston will host Sam Houston on Tuesday night at Schroeder Park for their sole midweek game before hitting the road again next weekend . . . First pitch on Tuesday night in game one of the Don Sanders Cup Series is set for 6:30pm.

. . .

Houston Drops Middle Game at Cal 5-1

The Houston Cougars prep for their Saturday matchup with Cal in Berkeley.

The Houston Cougars had their three-game winning streak come to an end Saturday afternoon in a 5-1 defeat at the hands of California at Stu Gordon Stadium in Berkeley.

A pitching duo for the Golden Bears kept the Cougars offense at bay all afternoon . . . California right-handers struck out 10 Houston batters while walking only three.

It took the Cougars until there was one out in the top of the ninth inning before they picked up their first base hit in the game . . . Xavier Perez, pinch-hitting with one out in the inning single into center field on a 2-1 pitch to break up a potential no hitter.

Perez was erased on the basepaths on a fielder’s choice by Connor McGinnis and Evan Haeger was hit by a pitch two put two runners on base for the Cougars . . . Anthony Avalos drove an 0-1 pitch into right field for a two out run-scoring single, the only run for Houston in the 5-1 defeat.

The Cougars and the Golden Bears will decide the series on Sunday afternoon, with a first pitch scheduled for 2pm CT . . . Graysen Drezek will be in the mound for Houston, making his second consecutive Sunday start.

. . .

Cougars, Dollar Top Cal 6-4 to Open Road Series

Houston takes batting practice prior to Friday’s game at Cal.

Houston won its third consecutive game by opening their series against California with a 6-4 victory on Friday night at Stu Gordon Stadium in Berkeley.

After having two midweek games cancelled due to weather during the midweek, the Cougars played their first game since defeating Minnesota on Sunday.

Cougars right-hander Ryan Dollar made his second straight Friday night start and he fared much better than in his first one . . . Dollar faced the minimum through four innings, his only base runner was a walk that was later erased on a ground ball double play.

Riley Jackson and Tyler Cox led off the top of the third inning with back-to-back singles to set up the top of the order . . . The next two Cougars recorded outs and it looked as though Cal might escape the frame unscathed before Connor McGinnis doubled to the wall in right-center field to drive in Jackson and Cox . . . After McGinnis stole third base, Jake Tatom punched a single into left field and Houston held a 3-0 lead.

Cox again singled in the top of the fifth inning to lead off the inning . . . Tre Broussard hit what looked to be a double play to shortstop, but an error put two runners on with no outs for the Cougars . . . Cade Climie followed with a single through the left side to drive in Cox from second base . . . The Cougars led 4-0 and the Golden Bears went to their bullpen for the first time in the game.

McGinnis was then hit by a pitch to keep the inning going . . . Tatom followed with a single in his second consecutive at-bat to drive in two runs and Houston took a 6-0 lead.

The Golden Bears got to Dollar in the bottom of the fifth inning when a leadoff home run was later followed by an error allowing a second run to score . . . The unearned run closed Houston’s lead to 6-2 . . . Dollar recorded two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning before giving way to the Cougars bullpen.

After two walks by the bullpen, Alex Solis entered the game and got a called strikeout to preserve the four-run Houston lead . . . Solis worked a solid 2 1/3 innings allowing one run to score but striking out three batters.

Richie Roman took the mound for the bottom of the ninth inning with a 6-3 lead . . . The Golden Bears picked up an unearned run due to an error at third base but Roman got a fly out to center field to close out the 6-4 Houston victory and pick up his third save in as many games . . . Dollar allowed just three base hits and struck out six Golden Bears over his 5 2/3 innings and he improved to 1-1 on the year with the win . . . Dollar finished having only thrown 70 pitches, a sign of great efficiency in his outing.

“Ryan Dollar was outstanding tonight,” head coach Todd Whitting said after the game. “There is a reason why he started opening night [last Friday] and his outing tonight proved it. I am super proud of how he bounced back after a rough outing last week.”

The Cougars and the Golden Bears will be back in action again on Saturday in Berkeley and first pitch is scheduled for 4pm CT . . . Right-hander Paul Schmitz will be on the mound for Houston.

. . .

Cougars Outlast Minnesota 8-7 to Claim Series

Aaron Lugo bats Sunday against Minnesota. Lugo was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.

After a disappointing start to the 2025 season on Friday night, the Houston Cougars won the next two games to take the series from Minnesota, winning the Sunday afternoon finale 8-7 at Schroeder Park.

Houston starter Graysen Drezek took a scoreless game into the third inning before surrendering a pair of runs . . . Drezek allowed three runs over four innings, his longest outing as a Cougar.

Tyler Cox, batting in the nine spot, led off the bottom of the third inning by earning a walk . . . Tre Broussard followed with a bloop single into left field before a two out walk to Xavier Perez loaded the bases . . . A wild pitch plated Cox and moved runners to second and third base before Aaron Lugo (3-for-4) hammered a double off of the left field wall and the Cougars led 3-2 going to the fourth inning.

With the game tied at three in the bottom of the fourth inning, Jackson LaLima (2-for-4) doubled into left field to get the inning started for Houston . . . Catcher Riley Jackson moved LaLima to third base with a sacrifice bunt that he almost legged out at first base before Minnesota went to the bullpen . . . Cox brought LaLima across the plate on a groundout RBI to second base and Houston led again, 4-3.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Connor McGinnis walked with one out and then stole second base . . . With two outs, Lugo launched a ball to the warning track in right field for a run-scoring triple, it was his second extra-base hit in as many at-bats and Houston led 5-3.

After a three-run home run gave Minnesota a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth inning, the Cougars would rally back in the bottom of the seventh inning . . . Perez walked with one out and was moved along to third base on a single by Lugo . . . Jake Tatom then singled through the left side of the infield to drive in the game tying run . . . LaLima followed with a single on the infield to load the bases . . . Jackson worked a walk to force in the go ahead run, and Cox lifted a sacrifice fly deep to left field to plate what proved to be the winning run, Houston took an 8-6 lead into the eighth inning.

Antoine Jean took the mound in the top of the seventh inning with two runners on base as a result of walks, and only one out . . . Jean struck out the only two batters he faced to keep the Golden Gophers off the board.

Richie Roman took the mound in the eighth inning, his second outing in as many days . . . After facing the minimum in the eighth inning, Roman struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning, although Minnesota scratched across an unearned run cutting the Houston lead to 8-7 . . . Roman (2) earned the save, his second in as many games, and Jean (1-0) earned the win, his first of the season.

The Cougars are off on Monday before they hit the road for their next five games . . . First up. Houston will be in Austin on Tuesday night to face the Texas Longhorns for a midweek game . . . The game at Disch-Falk Field is set to get underway at 6:30pm.

. . .

Schmitz, McGinnis Lead Houston to First Win of 2025

Paul Schmitz made the start against Minnesota on Saturday night.

Houston got solid pitching and timely hitting in a 4-2 victory over Minnesota to even their season record at Schroeder Park on Saturday night.

Cade Climie reached second base with one out when a fly ball off his bat was not caught in right field . . . Houston second baseman Connor McGinnis then drove a double to the wall in right-center field scoring Climie on the play to give Houston its first lead of the season, 1-0.

The Golden Gophers got to Houston starter Paul Schmitz for two runs in the top of the third inning when a leadoff walk was on base for a two-out home run to right field . . . Schmitz then retired the next 10 batters he faced as he got Houston through six innings . . . Schmitz left the game having struck out six batters and allowing just two hits, all on 94 pitches.

Climie doubled in the bottom of the fifth inning  with one out to reach base . . . McGinnis (2-for-3) followed with a home run to center field, just to the right of the batter’s eye to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead.

The Cougars added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when a wild pitch plated Irvin Weems from third base and extended their lead to 4-2.

Schmitz (1-0) has had great success against Minnesota, his best outing in a Houston uniform was back in 2023 when he made a Saturday start in Minneapolis . . . Schmitz allowed just two runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings in that road victory almost two years ago.

Right-hander Richie Roman pitched a scoreless ninth inning, working around a walk and a single to strike out two and end the game, earning the save in the process . . . Roman, a projected starter in the Cougars rotation, has been recovering from a January appendectomy . . . The Saturday night outing by Roman seems like a positive step in his attempt to come back at full strength.

Alex Solis pitched for the second night in a row . . . On Friday night Solis faced just one batter, but on Saturday night he pitched two solid innings, both scoreless, before giving the ball to Roman to close it out.

Minnesota pitching limited the Houston offense to just four hits in the game, with McGinnis accounting for two of them, the only Cougars hitter with multiple hits . . . The Minnesota defense committed four errors.

Houston and Minnesota conclude their series on Sunday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1pm . . . Right-hander Graysen Drezek will make his first appearance of the season for the Cougars.

. . .

Cougars Fall on Opening Night of 2025 Season

The Houston Cougars opened the 2025 season at Schroeder Park on Friday night with a lot of new faces after graduation and the MLB Draft raided the ball club of a season ago . . . The Minnesota Golden Gophers took the season opener in dominant fashion, running away 14-3 winners. 

After a hit batter to lead off the game, Minnesota was in business offensively . . . Four hits and a walk led to a four-run first inning and the Golden Gophers never looked back.

Antoine Jean took the mound with two outs in the first inning and retired the first five batters he faced . . . Consecutive one-out walks posed a threat to Jean in the top of the third inning, then Tre Broussard caught a fly ball to center field for the second out when the runner on second base tagged-up and took off for third base . . . Broussard threw a laser to Cade Climie at the third base bag where he seemingly tagged the runner sliding into third base.

The runner slid well past the bag and into foul territory, before umpire Trent Petrie could make a call on the timeliness of Climie’s first tag, Climie tagged the runner as he attempted to crawl back to the bag . . . The inning was the second straight scoreless frame for Jean before the Golden Gophers chased him in the fourth inning.

Newcomer Carsten Sabathia hit a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the no-doubter was his first home run of the season and capped a three-run inning for Houston.

Broussard went 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot and was the only Houston hitter with multiple hits in the game.

Kendall Hoffman and Chris Perez each turned in a scoreless inning, each facing the minimum in their respective inning . . . Second year Cougar pitcher Alex Solis faced one batter in relief of Jean in the fourth inning and earned a strike out on five pitches.

The Cougars and the Golden Gophers will continue the opening weekend series on Saturday night . . . Right-hander Paul Schmitz will be in the mound for Houston . . . First pitch at Schroeder Park is scheduled for 6:30pm.