Houston’s troubles in Big 12 play continued on Friday night when Baylor came to Schroeder Park and claimed a 6-2 victory.
As the Cougars continue to look for a workable solution to the starting rotation, they chose right-handed freshman Connor Udland.
Udland pitched well, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing just two runs on five hits, and he added three strikeouts.
The Houston offense struggled against Baylor starter Lucas Davenport who pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one run.
A Blake Fields RBI single in the sixth inning was followed by Jackson LaLima’s sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning, a solo shot to deep left-center field, and that was the extent of the Cougars’ run production.
Right-hander Harrison Boushele pitched for the second game in a row, and just as he was dominant against Texas on Tuesday night, he was equally brilliant in shutting down the Baylor offense . . . Boushele allowed the Bears nothing over the final 2 1/3 innings, with a lone base runner reaching on a fielding error at third base which was of no consequence.
Boushele also struck out four batters for the second straight game.
Houston only had five hits in the game, and only one of them was for extra bases.
The Cougars and the Bears return to action Saturday at 1pm at Schroeder Park.
The Cougars, wearing their Houston Blue on Tuesday, took down No. 2 Texas
By Steve Parkhurst
After trailing by seven runs midway through the game, the Houston Cougars defeated the No. 2 Texas Longhorns 9-7 on Tuesday night at Schroeder Park.
The Cougars fell behind early, not because of the Longhorns hitting, but because of free passes . . . In the opening frame, freshman Caleb Kimble walked three batters and one of them scored when another batter was hit by a pitch.
After a walk to the opening hitter of the game, Kimble retired the next two batters on fly balls as he settled in, tossing a scoreless second and third inning.
Kimble took the game into the fourth inning and allowed just two runs on 71 pitches as he gained valuable experience against a stout Texas offense.
Texas put up back-to-back three run innings in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-0 lead . . . The Longhorns score their seven runs in the game on only three base hits, and they left 10 runners on base.
Harrison Boushele took the mound with one out in the top of the fifth inning and was outstanding over the next 3 2/3 innings in which he struck out four and allowed just two hits . . . Boushele had the ball moving and missing bats and had Texas batters in fits, and at a time when the Cougars pitching staff needed both answers and time to allow the offense to score some runs.
The Cougars responded with a three-run bottom of the fifth inning, started by a Tyler Cox RBI groundout and a Tre Broussard two-run single with the bases loaded.
After the seventh inning stretch, Easton Winfield, having left the Longhorns after last season, led off the frame with a home run the opposite way just sneaking in fair over the left field wall, and the Houston deficit was only 7-4.
Jackson LaLima followed with a double and Cox reach base on a one out walk . . . After a pitching change, Broussard lined a pitch at the pitcher which, if caught, could have been devastating, fortunately for the Cougars the ball fell to the ground, the pitcher gather himself and threw to second base . . . The throw was wild and allowed LaLima to cross the plate . . . Broussard followed with a stolen base attempt at second base, the throw to second base ended up in center field as Cox scored and Broussard motored to third base, Houston was within a run, 7-6.
Riley Jackson, behind the plate the entire night for the pitching struggles in a game that lasted three minutes shy of four hours, saved his one hit in the game for when it mattered most . . . With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jackson launched a ball 408 feet to the flagpoles in right-center field, when he crossed home plate the game was tied at seven on his sixth long ball of the season.
But the Houston offense was not done in the inning, they continued to force Texas pitchers to make pitchers, which they could not . . . With one out, Winfield bounced a ball up the first base line and out-raced the Texas first baseman to the bag for a single, his second hit in as many innings, Cox then delivered a two-out single to right field and drove in the go-ahead run, but the Longhorns still could not throw strikes.
Blake Fields drew a bases loaded walk, on four pitches, and Houston had its final run of the night, snatching back one of the freebies given away as Texas built its lead early in the game.
Ryne Rodriguez was dominant out of the bullpen, as the left-hander has tended to be this season . . . Brought in to start the ninth inning, Rodriguez was working in and around the strike zone and he retired all three batters he faced, sandwiching an innocent fly out between two swinging strikeouts to secure the two-run upset victory . . . It was just the fourth loss of the season for 20-win Texas.
The win was Houston’s first win against a Top 2 opponent since the Cougars defeated #2 Rice on May 1, 2009.
Cox was 2-for-3 batting in the leadoff spot while Winfield was 3-for-4 batting in the seventh spot, the only Houston hitters with multiple hits . . . Boushele earned the win and is 1-0 this season, while Rodriguez picked up his second save of the year.
The nine runs scored by the Cougars are tied for the most allowed by Longhorn pitching this season.
Houston returns to action on Friday when Baylor comes to Schroeder Park for a Big 12 weekend series . . . Houston announced a change to the weekend schedule on Tuesday, with Saturday’s middle game getting underway at 1pm . . . First pitch on Friday night is slated for 6:30pm.
Houston played its first Big 12 road game at Kansas on Friday
By Steve Parkhurst
A four-run first inning was not enough for Houston on Friday night in Lawrence as the Cougars fell to Kansas 12-10 in the series opener.
The Cougars got off to a fast start when leadoff hitter McClane Helton walked on four pitches before Tre Broussard drove him home on a double to the wall in left-center field . . . Two pitches later Xavier Perez was hit by a pitch . . . With one out, Easton Winfield drove in his first run as a Houston Cougar when he singled to left field to drive in Broussard.
Kansas went to the bullpen just five batters into the game, but it was more of the same for Houston as Blake Fields walked on five pitches . . . One out later, Antonellie Savattere hammered a single to right field to drive in two runs and the Cougars had a 4-0 lead and batted around in the inning sending 10 hitters to the plate.
Houston scored a pair of runs in the third inning on a Savattere RBI single and a Tyler Cox sacrifice bunt and the Cougars led 6-1.
It was not long before the Jayhawks reversed things, scoring six runs in the bottom of the third inning and chasing the second Houston pitcher of the game, in the bottom of the fourth inning
The Cougars were in danger of hemorrhaging pitchers in game one of the series, but freshman Connor Udland took the mound with two outs in the fourth inning trailing 9-6 and pitched some terrific baseball over the next 4 1/3 innings.
After allowing one fourth inning run, Udland settled in and did not allow another run until the bottom of the eighth inning, striking out six batters along the way.
While Udland was keeping the Jayhawks off the scoreboard, the Cougars crept back into the game, thanks in part to a three-run sixth inning . . . Perez hit a two-run home run to right field and Fields doubled in a run and Houston was within a run at 10-9.
Cox tied the game at 10 in the top of the eighth inning with a double down the third base line to bring home Fields.
Kansas got to Udland for a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning and that was the difference in the ballgame . . . It was a great outing by the freshman and one that should pay dividends for Houston as the season plays out.
Kansas pitching walked 10 Houston batters, but also struck out 15, and the Cougars left 14 runners on base . . . Houston did force Kansas to use five pitchers in the game, with the Cougars only using three, this is worth watching over the final two games of the weekend.
The Cougars and the Jayhawks will play again on Saturday in Lawrence, with a first pitch scheduled for 2pm.
The Houston Cougars will leave Frisco and head home having salvaged the final game of the weekend, an 8-2 victory over Alabama to conclude the Frisco Classic on Sunday.
Right-hander Kendall Hoffman made the finest start of his collegiate career, pitching into the eighth inning and departing with a four-run lead.
After one time through the batting order, leadoff hitter McClane Helton led off the top of the third inning by earning a walk, he saw eight pitches in the at-bat . . . Blake Fields (4-for-5) then singled through the left side on a 1-2 pitch . . . Xavier Perez sacrificed to move both Helton and Fields into scoring position, where they were when Dylan Maxcey (2-for-4) singled through the left side to give Houston a 2-0 lead, it was the first time Alabama trailed in the entire three day event in Frisco.
The Cougars greeted Crimson Tide pitching with three straight singles to open the fifth inning, the first by Fields, his third hit of the game, the second by Perez, and then one by Maxcey to drive in Fields for a 3-0 lead . . . With one out, Carsten Sabathia III hit a ball to second base and an error on the play allowed a run to score and put two Cougars in scoring position . . . Antonelli Savattere followed with a sacrifice fly ball to left field, Maxcey tagged and scored, Houston took a 5-0 lead, and the Crimson Tide went to the bullpen to get out of the inning.
Sabathia was once again in the mix when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the eighth inning . . . Peyton Dickens pinch-ran for Sabathia and he moved to second base on a groundout and to third base on a wild pitch before Irvin Weems (2-for-4) singled up the middle to extend the Houston advantage to 6-1.
Hoffman took his exit after 7 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and one walk, which came in the first inning, and he allowed just the two earned runs . . . Hoffman threw 109 total pitches before handing the ball to Tyler Bryan.
The Cougars wanted more in the top of the ninth inning, and they got it . . . Fields singled to left field with one out to get things started, his fourth hit of the ballgame . . .
Perez (2-for-4) then doubled to left-center field and Alabama went to the bullpen for their fifth arm of the game . . . After an intentional walk to Maxcey loaded the bases, Cade Climie singled to right field to score Fields . . . Dickens then grounded out to the pitcher but Perez crossed the plate and Houston took an 8-2 lead on the first career RBI by Dickens.
Bryan recorded the final four outs of the game for the Cougars, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter . . . Hoffman recorded his first win of the season and is now 1-0.
“Kendall was outstanding tonight,” head coach Todd Whitting said emphatically after the game. “His presence and composure was at a very high level against a very talented SEC team. He has been a relentless worker all spring so I’m happy it paid off today.”
The Cougars return to Schroeder Park and will host Sam Houston on Tuesday for game two of the 2026 Don Sanders Cup . . . First pitch is scheduled for 6:30pm.
Houston lost its second game of the Frisco Classic on Saturday afternoon, this time losing to Iowa 6-4.
With the Cougars trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Dylan Maxcey (3-for-4) singled through the right side to reach base with one out . . . Two pitches later, Carsten Sabathia III turned on a pitch and sent it over the left field wall 375 feet and Houston took a one run lead to the third inning.
After the seventh inning stretch, Sabathia (3-for-4) led off the frame with a double that went to the wall in left-center field, his third hits in as many at-bats . . . Pinch-hitter Cade Climie doubled off the base of the wall in left-center field allowing Sabathia to score easily and Houston trailed by three, 6-3.
Blake Fields (2-for-4) led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double down the left field line, his second base hit of the game batting second in the order . . . Xavier Perez chose a good time for his first hit of the game, he singled up the middle into center field to score Fields and the Cougars only trailed by two.
Houston loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning on two singles and a walk but was unable to capitalize as Iowa claimed the 6-4 victory.
Ryne Rodriguez gave Houston 3 1/3 innings of important relief work after getting the call from the bullpen in the top of the fourth inning . . . Rodriguez allowed just one earned run on two hits to go with four strikeouts on 55 total pitches . . . The right-hander worked two perfect frames and recorded fives outs on ground balls with just one fly ball, which was caught in center field.
Caden Cooper followed Rodriguez out of the bullpen . . . After a short start against Sam Houston on Tuesday in Huntsville, Cooper pitched a perfect eighth inning and retired the first four batters he faced, two on strikeouts, before giving the ball to Max Craray who recorded the final two outs.
Houston batters, after striking out 14 times on Friday against Oregon State, struck out 12 times against four Iowa pitchers.
Houston will conclude play in the Frisco College Classic on Sunday when it faces the Alabama Crimson Tide . . . The game at Riders Field is set to get underway at 3pm, but a slight delay is possible as the prior game, scheduled to begin at 11am, could run long.
The Cougars found their way back into the win column after dropping two in a row with a 5-4 victory over Sam Houston in Huntsville Tuesday night to take game one of the 2026 Don Sanders Cup.
Sam Houston took a 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning when three straight walks loaded the bases, but after a pitching change by Houston, the damage was limited to just the two runs on sacrifice fly balls to the outfield.
First baseman Riley Jackson led off the top of the fourth inning by slapping a double down the left field line . . . After Jackson moved to third base on a wild pitch, Antonelli Savattere grounded out to shortstop to get a run back and cut the deficit in half.
Jackson LaLima walked to lead off the top of the fifth inning and the Bearkats went to the bullpen for the first time in the game . . . Tyler Cox moved LaLima to second base on a sacrifice bunt . . . With two out, Xavier Perez drove a ball into right field to score LaLima as the game-tying run . . . Perez stole second base before Cade Climie bounced a double over the right field wall and Houston took its first lead of the night, 3-2.
Blake Fields earned a one out walk to reach base in the top of the sixth inning . . . Catcher Dylan Maxcey then homered to left field, his first home run in a Houston uniform, and the Cougars extended their advantage to 5-2.
After three straight walks to start the bottom of the second inning, the Cougars went to the bullpen in favor of Alex Solis who inherited the bases loaded with no outs . . . The right-hander went to work and retired all 15 batters he faced as he dominated the Bearkats lineup . . . At one stretch, Solis struck out six of eleven batters he faced and he pitched through the sixth inning having thrown an incredibly efficient 57 pitches.
Following the seventh inning stretch, freshman Connor Udland took over for Solis on the hill . . . A tough-luck infield single preceded the Bearkats loading the bases with one out . . . Udland struck out the final two batters to end the inning on his way to striking out the side.
A two-run blast for the Bearkats in the bottom of the eighth inning cut the Houston lead to 5-4.
Tyler Bryan took the mound with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and he proceeded to strike out the final four batters of the game in impressive fashion, throwing only 15 pitches . . . Bryan was credited with the save, his third of the season.
Solis earned the win and is now 2-0 . . . Four Houston pitchers combined to strike out 15 Sam Houston batters.
Houston (6-2) now heads north to Frisco where they will play three different teams in the Frisco College Classic . . . The Cougars will face Oregon State on Friday afternoon with a first pitch scheduled for 2pm.
Houston fell to UTRGV 8-4 on Sunday afternoon at Schroeder Park.
Starter Richie Roman allowed two runs in the opening frame, only one of them was earned because of a throwing error from the outfield.
Antonelli Savattere led off the top of the fourth inning by dropping a single into left-center field and he moved to second base on a ground ball out . . . Blake Fields then singled into left-center field to drive in Savattere and cut the deficit in half.
After the first inning, Roman settled in to pitch three scoreless innings and departed after the fourth inning . . . Roman allowed just three hits and struck out four batters.
Fields was back for more in the bottom of the sixth inning, he led off the frame with a double down the right field line . . . One out later, pinch-hitter Tre Broussard doubled to right-center field to score Fields and tie the game.
The game was still tied as it moved to the ninth inning . . . The Vaqueros struck for six runs against multiple Houston pitchers in the top half of the inning.
Jackson LaLima led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run, his second of the season . . . Irvin Weems followed with a double down the left field line and after moving to third base on a dropped third strike, he crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut the UTRGV lead to 8-4. . . The potential comeback ended there as the Cougars dropped to 5-2 on the season.
Fields (3-for-4) and Xavier Perez (3-for-5) accounted for six of the 10 Houston base hits . . . Broussard is hitting .500 this season and has driven in nine runs.
Houston hits the road for the next four games starting with a midweek game in Huntsville against Sam Houston, the first game for the 2026 Don Sanders Cup . . . First pitch of the Tuesday is set for 6pm.
Tyler Cox prepares to lead off Saturday’s game against Boston College.
By Steve Parkhurst
Houston defeated Boston College 5-1 Saturday in Ponce on Day 2 of the Puerto Rico Challenge to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Right-handed sophomore Kendall Hoffman made the mound start for the Cougars and allowed just one run on three hits over 4 1/3 innings . . . Hoffman had to work around a couple of errors behind him, one of which scored, accounting for the only Eagles run of the afternoon.
Scoreless in the third inning, freshman Blake Fields dropped a single into left-center field to lead off the frame, he later advanced to second base on a balk . . . After moving to third base on a Tyler Cox fly out to right field, Tre Broussard drove Fields across the plate on a single for a 1-0 Cougars lead.
Tied at one after three innings, Antonelli Savattere, who doubled off the right field wall to lead off the second inning, singled to right field to lead off the top of the fourth inning . . . A two out walk to McClane Helton was followed by an opposite field double off the right field wall by Fields brining home Savattere and Helton and giving Houston a 3-1 advantage.
Newcomer Jackson Baker relieved Hoffman in the bottom of the fifth inning, inheriting a runner on first base with one out . . . Baker worked out of the situation unharmed and recorded seven more outs before handing the ball to Tyler Bryan in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Leading 4-1 at the start of the ninth inning, the Cougars looked to pad their lead . . . Broussard (2-for-4) singled to lead off the frame and speedster Irvin Weems pinch ran for him at first base . . . Weems impressed with his speed in the fall, flying all over the outfield from the center field position during the Red vs. White Series . . . Weems promptly stole second base.
Xavier Perez followed by grounding out to third base, and on the throw across the diamond Weems took off for third base and reached the bag easily . . . Savattere (2-for-4) then hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field which was easily deep enough to plate Weems and Houston led 5-1.
Bryan retired the Eagles side in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to close out the victory . . . Bryan retired the final four batters he faced and earned the save for his effort, his first of the season . . . Baker recorded the win and is 1-0 . . . Hoffman finished his start having thrown 70 pitches.
Fields (2-for-2) reached base in all four of his plate appearances, including a walk and a hit by pitch . . . Fields also stole second base in the sixth inning with Helton at third base, the steal caught the Eagles off guard and Helton crossed the plate as the fourth Houston run of the game.
The Cougars will return to action in the Puerto Rico Challenge on Sunday morning with a first pitch set for 8:30am CT . . . Houston will face the Manhattan Jaspers.
Paul Schmitz made the start against Wake Forest Friday to open the 2026 season.
By Steve Parkhurst
Houston opened the 2026 season on Friday morning in Ponce, Puerto Rico with an 8-2 victory over Wake Forest in the first game of the Puerto Rico Challenge . . . The game also marked the first of the 2026 NCAA season.
Right-hander Paul Schmitz returned to his once familiar role as Friday starter on the mound for the Cougars.
Still scoreless in the bottom of the third inning, Blake Fields led off the frame smashing a single into left field for his first collegiate base hit . . . The next batter, Jackson LaLima, was hit by a pitch to turn the lineup over with two runners on base and no one out.
Tyler Cox put a bunt down on the first base side and it was fielded by Wake Forest first baseman Kade Lewis, but the throw to first base sailed into right field allowing Fields and LaLima to cross the plate while Cox motored all the way to third base.
Tre Broussard walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch which also scored Cox from third base . . . Xavier Perez, who was hit on the back of the head by a pitch in his first plate appearance, followed with a single of his own . . . Antonelli Savattere singled to plate Broussard, the sixth straight Houston batter to reach base, and Houston took a 4-0 lead.
LaLima led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a ground rule double to left field . . . Cox singled home LaLima to extend the Houston lead to 5-0 and sent Wake Forest to the bullpen with no outs in the inning.
Left-hander Ryne Rodriguez took the mound to start the fifth inning, ending the day for Schmitz at 70 pitches . . . Schmitz allowed two hits and had two strikeouts while keeping Wake Forest off the scoreboard.
A sacrifice fly RBI to center field off the bat of Fields in the bottom of the fifth inning gave Houston a 6-0 lead.
Wake Forest got two runs back in the top of the sixth inning to close the deficit to four runs.
Left-hander Chris Scinta relieved Rodrguez in the top of the sixth inning and he was the last pitcher the Cougars used in the game as he was terrific over the next four frames.
The Cougars added two runs in bottom of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly to right field by Broussard followed by an infield groundout by Savattere to push the lead back to six runs at 8-2.
Scinta closed out the victory on the 40th pitch of his outing, working around an error and a single . . . In recording the final 12 outs, Scinta allowed just two base hits and struck out two batters, a line similar to that of Schmitz . . . Scinta earned the save while Schmitz (1-0) recorded the win.
“Schmitz set a great tone against one of the best offenses in the country,” Houston head coach Todd Whitting said following the game, “Paul pounded the zone and went right at them.”
Whitting also offered praise for Scinta’s effort in the securing the win, “Chris did a great job of getting us out of a huge jam and that momentum gave him the ability to finish the game.”
“Today I was just attacking with the fastball,” Schmitz said after the game. “Whatever pitch was called, I wanted to throw the pitch and throw it with conviction.”
“The boys on defense, we take pride in their work,” Schmitz added. “I love my guys on defense, Jackson LaLima played some third base behind us today.”
Asked about his role over the upcoming season, and whether he will be a full-time starter or even pitch in relief, Schmitz noted, “We’re just here to get our name called and fill a role.”
In addition to his great plays at the hot corner, LaLima was 2-for-3 at the plate and reached base three times, batting in the ninth spot . . . LaLima crossed the plate all three times he reached base Friday and was the only Cougars hitter with multiple base hits . . . Across the diamond, Riley Jackson was excellent at first base, making two defensive gems.
“Overall, a great team effort,” concluded Whitting. “I’m proud of our club today.”
The Cougars return to action on Saturday in the Puerto Rico Challenge when they will face Boston College at Noon CT.
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