Three Arnold Homers, 20 Cougars Hits Pave Way to Win

HOUSTON – University of Houston Baseball third baseman Zach Arnold crushed three home runs and accounted for seven RBIs as the Cougars registered their seventh game in the last eight opportunities, defeating UT Arlington, 18-9, Sunday afternoon from Sanders Field at Schroeder Park.

Houston (12-12) climbed to .500 for the first time this season. The Cougars have scored 10-plus runs in consecutive games and third time in the last four matchups. The 20 hits set a season high and came off the bat of nine different players. The 20 hits were the most for Houston since June 3, 2017, against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament.

The Cougars snapped UT Arlington's (12-13) four-game win streak. Houston's offense crushed seven home runs, one shy of the school record of eight set on Feb. 27, 2021, at A&M-Corpus Christi.

Player Highlights

Arnold's three home runs were the most for a Cougar since Ryan Hernandez clubbed three against UT Arlington on March 27, 2021. The seven-RBI performance was the first for a Cougar since Steven Rivas did so at Texas State on March 13, 2021.
Sophomore Malachi Lott matched a career high with four hits, accomplishing the feat for the third time in the last five games while raising his average to .392.
Fifth-year senior Ian McMillan set a career high with four hits alongside four RBIs. McMillan was one of six Cougars to drive in a run and one of five players who logged multiple hits.
Sophomore right-hander Kyle Ayers (1-0) earned the victory in relief, allowing one run on a pair of hits with four strikeouts across 3.0 innings. Ayers has limited opponents to just two extra-base hits in 10.1 innings this season.
Four Cougars scored three runs apiece including Lott (4 for 5, 3 runs), Arnold (4 for 6, 3 runs) sophomore Brandon Burckel (2 for 4, 3 runs) and McMillan (4 for 5, 3 runs).

Key Innings:
2nd | Sophomore Cameron Nickens crushed his fourth home run of the week, putting Houston ahead 1-0. The long ball extended his hit streak to six games. The RBI was his ninth in the last six games.

3rd | McMillan led off the third with his first home run since clubbing a pair against UCF on May 28, 2022. Following consecutive singles from Lott and junior Zach Arnold, junior Alex Lopez roped a one-out single through the right side for a 3-0 lead.

4th | UT Arlington erased its deficit with a six-run top half, sending 12 batters to the plate but the lead would be short lived. The Cougars answered with four runs courtesy of a McMillan two-run double and Arnold two-out, two run homer.

5th | Nickens' hot streak continued with a leadoff solo home run – his fifth long ball in as many games. The sophomore paces the Cougars with five homers on the season.

6th | After the Mavericks plated three runs in the top half, Arnold responded with as many on one swing from Arnold. The long ball was his second of the game and followed a leadoff hit by pitch from graduate Drew Bianco and Lott single. Houston scored three more times with two away including an RBI-single from McMillan.

7th | Arnold extended Houston's lead with his third homer of the game. The two-run shot moved his RBI total to seven. The seven-RBI performance was the first for a Cougar in two years.

8th | Burckel swatted his second home run of the season and first since Feb. 24 against Utah. Three batters later, senior Brandon Uhse swatted an RBI-single down the left field line for the 20th hit of the game.

UP NEXT
Houston and Sam Houston meet for the first of three games on the season as part of the annual Sanders Cup at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday from Huntsville, Texas. The matchup can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on The Varsity Network app. It will be the final tune-up before American Athletic Conference play begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday against East Carolina from Sanders Field at Schroeder Park.

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