PREVIEW: Sanders Cup Opener

HOUSTON – After winning an 11-inning marathon on Sunday night, the Houston Baseball team returns to Don Sanders Field at Schroeder Park for the first game of the Don Sanders Cup against Sam Houston on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.

HOUSTON (7-4) vs SAM HOUSTON (8-4)
Date \| Time	Tuesday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Opponents	Louisiana (8-4)
Location	Don Sanders Field at Schroeder Park \| Houston, Texas
Watch	Big 12 Now on ESPN+ \| Garrett Jones (pxp), Kyle Rogers (analyst)
Listen	The Varsity Network \| Lonnie King
Live Stats	UHStats.com
Game Notes	Houston \| Sam Houston
Media Center	Notes, media guide/record book, rosters, box scores, photos
Promotions	Check out all the fun at the ballpark

THE PROMOTIONS

Tuesday
- $2 sodas at the concession stands
- Free hot dogs for the first 50 students
- $2 ticket at the Box Office on game day
- Double points for The Pride Rewards App

THE MATCHUP

The Don Sanders Cup is the second-most played matchup in Houston history (174 meetings).
The Cougars are 89-85 against the Bearkats all-time.
Houston has won each of the last two full-three game sets between the two schools (2022, 2019).
The 2023 series was condensed to a two-game series.
The Cougars won the series finale 14-3 in Houston.

QUICK HITTERS

Houston was perfect in extra-inning games in 2023 (6-0) and is 1-1 so far this year after playing two extra-inning games at the Astros Foundation College Classic.
Second baseman Harold Coll broke the Astros Foundation College Classic record for stolen bases in a game when he swiped a career-high three bags against Louisiana.
The Cougars have won 11 series in a row (three-game series).
Houston's 27 runs against Prairie View were the most since 1993 when the Cougars scored 27 against Illinois State.
The Cougars' 27 runs against Prairie View are tied for the second-most runs scored in a game in program history.
First baseman Justin Murray had his 22-game hitting streak snapped against UTSA. It matched Brett Cooley's 22-game hit streak back in 2002.
Murray and shortstop Jake Rainess were named NCBWA Preseason All-Americans. Murray was named Second Team Utility while Rainess was tabbed Third Team Shortstop.
Houston was picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 Conference in its inaugural season – picked to finish above the three other newcomers and Baylor.
Whitting elevated Ross Kivett to Associate Head Coach after leading the Cougars' offense to its best average (.290) since 2017 (.290), the most home runs (73) since 2000 (75), most RBI (391) and stolen bases (113) since 2008 (421 and 142).
Houston brought in SEC experienced coaches Sean Kenny (pitching) and Matt Reida (recruiting coordinator) to the 2024 staff. Kenny brings a wealth of experience from Georgia while Reida joins the Cougars from Alabama.
Cougar legend Woody Williams returns to Houston as the Director of Pitching Strategy and Development to work closely with pitching coach Sean Kenny in what head coach Whitting describes as his "best pitching staff on paper" during his 14-year tenure.
Andy Davis was hired as Director of Analytics after multiple years at Georgia with Assistant Coach Sean Kenny.

LAST TIME OUT

A five-run 11th inning propelled Houston to its first win at the Astros Foundation College Classic since 2015 against Louisiana 13-10.
Harold Coll stole a College Classic record three bases against Louisiana.

SERIES HISTORY
Houston record vs Sam Houston 89-85
Last meeting W, 14-3, 4/11/23
Streak Houston, W1

BUY TICKETS
Don't miss any of the action, purchase your single-game tickets to any of the 34 Houston Cougar baseball games inside Schroeder Park by clicking here.

BUY FLEX PLAN
Can't make all 34 games this season? No problem, buy a flex plan and pick which games you want to attend in 2024 (excluding the Texas series April 12-14 – flex plan game selection begins in January).

SUPPORT THE COUGARS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by purchasing season tickets, supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, and by joining the Dugout Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Baseball for needs beyond its operating budget.
 
STAY CONNECTED 
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Cougar Baseball. Fans can also follow the team on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.

– UHCougars.com –

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Harold Coll

Justin Murray

Jake Rainess

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