PREVIEW: Houston Hosts Minnesota on Opening Weekend

Friday, February 14

Houston, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Houston

Minnesota

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PREVIEW: Houston Hosts Minnesota on Opening Weekend

2/13/2025 10:00:00 AM | Baseball

Cougars set to host two-time National Champion Gophers Friday-Sunday

HOUSTON – The start of the 2025 Houston Baseball season is here as the Cougars get set to host the Minnesota Golden Gophers Friday-Saturday at Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park in Houston's 77th season of collegiate baseball.

HOUSTON (0-0) vs Minnesota (0-0)
Date \| Time	Friday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at 1 p.m.
Opponent	Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Location	Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park \| Houston, Texas
Watch	ESPN+ \| Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Listen	The Varsity Network \| Lonnie King
Live Stats	UHStats.com
Game Notes	Houston \| Minnesota
Media Center	Notes, media guide/record book, rosters, box scores, photos

THE MATCHUP

This is the 32nd all-time meeting between Houston and Minnesota.
Houston has won the last six meetings including sweeping Minnesota inside U.S. Bank Stadium in 2023 (the Minnesota Vikings stadium).
In the 2023 series, junior Paul Schmitz threw his best game as a Cougar. The then-freshman Schmitz tossed 6.2 innings while striking out seven Golden Gophers without garnishing a walk.

QUICK HITTERS

Houston enters its 77th season of college baseball in 2025.
Head Coach Todd Whitting enters his 15th season as the Cougars head coach amassing 444 wins, the second-most in program history and the third-highest winning percentage (.568).
The Cougars boast the Big 12 Conference Preseason Newcomer of the Year in third baseman Cade Climie – who hit .394 with a 1.300 OPS with 20 home runs and 76 RBI at Blinn JC in 2024 with 27 multi-hit games on his way to winning NJCAA World Series MVP.
Climie arrives on Cullen Blvd. highly touted as the #1 JuCo transfer hitter in the nation according to D1Baseball.com and the #64 MLB Draft prospect among college players.
The Sugar Land, Texas, native was named the #12 third baseman nationally by D1Baseball.com as well.
Senior Aaron Lugo was named the #14 second baseman nationally by D1Baseball.com after producing 19 multi-hit games and seven three-hit games at Texas State in 2024 for a .390 average with 27 extra-base hits and 49 RBI.
Junior Tyler Cox continues the Dartmouth-Houston pipeline following after Houston standout Justin Murray's graduation. Cox played two seasons at Dartmouth earning All-Ivy League First Team in 2022 while being named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Cox will hold down the shortstop position for Houston.
Sophomore Richie Roman only appeared in eight games as a freshman coming off Tommy Johnsurgery, but the righty is expected to be vital for the Cougars rotation after being named the #67 sophomore nationally by PerfectGame and the #5 sophomore in the Big 12 by D1Baseball.com.
Houston will host a National Runner Up for the second time in three seasons when the Cougars host Texas A&M in May. The last time was in 2023 a season Oklahoma finished runner up to Ole Miss in the 2022 College World Series.
Matt Reida was promoted to Associate Head Coach following his first season in Houston.
Cougar legend Woody Williams was promoted to assistant coach following a season as the Director of Pitching Strategy. Williams will wear the same number he did when he was a student-athlete – #18.
With the addition of Clay Van Hook to the coaching staff, two different father-son duos have coached for the Cougars since their first season in 1947. The Stocktons (Bragg and Russell) with Russell joining the 1992 staff after his father Bragg coached two stints for Houston from 1981-94 and again this year the Van Hooks with the addition of Clay Van Hook after his father, Kyle, coached the Cougars for two seasons (1984-85).

LAST TIME OUT

This is the first series of the 2025 season.

SERIES HISTORY
Houston record vs Minnesota                                  16-13-2
Last meeting                                                            W, 5-2, 3/19/23, Away
Streak                                                                      Houston, W6

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