PREVIEW: Big 12 Play Opens with Texas Tech

HOUSTON – The Houston Baseball team begins Big 12 Conference play this weekend against Texas Tech at Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park Friday-Sunday.

HOUSTON (11-4, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Texas Tech (3-11, 0-0 Big 12)
Date \| Time	Friday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at 1 p.m.
Opponent	Texas Tech (3-11, 0-0 Big 12)
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 \| Texas Tech
Media Center	Notes, media guide/record book, rosters, box scores, photos

THE MATCHUP

Houston and Texas Tech are set for the 93rd meeting on Friday night, the eighth most played series in Cougar history.
The Cougars have never been shutout by the Red Raiders. Conversely, Houston shutout Texas Tech most recently 9-0, Feb. 28, 2014.
Houston is seeking its first win over Texas Tech since Feb. 28, 2014 when the Cougars won a neutral site matchup at Minute Maid Park, 9-0.
The Cougars last home win over the Red Raiders was on April 7, 1995.

QUICK HITTERS

Senior Antoine Jean is second nationally in hits allowed per nine innings pitched at 2.65 and in his short outing on Wednesday night, which is not in NCAA records until the game's conclusion on Tuesday, March 18, had not allowed a hit to Sam Houston. Jean struck out 10 over two most relief outings of record in which he threw 6.0 scoreless frames against Rice and Grambling. Jean allowed just one hit over the 6.0 innings including 4.2 innings of scoreless relief work at Rice on March 5.
Senior outfielder/left-handed pitcher Malachi Lott returned to Houston after spending the 2024 season at Sam Houston. He is one of five athletes to return to his current institution after playing at a different D1 school in 2024.
Houston has not lost back-to-back games in the first 15 games of a season since 2013 when Houston did not lose back-to-back games until its 30th game of the year. During that span has scored 10+ runs six times and in four consecutive games for the first time since 2002. Houston was one run away against Sam Houston from scoring 10+ in five consecutive games for the first time since 1999.
Sophomore Xavier Perez posted the most RBI in a game since Bobby Hollas' nine RBI in 1979 when he drove in eight Cougars at Rice on March 5. The utility man scorched four hits, three doubles and a home run while driving in three runs on two swings of the bat. The eight RBI is fourth-most by any player in Division-I this season.
Junior Connor McGinnis leads the Big 12 and is eighth nationally with nine doubles. McGinnis posted a three-RBI game against Grambling on March 8.
Houston won its first four series to open the season marking the first time since 2019 the Cougars have opened the season with series wins against non-conference teams. Houston has won the first three series of the season in back-to-back seasons after opening 2024 with series wins against Binghamton, St. John's and Baylor.
The Cougars have won each of the last eight non-conference three-game series they have played dating back to 2023 (swept Grambling, won 2 of three at UT Arlington, won 2 of three at Cal in 2025, won 2 of 3 against Minnesota in 2025, won 2 of 3 vs. UT Arlington in 2024, won 2 of 3 against St. John's in 2024, swept Binghamton in 2024 and swept Minnesota in 2023).
Sophomore Richie Roman was named the #67 sophomore nationally by Perfect Game and the #5 sophomore in the Big 12 by D1Baseball.com and has started 2025 with a nation-leading six saves.

LAST TIME OUT

Houston's midweek game at Sam Houston on Tuesday was suspended in the bottom of the fifth inning due to lightning. The game is set to be resumed on Tuesday, March 18 at Constellation Field part of a two-game day.
Houston was leading 9-6 after the top of the fifth inning.

SERIES HISTORY
Houston record vs Texas Tech    45-47
Last meeting    L, 8-12, 4/7/24, Away
Streak    Texas Tech, W5

SUPPORT THE COUGARS
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STAY CONNECTED
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– UHCougars.com –

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Antoine Jean

Malachi Lott

Connor McGinnis

Xavier Perez

Richie Roman

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