Houston Takes Series in Resounding Fashion

HOUSTON – The Houston Baseball team put the finishing touches on its first home Big 12 Conference series win of the season with two wins over Utah on Saturday. The Cougars beat the Utes 5-4 in walk-off fashion in the first game that was resumed from the seventh inning of Friday night's game and won 7-3 in the second game of the day.

GAME 1
Houston (26-20, 9-13 Big 12) erased a two-run deficit in the ninth inning for Perez to line a base hit into left field and plate junior Kenneth Jimenez – the winning run – for the Cougars' first walk-off win of the season.

Utah (17-24, 5-18 Big 12) scored four unanswered runs on a pair of hits and a pair of ground outs. The Utes' pitching staff forced six scoreless frames from Cougar bats – before the three-run ninth inning – stranding 15 Houston runners total in the game.

Shortstop Tyler Cox and first baseman Cade Climie led the team with three-hit days with Climie driving in a pair. Third baseman Aaron Lugo, Jimenez and Perez had multi-hit games.

In relief, Malachi Lott (3-0) allowed the first baserunner to reach via a hit by pitch but then set down the next six in order with a pair of strikeouts.

In the ninth, pinch hitter Brandon Bishop laced a single up the middle and Cox walked to put a pair on for Climie to drive in his second run of the game. Down just one run, a double play pushed across the tying run. With two outs, Jimenez singled, Lugo walked, and Perez ripped a base hit into the right-center gap giving Jimenez plenty of time to score from second base.

The walk-off win marked the first walk-off win for Houston since May 7, 2024.

GAME 2
In another back-and-forth affair, Utah jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, scoring a pair of unearned runs off right-hander Paul Schmitz (4-4). The Bonn, Germany, native dialed in the next four innings and struck out six over 5.0 innings.

Schmitz allowed a career-high 10 hits but struck out six and allowed just one earned run due in part to now allowing a walk for the first time since March 1 at UT Arlington.

The Cougars took the lead in the third inning on Perez's two-RBI single, his third RBI of the game.

Both teams exchanged runs in the fourth inning with Houston retaking the lead in the bottom half.

Houston posted its second two-run inning in the sixth on an RBI double from Climie and an RBI single from catcher Riley Jackson.

In typical Antoine Jean (4) fashion, the left-hander struck out six in 4.0 scoreless innings. The lefty has struck out 5+ in 12 outings this season and struck out 3+ in 17 of his 18 appearances.

UP NEXT
The Cougars and Utah conclude the series on Sunday at Noon with Houston seeking its first conference series sweep of the season and first sweep since March 9 against Grambling. The series finale will stream on ESPN+.

SUPPORT THE COUGARS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by buying single-game 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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Tyler Cox

Cade Climie

Kenneth Jimenez

Aaron Lugo

Players Mentioned

Brandon Bishop

Cade Climie

Tyler Cox

Riley Jackson

Antoine Jean

Kenneth Jimenez

Malachi Lott

Aaron Lugo

Paul Schmitz

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