PREVIEW: RV Baseball Starts Don Sanders Cup at Sam Houston

HOUSTON – The rv Houston Baseball team plays its first true road game of the 2026 season as it heads to Huntsville, Texas, for a 6 p.m., Tuesday, meeting against Sam Houston. The game is the first of three between the two teams designated as the Don Sanders Cup, honoring the significant contributions Don Sanders has made to both programs.

HOUSTON (5-2) at SAM HOUSTON (4-3)
Friday	Tuesday, Feb. 24 \| 6 p.m. Huntsville, Texas ESPN+ \| Stats \| Tickets
Game Notes	Houston \| Sam Houston
Media Center	Notes, Record Book, Rosters, Box Scores

Projected Starters

Houston: RHP Caden Cooper (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.1 IP, 0 GS)
Sam Houston: RHP Tate Hickman (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.0 IP, 0 GS)

Quick Hitters

Houston plays its first true road game of the year as it travels to Huntsville, Texas. The midweek is the first of 12 on the calendar for the Cougars.
The Cougars are coming off a 1-2 showing in a weekend series with UTRGV, who finished last year in the Top 50 in RPI. Senior Paul Schmitz dominated his Friday night start to help secure Houston's win in the series.
Sam Houston, a Conference USA team, is an opponent from a fifth different conference already this season for Houston. Overall, the Cougars play 11 different conferences including all of the Power 4 leagues.
Sophomore Jackson LaLima hit his first career homer on Saturday, then immediately followed it up with his second on Sunday. He's one of two Cougars to his multiple homers this season.
Houston started the season with a 4-0 showing at the Puerto Rico Challenge, defeating No. 21 Wake Forest in the first NCAA Division I Baseball game of the season. The showing propelled the Cougars into the national spotlight, receiving votes in the NCBWA Poll. Houston is still receiving votes in the second in-season release of the poll.
Junior Tre Broussard has been highly ranked on MLB Draft prospects lists. MLB.com put him at No. 46 on their first 2026 Top 100 Draft prospects list while FloBaseball tabbed him at 79^th and D1Baseball placed him at No. 65.
Houston returns five position starters from last season, including Tyler Cox, the lone Cougar to start every game. Overall, the Cougars return a majority of its at-bats, hits, homers and RBIs. The pitching staff also sees significant returns as nearly 60 percent of Houston's innings and 52 percent of strikeouts are back in H-Town this year.
The Cougars face a loaded schedule in 2026, battling five teams that finished 2025 in the Top 25 of RPI. The team will play 29 of its 55 games against teams that finished in the Top 50 of the NCAA's RPI and 25 games against teams that made the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

THE SERIES
Houston vs. Sam Houston

All-time: Houston leads 92-88
In Huntsville: Sam Houston leads 36-29
Streak: Sam Houston, 2
Last Sam Houston win: March 18, 2025 | Constellation Field | 5-4
Last Houston win: Feb. 25, 2025 | Houston | 4-3
Under Whitting: 18-14
Last 5: 2-3
Last 10: 6-4

SUPPORT THE COUGARS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Baseball by providing NIL opportunities 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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