Sunday, March 10
Houston, Texas
1 p.m.
University of Houston
11-4, 0
3
vs
2
Baylor
4-11, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Baylor
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
6
0
Houston
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
X
3
7
0
Pitching Staff Rolls, Cougars Sweep Bears
3/10/2024 4:29:00 PM | Baseball
Houston sweeps Baylor in inaugural Big 12 Conference series
HOUSTON – A day after the Houston pitching staff struck out 15 batters, the Cougar staff held firm on Sunday in the team's 3-2 win over Baylor from Sanders Field at Schroeder Park, notching the first conference opening sweep since 2018.
Houston (11-4, 3-0 Big 12) has won five in a row for the second time this season after sweeping its inaugural Big 12 Conference series.
The Cougars scored in the fifth and sixth innings on two swings of the bat. Houston's first run came on a double by third baseman Alex Lopez that skipped over the first base bag for a double, scoring catcher Jonathan French.
Baylor (4-11, 0-3 Big 12) tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on a triple off the right field wall.
In the bottom half of the frame, left fielder Cary Arbolida deposited a pitch down in the zone over the left field wall for a two-run home run, his first of the season.
The Bears scratched a run across in the eighth before first baseman Justin Murray took the hill as a relief pitcher and struck out the final batter of the game to earn his first save.
Right-handed pitcher Duncan Howard (2-0) had a strong outing on the mound, twirling four-plus innings of perfect work before a fifth inning single broke up the perfect game and no-hitter. Howard finished the game after a season-high 6.0 innings of four-hit, five strikeout work without allowing a walk. The righty is one of three pitchers in Division I baseball that has at least three starts and has not allowed a walk.
Houston won three-straight one-run games, all in a four game span this week. The conference opening sweep is the fourth time in the Todd Whitting era that the Cougars have opened conference play with a sweep (2024, 2018, 2013, 2011).
UP NEXT
Houston will head on the road for the first time this season as they take on fellow Big 12 newcomer BYU in Provo Utah for a three-game series Thursday-Saturday. All three games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
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 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.
Houston (11-4, 3-0 Big 12) has won five in a row for the second time this season after sweeping its inaugural Big 12 Conference series.
The Cougars scored in the fifth and sixth innings on two swings of the bat. Houston's first run came on a double by third baseman Alex Lopez that skipped over the first base bag for a double, scoring catcher Jonathan French.
Baylor (4-11, 0-3 Big 12) tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on a triple off the right field wall.
In the bottom half of the frame, left fielder Cary Arbolida deposited a pitch down in the zone over the left field wall for a two-run home run, his first of the season.
The Bears scratched a run across in the eighth before first baseman Justin Murray took the hill as a relief pitcher and struck out the final batter of the game to earn his first save.
Right-handed pitcher Duncan Howard (2-0) had a strong outing on the mound, twirling four-plus innings of perfect work before a fifth inning single broke up the perfect game and no-hitter. Howard finished the game after a season-high 6.0 innings of four-hit, five strikeout work without allowing a walk. The righty is one of three pitchers in Division I baseball that has at least three starts and has not allowed a walk.
Houston won three-straight one-run games, all in a four game span this week. The conference opening sweep is the fourth time in the Todd Whitting era that the Cougars have opened conference play with a sweep (2024, 2018, 2013, 2011).
UP NEXT
Houston will head on the road for the first time this season as they take on fellow Big 12 newcomer BYU in Provo Utah for a three-game series Thursday-Saturday. All three games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
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 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 –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Howard, Duncan (2-0)
L: Green, Mason (0-1)
S: Murray, Justin (1)
Batting:
2B: Altman, Daniel 1
3B: Apodaca, Enzo 1
RBI: Castle, Cortlan 1 ; Apodaca, Enzo 1
SH: Johnson, Ty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Castle, Cortlan 1 ; Posey, Cole 1
Batting:
2B: Lopez, Alex 1 ; Jones, Tre 1
HR: Arbolida, Cary 1
RBI: Lopez, Alex 1 ; Arbolida, Cary 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Nickens, Cameron 1 ; Arbolida, Cary 1 ; French, Jonathan 1
SB: Coll, Harold 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
3b/1b
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
dh/lf
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballUTL
/ Baseball
UTL
/ BaseballMedia Availability: HC Todd Whitting, Antoine Jean, Malachi Lott
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