PREVIEW: Baseball Opens Home Slate against UTRGV

HOUSTON – The Houston Baseball team starts its 2026 home slate this weekend, hosting UTRGV for a three-game series at Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park. The weekend starts at 6:30 p.m., Friday, before a 4:30 p.m., Saturday, tilt and a 1 p.m., Sunday, finale.

The first 500 fans at each game will receive a Houston Baseball schedule magnet. Friday's festivities include a photo booth with the 2025 Texas Bowl Trophy as well as Houston Football quarterback Conner Weigman throwing out the first pitch.

On Saturday, the first 300 fans in attendance will also receive a Houston Baseball schedule poster while those who show a ticket from the 2 p.m., Saturday, Houston Men's Basketball game against Arizona at the Schroeder Park Box Office receive a free general admission ticket for the game.

The series wraps up on Sunday, which marks the first Family Day of the season. In addition to inflatables and yard games, children have the opportunity to run the bases and get autographs from the team after the game.

HOUSTON (4-0) vs. UTRGV (1-3)
Friday	Friday, Feb. 20 \| 6:30 p.m. Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park ESPN+ \| Stats
Saturday	Saturday, Feb. 21 \| 4:30 p.m. Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park ESPN+ \| Stats
Sunday	Sunday, Feb. 22 \| 1 p.m. Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park ESPN+ \| Stats
Game Notes	Houston \| UTRGV
Media Center	Notes, Record Book, Rosters, Box Scores

Projected Starting Rotations
Friday

Houston: RHP Paul Schmitz (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 1 GS)
UTRGV: RHP Sergio Lopez (0-0, 13.40 ERA, 1.1 IP, 1 GS)

Friday

Houston: RHP Kendall Hoffman (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4.1 IP, 1 GS)
UTRGV: LHP Victor Loa (0-1, 27.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 1 GS)

Sunday

Houston: TBD
UTRGV: RHP Mason Engel (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 0 GS)

Quick Hitters

Houston hosts UTRGV to open its 2026 home slate, marking the first of two non-conference weekend series for the Cougars.
The Cougars started the season strong, emerging 4-0 from the Puerto Rico Challenge last weekend. Houston are one of 39 remaining undefeated teams and one of five unbeatens from the Big 12 Conference. Head Coach Todd Whitting has led the team to a 4-0 start seven times, with this season being the most recent since 2024.
UTRGV, a Southland Conference team, is an opponent from a fourth different conference already this season for Houston. Overall, the Cougars play 11 different conferences including all of the Power 4 leagues.
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. UTRGV

All-time: Houston leads 29-26-1
In Houston: Houston leads 20-12
Streak: UTRGV, 3
Last UTRGV win: March 4, 2025 | Houston | UTRGV wins, 9-5
Last UH win: March 3, 2023 | Edinburg | Houston wins, 7-5 (13 innings)
Under Whitting: 4-5
Last 5: 1-4
Last 10: 5-5

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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Tre Broussard

Tyler Cox

Kendall Hoffman

Paul Schmitz

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