Cougars Rally to Series Opener Win

Friday, May 8

Tucson, Ariz.

8 p.m. CT

University of Houston

21-28, 5-20

Arizona

17-31, 7-18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Houston	1	1	2	0	0	3	0	0	0	7	13	1
Arizona	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	4	10	1

5/9/2026 1:21:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Houston collects 13 hits on Friday night in Tucson

TUCSON, ARIZ. – Eight different Cougars posted a hit while sophomore Kendall Hoffman shined again on the mound in a 7-4 win over Arizona at Hi Corbett Field on Friday night.

Hoffman (3-6) claimed the win after tossing 7.0 innings for Houston (21-28, 5-20) in which he allowed just four runs (three earned) while striking out six in his fourth quality start of the year. Senior Ryne Rodriguez (4) earned the save after throwing the last 1.2 innings for the Cougars, giving up just one hit. Owen Kramkowski (1-7) took the loss, ceding seven runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS

Tyler Cox: 3-5, 2 RBI, 2B
Riley Jackson: 3-5, RBI, R, 2B
Xavier Perez: 2-5, RBI, R
Ryne Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, Sv, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

NOTABLES

Senior Tyler Cox posted his 16^th multi-hit game of the year while redshirt sophomore Xavier Perez collected his 15^th.
Cox recorded his 25^th career multi-RBI game.
Junior Tre Broussard extended his hitting streak to eight games, tying the longest streak of his career.
Hoffman has struck out at least five batters in each of his last three outings.
Sophomore Jackson LaLima tallied his team-leading 13^th double of the season.
Junior Riley Jackson earned his 25^th RBI of the season.
Freshman Blake Fields and LaLima both tallied their 40^th hits of the season.
Cox has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.

GAME SUMMARY
Houston scored first for the 29^th time this season and in the first inning for the 16^th as Perez singled home Broussard in the opening frame. While Arizona tied it in the bottom of the inning after capitalizing on a defensive miscue, the Cougars quickly reclaimed the lead in the second as Jackson scored from second on an error forced by LaLima.

Houston added another two runs in the third. With two in scoring position, Jackson singled up the middle to drive home Climie while Perez scored on a sacrifice bunt from Fields to push the score to 4-1 before the Wildcats again shrank the deficit to two with a run in the bottom of the frame.

After a pair of scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth, Houston added another three to its tally in the sixth as doubles from LaLima and Cox drove home Fields, Maxcey and LaLima to extend the visitor's edge to 7-2.

While Arizona scored a pair in the eighth, junior Alex Solis and Rodriguez paired up to shut the door to hand Houston the series-opening victory.

UP NEXT
Houston and Arizona continue the series at 8 p.m. CT Saturday before a 2 p.m. CT Sunday conclusion. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

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