HOUSTON – The University of Houston baseball team begins its 2026 home season this weekend, hosting the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) for a three-game series at Don Sanders Field at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park. The series kicks off Friday evening at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. Matchup on Saturday and a 1 p.m. Finale on Sunday.
The Cougars (4-0) are off to a strong start, having completed a perfect run through the Puerto Rico Challenge last weekend. They are currently one of 39 undefeated teams nationwide and one of five in the Large 12 Conference. This marks the first of two non-conference weekend series for Houston this season. UTRGV enters the series with a 1-3 record.
Fans attending Friday’s game will receive a Houston Baseball schedule magnet, although the first 300 fans on Saturday will receive a schedule poster. A special element to Friday’s game will be a photo booth featuring the 2025 Texas Bowl Trophy and a first pitch thrown by Houston Football quarterback Conner Weigman, a key player for the Cougars, according to Wikipedia.
Saturday’s game offers a special promotion for Houston Men’s Basketball fans; those presenting a ticket from the 2 p.m. Game against Arizona at the Schroeder Park Box Office will receive free general admission to the baseball game. Sunday is designated as the first Family Day of the season, featuring inflatables, yard games, and opportunities for children to run the bases and collect autographs from the team.
Series Matchups and Pitching Rotations
The pitching matchups for the series are as follows: Friday will see Houston’s RHP Paul Schmitz (1-0, 0.00 ERA) facing off against UTRGV’s RHP Sergio Lopez (0-0, 13.40 ERA). Saturday’s game will feature Houston’s RHP Kendall Hoffman (0-0, 0.00 ERA) against UTRGV’s LHP Victor Loa (0-1, 27.00 ERA). The Sunday starter for Houston is yet to be determined, while UTRGV will send RHP Mason Engel (0-0, 6.00 ERA) to the mound.
Cougars Appear to Continue Momentum
Houston returns a significant portion of its roster from last season, including five position starters, with Tyler Cox being the only Cougar to start every game in 2025. The team boasts a strong returning core of hitters and pitchers, with nearly 60 percent of innings pitched and 52 percent of strikeouts returning for the 2026 season. Junior Tre Broussard is a player to watch, having been ranked among the top 100 prospects for the 2026 MLB Draft by MLB.com (No. 46), FloBaseball (No. 79), and D1Baseball (No. 65).
The Cougars face a challenging schedule in 2026, with 29 of their 55 games against teams that finished in the Top 50 of the NCAA’s RPI and 25 games against teams that participated in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. They will battle five teams that finished 2025 in the Top 25 of RPI.
Historical Series Record
Historically, Houston leads the all-time series against UTRGV 29-26-1, holding a 20-12 advantage in games played in Houston. However, UTRGV has won the last three contests, with their most recent victory occurring on March 4, 2025, by a score of 9-5. Houston’s last win against UTRGV came on March 3, 2023, in a 7-5 victory in 13 innings. Under Head Coach Todd Whitting, Houston’s record against UTRGV is 4-5, with a 1-4 record in the last five matchups and a 5-5 record in the last ten.
Fans can support the Houston Baseball program through NIL opportunities and by joining the Dugout Club, which provides financial support beyond the team’s operating budget. Updates on the team can be found by following @UHCougarBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and by liking the Houston Cougar Baseball page on Facebook and following them on Instagram at @uhcougarbb.
As the Cougars commence their home schedule, the focus will be on maintaining their undefeated record and building momentum against a UTRGV team looking to break their losing streak. The series will provide an early test for Houston as they navigate a demanding schedule and aim for postseason success.
Share your thoughts on the upcoming series and the Cougars’ strong start to the season in the comments below!
