Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez (37) during Houston’s 7-1 defeat to TCU at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, May 23, 2025 | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Senior infielder Cole Cramer and freshman infielder Noah Franco were the bulk of No. 3 seed TCU’s offense in going a combined 4-for-9 with six runs batted in, handing No. 11 seed Houston baseball a 7-1 loss to end its postseason run in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Thursday. 

“Those guys just fought to the end,” coach Todd Whitting said. “We scratched in a run at the end, had some baserunners and had a couple of chances to take swings to get back into it, and it just didn’t work out.”

Sophomore Tommy LaPour held the Cougars to just two hits in 6.1 innings of work, having retired the first 13 he faced and earning the winning decision for TCU to improve to 8-2 on his season.

“I thought LaPour was really, really good,” Whitting said. “There’s not many teams in the country that could beat him tonight.” 

Scoring opened in the bottom of the first for the Horned Frogs, when freshman outfielder Sawyer Strosnider’s one-out triple down the line in right set the table for an infield RBI single by Cramer to give TCU an early 1-0 lead. 

After allowing an infield single and a walk to open the bottom of the second, junior pitcher Chris Scinta was lifted in favor of graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean, whose use was intended to be saved from Houston’s opening round win.

In recording just three outs, Scinta surrendered three earned runs and allowed three walks, handing him the loss to end his season with a 4-2 mark. 

Four pitches into his outing, Jean hit sophomore infielder Colton Griffin to load the bases. On the way to the bag at first, Griffin was ejected after appearing to have shouted back towards home plate, leaving coach Kirk Saarloos and the TCU dugout barking in disapproval of the umpiring crew’s decision. 

What ensued for the Horned Frogs was a one-out explosion fueled by the momentum of Griffin’s ejection.

On a 3-0 green light, Cramer chopped a two-run infield single to make it 3-0. In the process, a throwing error by redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez allowed pinch-running senior infielder Brody Green to advance to third. 

Franco followed on the next pitch with a two-run single up the middle to inflate TCU’s lead to 5-0, capping off the crooked second. 

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Franco took advantage of a mistake from Jean to break the contest wide open with a solo home run to right, making it 6-0.

Jean took a standing ovation in stepping off the mound one last time as a Cougar, after surrendering two earned runs on four hits in four innings of work. 

“It meant a lot to me to have that moment,” Jean said. “Obviously, it was a little emotional, but stuff happened.”

Jean still earned praise from his coach, who acknowledged the limits of using a single pitcher.

“I’ve had very few guys, maybe not any, with the competitiveness that he had,” Whitting said. “I wish it was kind of like softball where I could throw him in every game, but I can’t.”

Also in his final game as a Cougar, senior two-way player Malachi Lott managed to salvage a one-out single in the top of the seventh.

“When I was at Sam Houston, especially playing against UH, it just felt wrong,” Lott said, in describing what being a Cougar meant to him. “I was wearing the wrong colors, I was wearing the wrong uniform, and so it just means everything. The people that I’ve met along the way, I’ll never forget.”

In the bottom of the seventh, freshman catcher Nolan Traeger singled through the right side to bring home sophomore outfielder Chase Brunson, giving TCU its largest lead of the night at 7-0.

Houston managed to avoid the shutout down to its final three outs when Perez laced an RBI single into left, but TCU’s lead held firm.

The Cougars, whose RPI rating dropped to 92 following the loss, ended the season with an overall record of 30-25 and an overall run differential of +10.

Despite a five-win improvement in Big 12 play and a win in its first conference tournament game, Houston faces a daunting offseason. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston baseball routed by TCU in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal exit” was originally posted on The Cougar

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis (17) celebrates in the dugout after being driven in during the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 win versus Kansas State | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez and redshirt freshman outfielder Evan Haeger each batted in two runs, the bulk of what powered No. 11 seed Houston, in its Big 12 baseball tournament debut, to a 9-2 opening round upset win over No. 6 seed Kansas State at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday.

“Having Connor back in the lineup showed he was a big force tonight,” coach Todd Whiting said. “We’ve gone most of Big 12 play without him and I think that just kind of energized our team the last couple of weeks. He’s going to be here for the postseason run.”

McGinnis, who went 3-for-5 on the night with two doubles, provided the start of the Cougars’ unanswered cushion with his two-out, two-run double in the top of the second, which capped off the crooked five-run frame for Houston. 

“It’s huge,” McGinnis said. “Me being out for some of the season, being able to come back and being there for my guys is really huge.”

Scoring opened in the contest when sophomore infielder Dee Kennedy laced a two-out two-run single into center to give Kansas State an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as the result of junior Paul Schmitz’s early bases-loaded jam. 

What ensued in the following frame was the beginning of a response the Cougars would leave unanswered for the night. 

Junior infielder Tyler Cox’s one-out double allowed for junior outfielder Brandon Bishop’s RBI double down the line in right to score him and cut Houston’s deficit in half at 2-1.

Senior two-way player Malachi Lott followed on the next pitch with an RBI single through the right side to knot the contest up 2-2. 

With two outs, junior catcher Kenneth Jimenez gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead on an RBI single to left, which set the table for McGinnis’ two-run double.

“I thought that showed the resiliency of our ball club,” Whitting said. “We’ve been in that spot before in a lot of times, in a lot of situations this year, having come back and won that game.”

In the top of the fifth, after McGinnis led off with a single, Perez recorded his first hit of the night on an RBI triple that scored McGinnis from first to make it 6-2. 

The 1-2 punch provided more insurance in the top of seventh, as McGinnis’ second double of the night allowed Perez to roll him home on an RBI single up the middle. 

Haeger, who replaced Bishop in right field, broke the contest wide open on a two-run single up the middle, giving the Cougars their firmly-held 9-2 lead. 

Despite Schmitz recording a season-low three outs, the Houston bullpen took the baton to keep the offensive efforts unanswered and save graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean for later work. 

“I was expecting to go in and do my job for sure,” graduate Andres Perez said. “But it’s really good that we have Antoine tomorrow.”

The bulk of work out of the pen came from Perez, who pitched a career-high four innings on 61 pitches and tied a career-high with four strikeouts. His shutout efforts earned him the winning decision to improve him to 3-1 on the season.

“If you look at Andres’ numbers over the course of Big 12 play, it’s really not a surprise of what he did tonight,” Whitting said. “It’s similar to what Antoine’s been doing.” 

Senior Brady Fuller took on the final three innings to record his first save on the season.

The Cougars, who reached their first 30-win season as a member of the Big 12, will look to continue their postseason run, as they prepare to take on No. 3 seed TCU in the quarterfinals Thursday at approximately 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Survive and thrive: Houston baseball upsets Kansas State in Big 12 Tournament debut” was originally posted on The Cougar

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis (17) celebrates in the dugout after being driven in during the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 win versus Kansas State | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

ARLINGTON—Junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez and redshirt freshman outfielder Evan Haeger each batted in two runs, the bulk of what powered No. 11 seed Houston, in its Big 12 baseball tournament debut, to a 9-2 opening round upset win over No. 6 seed Kansas State at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday.

“Having Connor back in the lineup showed he was a big force tonight,” coach Todd Whiting said. “We’ve gone most of Big 12 play without him and I think that just kind of energized our team the last couple of weeks. He’s going to be here for the postseason run.”

McGinnis, who went 3-for-5 on the night with two doubles, provided the start of the Cougars’ unanswered cushion with his two-out, two-run double in the top of the second, which capped off the crooked five-run frame for Houston. 

“It’s huge,” McGinnis said. “Me being out for some of the season, being able to come back and being there for my guys is really huge.”

Scoring opened in the contest when sophomore infielder Dee Kennedy laced a two-out two-run single into center to give Kansas State an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as the result of junior Paul Schmitz’s early bases-loaded jam. 

What ensued in the following frame was the beginning of a response the Cougars would leave unanswered for the night. 

Junior infielder Tyler Cox’s one-out double allowed for junior outfielder Brandon Bishop’s RBI double down the line in right to score him and cut Houston’s deficit in half at 2-1.

Senior two-way player Malachi Lott followed on the next pitch with an RBI single through the right side to knot the contest up 2-2. 

With two outs, junior catcher Kenneth Jimenez gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead on an RBI single to left, which set the table for McGinnis’ two-run double.

“I thought that showed the resiliency of our ball club,” Whitting said. “We’ve been in that spot before in a lot of times, in a lot of situations this year, having come back and won that game.”

In the top of the fifth, after McGinnis led off with a single, Perez recorded his first hit of the night on an RBI triple that scored McGinnis from first to make it 6-2. 

The 1-2 punch provided more insurance in the top of seventh, as McGinnis’ second double of the night allowed Perez to roll him home on an RBI single up the middle. 

Haeger, who replaced Bishop in right field, broke the contest wide open on a two-run single up the middle, giving the Cougars their firmly-held 9-2 lead. 

Despite Schmitz recording a season-low three outs, the Houston bullpen took the baton to keep the offensive efforts unanswered and save graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean for later work. 

“I was expecting to go in and do my job for sure,” graduate Andres Perez said. “But it’s really good that we have Antoine tomorrow.”

The bulk of work out of the pen came from Perez, who pitched a career-high four innings on 61 pitches and tied a career-high with four strikeouts. His shutout efforts earned him the winning decision to improve him to 3-1 on the season.

“If you look at Andres’ numbers over the course of Big 12 play, it’s really not a surprise of what he did tonight,” Whitting said. “It’s similar to what Antoine’s been doing.” 

Senior Brady Fuller took on the final three innings to record his first save on the season.

The Cougars, who reached their first 30-win season as a member of the Big 12, will look to continue their postseason run, as they prepare to take on No. 3 seed TCU in the quarterfinals Thursday at approximately 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Survive and thrive: Houston baseball upsets Kansas State in Big 12 Tournament debut” was originally posted on The Cougar

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis (17) celebrates in the dugout after being driven in during the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 9-2 win versus Kansas State | Ashton Grissom/The Cougar

Junior infielder Connor McGinnis, redshirt sophomore outfielder Xavier Perez and redshirt freshman outfielder Evan Haeger each batted in two runs, the bulk of what powered No. 11 seed Houston, in its Big 12 baseball tournament debut, to a 9-2 opening round upset win over No. 6 seed Kansas State at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday.

“Having Connor back in the lineup showed he was a big force tonight,” coach Todd Whiting said. “We’ve gone most of Big 12 play without him and I think that just kind of energized our team the last couple of weeks. He’s going to be here for the postseason run.”

McGinnis, who went 3-for-5 on the night with two doubles, provided the start of the Cougars’ unanswered cushion with his two-out, two-run double in the top of the second, which capped off the crooked five-run frame for Houston. 

“It’s huge,” McGinnis said. “Me being out for some of the season, being able to come back and being there for my guys is really huge.”

Scoring opened in the contest when sophomore infielder Dee Kennedy laced a two-out two-run single into center to give Kansas State an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as the result of junior Paul Schmitz’s early bases-loaded jam. 

What ensued in the following frame was the beginning of a response the Cougars would leave unanswered for the night. 

Junior infielder Tyler Cox’s one-out double allowed for junior outfielder Brandon Bishop’s RBI double down the line in right to score him and cut Houston’s deficit in half at 2-1.

Senior two-way player Malachi Lott followed on the next pitch with an RBI single through the right side to knot the contest up 2-2. 

With two outs, junior catcher Kenneth Jimenez gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead on an RBI single to left, which set the table for McGinnis’ two-run double.

“I thought that showed the resiliency of our ball club,” Whitting said. “We’ve been in that spot before in a lot of times, in a lot of situations this year, having come back and won that game.”

In the top of the fifth, after McGinnis led off with a single, Perez recorded his first hit of the night on an RBI triple that scored McGinnis from first to make it 6-2. 

The 1-2 punch provided more insurance in the top of seventh, as McGinnis’ second double of the night allowed Perez to roll him home on an RBI single up the middle. 

Haeger, who replaced Bishop in right field, broke the contest wide open on a two-run single up the middle, giving the Cougars their firmly-held 9-2 lead. 

Despite Schmitz recording a season-low three outs, the Houston bullpen took the baton to keep the offensive efforts unanswered and save graduate reliever and Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Antoine Jean for later work. 

“I was expecting to go in and do my job for sure,” graduate Andres Perez said. “But it’s really good that we have Antoine tomorrow.”

The bulk of work out of the pen came from Perez, who pitched a career-high four innings on 61 pitches and tied a career-high with four strikeouts. His shutout efforts earned him the winning decision to improve him to 3-1 on the season.

“If you look at Andres’ numbers over the course of Big 12 play, it’s really not a surprise of what he did tonight,” Whitting said. “It’s similar to what Antoine’s been doing.” 

Senior Brady Fuller took on the final three innings to record his first save on the season.

The Cougars, who reached their first 30-win season as a member of the Big 12, will look to continue their postseason run, as they prepare to take on No. 3 seed TCU in the quarterfinals Thursday at approximately 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Survive and thrive: Houston baseball upsets Kansas State in Big 12 Tournament debut” was originally posted on The Cougar