Game 8 | Schroeder Park (Houston)
Sam Houston (2-5, 0-0 CUSA) at Houston (4-2, 0-0 Big 12)
Tuesday, February 25 – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Projected Starters
SHSU: RHP Noah Kendrick (0-1, 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB)
HOU: TBA
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston Bearkats will be looking to get a leg up in the annual Don Sanders Cup Series on Tuesday evening when they travel to Schroeder Park for the first of three midweek games vs the Houston Cougars.
First pitch is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. with the game being aired on ESPN+ with Gerald Sanchez delivering the play-by-play.
The game can also be followed via live stats or by following @BearkatsBSB on X and Instagram.
The game will be the 179th in the all-time history between the Cougars and the seventh playing of the Don Sanders Cup series, an annual 3-game midweek battle between Sam Houston and Houston, which was established in 2017. The Kats won the Cup each of the first two seasons, while the Cougars have held it since 2019.
The Cougars will travel to Huntsville for the second game of the series on March 12, and the teams will conclude the series at Constellation Field in Sugar Land on March 18.
Sam Houston put an end to a 4-game losing skid on Sunday when it took the series finale from NJIT, concluding a weekend series played in wet and frigid conditions throughout. Tuesday's game against the Cougars will open a 9-game road stretch for the Kats which includes weekends at the Frisco Classic vs Nebraska, Kansas State and No. 2 LSU and three games at No. 16 Oklahoma a week later.
The Kats will not return to The Don until the second game of the Sanders Cup Series on March 12 vs the Cougars.
Right-handed sophomore Noah Kendrick will get his second consecutive midweek start of 2025 after logging 3.0 innings a week ago at Rice. It will be the first time in his career he has faced off against the Cougars.
Bearkat second baseman Ryan Franden led the offense last weekend vs NJIT, going 5-for-10 in the final two games of the series with four RBI. That effort included a game-tying, 2-run single late in Game 2 before a key RBI triple in the eighth on Sunday to secure the victory.
Ty Marthiljohni has been a pleasant surprise behind the plate early in 2025, leading the Kats with a .370 average and 10 total hits while Brady Christensen has already totaled six extra-base hits this year.
ALL-TIME SERIES vs HOUSTON
- The Kats will be looking to reclaim the Don Sanders Cup for the first time since 2018
- The Kats will be trying to win their first game at Schroeder Park since a 12-2 victory over the Cougars in 2017
