SUGAR LAND – Tickets are now on sale as Sam Houston State baseball faces the University of Houston in first game of the inaugural Sanders Cup Series on Tuesday, April 18 at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters.

General admission tickets for the 7 p.m. matchup are available for $11 each and can be purchased at SugarLandSkeeters.com, by calling 281-240-4487 or visiting the Skeeters TDECU Ticket Office located at Constellation Field. The ticket office is open daily Monday-Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Group seating in party suites is also available for purchase by calling the TDECU Ticket Office.

The game will be the first of three against the Cougars, with single-game matchups scheduled in Huntsville and Houston, for the Sanders Cup. The series honors Don Sanders, a Houston philanthropist and Sam Houston alumnus who has made contributions to both universities.

Sanders is also the namesake of the Bearkat baseball home, Don Sanders Stadium, and donated $1 million to establish an endowment fund to enhance the baseball program.

“Don Sanders means so much to this university,” head coach Matt Deggs said. “What a story, life and legacy. He's done a lot not only for Sam Houston State but him and Bret Sanders have done a lot for both universities. For Todd (Whitting) and his program to come together with us and put something on the line and play three times does nothing but benefit both schools greatly.”

Sanders is founder and chairman of the investment firm Sanders Morris Harris. He is a former owner of the Houston Sports Association and the Houston Astros Baseball Club and currently, along with Nolan Ryan, is co-owner of Ryan-Sanders Baseball. Ryan-Sanders Baseball owns the Texas Rangers' Class AAA Round Rock Express and the Astros' Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks.

“Both Todd and I looked at it and we understand the landscape of college baseball,” Deggs said. “What Houston has done over there is remarkable. They have put together a consistent top-25 program. For us to get together and play each other three times does nothing but benefit both programs from an RPI standpoint and from a fan standpoint. Geographically, it makes for a natural rivalry.”

The Bearkats are no stranger to Constellation Field, which serves as the site for the Southland Conference Tournament championship. Sam Houston won the event a season ago at the facility and advanced to the tournament title game the year prior.