Houston Cougars Baseball Stuns No. 21 Wake Forest in Season Opener

Houston baseball opens the year with a bang.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Houston Cougars baseball team defeated No. 21 ranked Wake Forest 8-2 in their season opener at the Puerto Rico Challenge. This was the first ranked win for Houston since 2023 and a strong start to the season for the experienced Cougars squad.

Why it matters

Houston's upset victory over a ranked opponent to open the season is an impressive accomplishment that sets the tone for the rest of their campaign. The Cougars are looking to build on their success from last year and this win against a formidable ACC foe shows they have the talent and experience to compete with top teams.

The details

Houston got off to a hot start, scoring four runs in the third inning to take an early lead. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go up 6-0 before Wake Forest scored twice in the sixth. The Cougars then tacked on two more runs in the eighth to seal the victory. Senior right-hander Paul Schmitz earned the win with four shutout innings, while senior lefty Chris Scinta recorded the save with four more scoreless frames.

  • The game took place on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 8 a.m. Central Time.
  • This was the first NCAA Division I baseball game of the 2026 season.

The players

Houston Cougars

The baseball team from the University of Houston, competing in the NCAA Division I level.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The baseball team from Wake Forest University, ranked #21 in the preseason polls.

Todd Whitting

The head coach of the Houston Cougars baseball team.

Tyler Cox

A senior infielder for the Houston Cougars.

Blake Fields

A freshman center fielder for the Houston Cougars.

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What they’re saying

“COOGS HAND OUT THE FIRST UPSET OF THE SEASON‼️ 🚨@UHCougarBB opens it with a banger defeating No. 21 Wake Forest at the Puerto Rico Challenge, 8-2!”

— NCAA Baseball (Twitter)

“opening day UPSET dubs >>>”

— Houston Baseball (Twitter)

What’s next

Houston will continue the Puerto Rico Challenge, taking on Boston College at noon on Saturday and then facing Manhattan and Washington on Sunday and Monday.

The takeaway

Houston's decisive victory over a ranked opponent to open the season is an impressive accomplishment that demonstrates the Cougars' talent and experience. This upset win sets the team up for a promising campaign as they look to build on their success from last year and compete with top programs in Division I baseball.