VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton baseball begins its 52-game schedule with a three-game set at Big 12 member University of Houston this weekend. The Bearcats and first-time foe Cougars will play single games Friday night ad Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 3,500-capacity Schroeder Park.

Binghamton returns six position starters but will feature two new rotation guys after senior captain and all-conference pitcher Gabe Driscoll takes the ball on Friday. Driscoll went 7-1 last season and is 10-2 in his four-year Bearcat career. Sophomore transfer Ryan Bates and senior transfer Nelson Berkwich will pitch the remaining games in the series. Binghamton was picked to win the America East after finishing as tournament runnerup in 2023. The Bearcats have won 11 combined regular season and tournament titles since 2007 and have reached the America East championship round in three of the last four years. Head coach Tim Sinicki's program advanced to the NCAA Regionals in 2022 after winning its fifth America East postseason crown.  

Houston won 36 games last spring and has made 22 NCAA appearances. They made the move from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 this season and were picked ninth of 13 in the preseason poll, which slated TCU, Texas and Oklahoma State in the top three spots. The Cougars boast two preseason All-Americans in closer and utility player Justin Murray and graduate shortstop Jake Rainess. Murray made 10 saves and led the AAC with a .379 batting average last spring. Rainess starred at Maine, where he belted 16 home runs and was an America East first team all-conference selection. At the top of Houston's pitching rotation is 6-foot-5 junior right-hander Jaxon Jelkin, who was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The program currently has six alums playing in the Major Leagues.    

Projected Weekend Matchups
Friday, Feb. 16 - 7:30 p.m. (ET)  
RHP Gabe Driscoll (BU) vs. RHP Jaxon Jelkin (UH) | ESPN+ | Listen | Live Stats

Saturday, Feb. 17 - 4 p.m. (ET)  
RHP Ryan Bates (BU) vs. LHP Antoine Jean (UH) | ESPN+ | Listen | Live Stats

Sunday, Feb. 18 - noon (ET)
LHP Nelson Berkwich (BU) vs. RHP Duncan Howard (UH) | ESPN+ | Listen | Live Stats