UHV's Puhl after 300th career coaching win

The University of Houston-Victoria baseball team will have a little extra incentive when they opening the 2021 season on Friday and Saturday in New Orleans against the Loyola Wolf Pack at Segnette Field.

UHV coach Terry Puhl is one win shy of his 300th career coaching victory as the two teams meet in a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. Friday action gets underway at 3 p.m., with Saturday's twinbill starting at noon. Puhl's coaching record at UHV is currently 299-296.

The Jaguars return a good nucleus from last year's squad including right fielder Luis Vargas (SR/Barquisimeto Lara, Venezuela), who was leading the team in hitting when their season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vargas led the team with 22 hits, a .415 batting average, a .679 slugging percentage, 16 RBI, five doubles and three home runs. Also among the leading returnees are Jose Jimenez Antonio (SO/Veracruz, Mexico) who was hitting .364 when the season ended, along with Garrett Harrison (SR/Victoria, TX) who had a .327 average and Corben Henry (SR/Alvin, TX) who was hitting .296.

Puhl will also be looking at several newcomers to step in and battle for starting roles and they include, James Turnbull (JR/Medford, OR), Ryan Mota (JR/Corpus Christi, TX), Richard Gill III, Cody Matowritz, Michael Hernandez (SO/Bryan, Tx), James Spera (SR/Bluffton, IN), Cade Mitscherling (NA), Levi Whitlock (FR/Alvin, TX), Zach Lee (JR/El Campo, TX) and Matthew Haas (FR/Richmond, TX).

The Wolf Pack return their top two pitchers in Wyatt Lankford and Wes Anderson. Both were 4-1, while Lankford had a 1.37 ERA in five starts and Anderson a 2.68 ERA in seven starts.

Offensively, the Wolf Pack was led by Payton Alexander (.375 average, 18 RBI), Alen Dennis (.288, 4 home runs, 24 RBI), Brandon Duhon (.359, 17 RBI) and Patrick Crifasi (.378, 11 RBI) last season.

Live stats from the games can be found at: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10

Following the four-game road series, the Jaguars return to action on Feb. 5-6 at Riverside Stadium with their home opener against No. 2 ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.