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Texas A&M University-Victoria

Jags to face Dallas Christian College, honor legendary coach Terry Puhl

UHV head coach Jonathan Stavinoha (left) congratulates Juan Martin after a home run during a game against Mid-America Christian on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Riverside Stadium. (Sam Fowler/UHV Athletics)
UHV head coach Jonathan Stavinoha (left) congratulates Juan Martin after a home run during a game against Mid-America Christian on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, at Riverside Stadium. (Sam Fowler/UHV Athletics)
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February 29, 2024

The UHV baseball team will kick off a seven-game homestand this weekend when Dallas Christian College comes to town.

The Jaguars (9-6) kick off the four-game series with the Crusaders (4-8) on Friday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Riverside Stadium. The series will conclude Saturday with Terry Puhl Day and the team's annual barbecue plate sale and silent auction.

Prior to Saturday's 12 p.m. doubleheader, UHV will recognize the contributions of legendary coach Terry Puhl to the university's baseball program and athletics as a whole.

Puhl was announced as UHV's first-ever head coach in November, 2006, when athletics was founded. He guided the Jaguars to back-to-back A.i.i. Conference championships in 2009 and 2010, as well as NAIA Tournament appearances in 2009, 2010 and 2014. The Melville, Saskatchewan, native was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in 2022.

"I've been friends with Terry for six or seven years now," said head coach Jonathan Stavinoha. "His name says it all, what he did with the Astros and his whole career. Not only that, I don't think UHV athletics exists if it weren't for Terry Puhl. There were a lot of people involved, but he was a main player in making UHV athletics happen and getting it started. He's the reason we've had the success we've had through the years. He's played an integral part in UHV Jaguar baseball and athletics as a whole."

The Jaguars are coming off a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to No. 21 Texas Wesleyan on Monday at Rice University's Reckling Park. Eleven batters were left on base in the loss to the Rams.

UHV is hoping to turn the tide after dropping five of its last seven games, including two one-run games.

"We're just not putting a couple of things together and just coming up short," Stavinoha said. "That'll happen from time to time. But we've just got to get back to the basics, come together as a team and figure out some of the small stuff. We want to get out there, execute and get some confidence."

Kaden Fikac hit a three-run home run in the second inning against Texas Wesleyan to put UHV up 3-1 at the time. It was the second homer of the year from the Victoria native.

Fikac, Hal Perez and Juan Martin each have two home runs to their names this year to share the team lead.

Fikac, Martin and Raul Lopez share the RBI lead on the team with nine each.

"We've got more than enough pieces for this thing to really take off," Stavinoha said. "One hit here, one hit there and one extra something somewhere, and we can bust it open. Then we're not playing close games anymore."

Jacob Baker, a freshman, threw seven innings on Monday in his first start since Feb. 3. The right-hander from Cuero allowed one earned run on six hits to get his third consecutive quality start. Monday matched his season-high for innings pitched.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the Jaguars and Crusaders, who compete in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association. Dallas Christian has made four NCCAA World Series appearances, with the Crusaders' most recent coming last season.

"Our team just needs to focus on what we can do this week and put forth our best effort," Stavinoha said. "I want to see some leaders step up. Who's it going to be this game? Who's it going to be the next? It could be a different guy. But I want us to get back to the Jaguar mentality of making stuff happen. I really want the selflessness to start showing again this weekend and lead us into the rest of our conference games."

The barbecue plate sale, provided by La Lechonera Products, will start at 10 a.m. Saturday and plates are $20. Silent auction items for Saturday include tickets to either Astros, Rangers or Round Rock Express games, custom UHV bats, a Nolan Ryan signed baseball, a Roger Clemens signed baseball and more.

Tickets for each doubleheader can be purchased here.