Mihalakis Triple and Sylvester Score Drive Houston Baseball Action

The University of Houston baseball team defeated the University of Arizona 7-5 in a 13-inning contest on May 9, 2026. The victory marked the second consecutive loss for Arizona against the Cougars, a result that diminishes the Wildcats’ prospects of qualifying for the Big XII Tournament in Surprise.

Houston initially took the lead with a solo home run hit by Riley Jackson. Arizona responded to tie the game when Cash Brennan hit a single that allowed Maddox Mihalakis to score. The Wildcats then took a 2-1 lead following a safety squeeze by Mathis Meurant, which drove in Cale Danzeisen.

Arizona extended its lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning after Carson McEntire connected for a two-run home run. The Wildcats maintained this advantage until the top of the seventh inning, when Houston’s Cade Climie hit a three-run home run to tie the game at 4-4.

Houston had several opportunities to break the tie in the later stages of the game. In the eighth inning, the Cougars had the bases loaded with the score tied at four, but a strikeout and a failed suicide squeeze ended the threat.

The game remained deadlocked into extra innings. In the bottom of the 12th, Arizona rallied to tie the game once more when Maddox Mihalakis hit a triple down the right field line, scoring Beau Sylvester from first base.

Houston secured the win in the 13th inning. Jackson LaLima hit a single that drove in Blake Fields to regain the lead for the Cougars, eventually resulting in the 7-5 final score.

On the mound for Arizona, Luc Fladda started the game after being moved up a day in the rotation due to Smith Bailey being out for the remainder of the season. Fladda pitched six innings, allowing one run and one earned run on 10 hits and one walk, though he recorded no strikeouts. Patrick Morris later surrendered the game-tying home run to Climie.

Statistically, Houston dominated the hitting categories but struggled to convert opportunities. The Cougars finished the game with 23 hits and left 20 runners on base. Arizona recorded 12 hits and left 11 runners on base.

Additional contributions for Houston included a double by Cade Climie that scored Tre Broussard. Broussard had previously reached base on a one-out single and stole second base to move into scoring position.