2024 Houston Christian Huskies baseball team

2024 Houston Christian Huskies baseball
2024 Houston Christian Huskies baseball
Conference	Southland Conference
Record	18–31 (9–15 Southland)
Head coach	Lance Berkman (3rd season);
Assistant coaches	Clay Vanderlaan; Tyler Bremer; Sam McElrath;
Home stadium	Husky Field
	Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Southland Conference baseball standings
v t e	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
Lamar ‍†‍‍	17	–	7	.708	44	–	15	.746
Nicholls ‍†‍‍^y	16	–	8	.667	38	–	22	.633
New Orleans ‍‍‍	14	–	10	.583	31	–	26	.544
McNeese ‍‍‍	11	–	13	.458	32	–	27	.542
Northwestern State ‍‍‍	11	–	13	.458	22	–	33	.400
Southeastern Louisiana ‍‍‍	10	–	14	.417	30	–	28	.517
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi ‍‍‍	10	–	14	.417	22	–	35	.386
Incarnate Word ‍‍‍	10	–	14	.417	26	–	31	.456
Houston Christian ‍‍‍	9	–	15	.375	18	–	31	.367

† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament As of June 1, 2024^[1] Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2024 Houston Christian Huskies baseball team represented Houston Christian University, during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Huskies played their home games at Husky Field and were led by third–year head coach Lance Berkman, former star player with the Houston Astros. They are members of the Southland Conference. The Huskies had a regular season record of 18–31 and a conference record of 9–15 finishing in ninth place in SLC play. They did not qualify for the 2024 Southland Conference baseball tournament.

Previous season

The Huskies had a regular season record of 11–37 and a conference record of 7–16 finishing in ninth place in SLC play. They did not qualify for the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament.

Preseason

Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. Houston Christian was picked to finish ninth in the Southland Conference with 26 votes.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Coaches poll
1	Nicholls	126 (14)
2	Lamar	106 (1)
3	New Orleans	92 (3)
4	Incarnate Word	81
5	McNeese	67
6	Texas A&M–Corpus Christi	55
7	Southeastern Louisiana	53
8	Northwestern State	42
9	Houston Christian	26

Preseason All-Southland team

Samuel Benjamin was named to the conference preseason first team. ^[2]

First Team

Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)
Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)

*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

Second Team

Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)
Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
Grant Randall (UIW, SR, Utility)

*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

Roster

2024 Houston Christian Huskies baseball team

Players

Coaches

#	Pos.	Name	B/T	Height	Weight	Year	Home town
1	RHP	Trent Baker	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	So	Spring, TX
2	OF	Baylor Baunmann	R/R	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	So	Heath, Texas
3	OF	Damian Ruiz	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	So	Livingston, TX
4	INF	Cash Benavidez	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	So	Alice, TX
5	RHP	Cash McNicholas	R/R	5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Sr	Spring, TX
6	INF	Ty Hodge	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	So	College Station, TX
7	RHP	Justin Barry-Smith	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	So	The Woodlands, TX
8	OF	Samuel Benjamin	L/L	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Sr	Katy, TX
9	INF	Trevor Roper	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Jr	Midland, TX
10	LHP	Keevyn Goss	L/L	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Fr	Corpus Christi, TX
12	INF	Katcher Halligan	L/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Jr	Sugar Land, TX
13	RHP	Jonathan Valdez	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	So	College Station, TX
14	RHP	Jackson Hamilton	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	So	College Station, TX
15	RHP	Bennett Hanks	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	206 lb (93 kg)	Jr	Houston, TX
16	RHP	Dave Wilson	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Sr	Austin, TX
17	RHP	Brock Shoffner	R/R	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Sr	Houston, TX
18	RHP	James Kirkpatrick	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	Sr	Houston, TX
19	RHP	Jett Feltman	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Jr	Conroe, TX
21	RHP	Daxton Tinker	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Sr	Sulphur, Louisiana
22	RHP	Jarek Wells	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Sr	Spring Branch, TX
23	C	Dylan LaRue	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	So	Blanco, TX
24	C	Tyler LaRue	R/R	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Sr	Blanco, TX
25	OF	William Jewell	L/L	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Sr	Salinas, CA
26	RHP	Mark Lopez	R/R	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	Jr	Conroe, TX
28	C	Luke Bard	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	So	Castle Rock, CO
29	OF	Josh Prinner	L/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	Jr	Mountain Home, AR
31	INF	Graham Laxton	R/R	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	160 lb (73 kg)	Fr	Katy, TX
32	RHP	Nicholas Willard	R/R	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	168 lb (76 kg)	Sr	Yorktown, VA
33	OF	Ty Dagley	L/L	5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Fr	Katy, TX
35	RHP	Rye Gunter	R/R	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	Sr	Coppell, TX
36	RHP	Reagan Gayle	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	Fr	Cypress, TX
38	RHP	Brayden Gilley	R/R	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	Fr	Deer Park, TX
39	OF	Lane Sparks	L/L	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	Fr	Brenham, TX
43	C	Parker Edwards	R/R	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Sr	Houston, TX
44	INF	Jaquae Steward	L/L	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	230 lb (104 kg)	Fr	Sinton, TX
45	RHP	Cayden Maxwell	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Fr	Caldwell, TX
50	RHP	Nolan Wilson	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	So	Hockley, TX
51	RHP	Ethan Coronel	R/R	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	Fr	The Woodlands, TX
55	RHP	Christian Diaz	R/R	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Sr	Houston, TX

Head coach

Lance Berkman – 3rd season

Assistant coach(es)

Clay VanderLaan, Tyler Bremerr, and Sam McElreath - Volunteer Asst Coach

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2024-04-14

Schedule and results

Legend
	Houston Christian win
	Houston Christian loss
	Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold	Houston Christian team member
*	Non-Conference game
†	Make-Up Game

2024 Houston Christian Huskies baseball game log

Regular season (18–31)

February (4–6)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Feb. 16	Le Moyne*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–3	Lopez, Mark (1-0)	HOFFACKER, Billy (0-1)	None		150	1–0
Feb. 17	Le Moyne*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–11 (10 inn)	Smith, Kennen	Edwards, Parker (0-1)	None		178	1–1
Feb. 18	Le Moyne*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	1–0	Willard, Nicholas (1-0)	HOFFACKER, Billy (0-2)	None		134	2–1
Feb. 18	Le Moyne*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	7–6	McNicholas, Cash (1-0)	DANAHER, Max (0-1)	None		174	3–1
Feb. 20	at Texas*	14	UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX	3–20	Tumis, Easton (1-0)	Dagley, Ty (0-1)	None	LHN	6,863	3–2
Sugar Land Classic
Feb. 24	vs. Creighton*		Constellation Field • Sugar Land, TX	1–22 (7 inn)	Dominic Cancellieri (2-0)	Kirkpatrick, James (0-1)	None		292	3–3
Feb. 24	vs. UIC*		Constellation Field • Sugar Land, TX	7–10	BAK, Brandon (1-0)	Willard, Nicholas (1-1)	LAWLER, Reece (1)		542	2–4
Feb. 25	vs. Stephen F. Austin*		Constellation Field • Sugar Land, TX	19–9 (7 inn)	Feltman, Jett (1-0)	Kade Parker (0-2)	None		283	4–4

Feb. 27	at Sam Houston*		Don Sanders Stadium • Huntsville, TX	3–14	Gavi Coldiron (1-0)	Coronel, Ethan (0-1)	None		848	4–5
Feb. 29	Eastern Michigan*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–14	JONES, Bobby (1-1)	Kirkpatrick, James (0-2)	None		113	4–6

March (5–12)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Mar 1	Eastern Michigan*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	6–5	Willard, Nicholas (2-1)	PIRKLE, Aaron (0-1)	N0ne		87	5–6
Mar 1	Eastern Michigan*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–0	Goss, Keevyn (1-0)	KUNST, Jimmy (0-1)	None		128	6–6
Mar 2	Eastern Michigan*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	8–4	Feltman, Jett (2-0)	CHITTUM, Nick (1-2)	Diaz, Christian (1)		117	7–6
Mar 7	at Southern Illinois*		Itchy Jones Stadium • Carbondale, IL	11–13	Kade Coombe (1-0)	Valdez, Jonathan (0-1)	Easton Dermody (2)		156	7–7
Mar 8	at Southern Illinois*		Itchy Jones Stadium • Carbondale, IL	2–4	Mike Hansell (2-1)	Edwards, Parker (1-2)	Anthony Pron (2)		132	7–8
Mar 9	at Southern Illinois*		Itchy Jones Stadium • Carbondale, IL	1–13 (7 inn)	Al Holguin (1-1)	Feltman, Jett (2-1)	None		432	7–9
Mar 13	at Texas State*		Bobcat Ballpark • San Marcos, TX	6–12	Zabel, Peyton (2-1)	Goss, Keevyn (0-1)	None		1,544	7–10
Mar 15	at Rice*		Reckling Park • Houston, TX	7–10	Tom Vincent (1-0)	Baumann, Baylor (0-1)	Davion Hickson (2)	ESPN+	1,978	7–11
Mar 16	Rice*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	3–7	J.D. McCracken (2-1)	Edwards, Parker (1-3)	Tyler Hamilton (1)			7–12
Mar 17	at Rice*		Reckling Park • Houston, TX	6–10	Mauricio Rodriguez (1-0)	Feltman, Jett (2-2)	Davion Hickson (3)	ESPN+	2,029	7–13
Mar 23	Lamar		Husky Field • Houston, TX	1–8	Caple, Brooks (3-2)	Willard, Nicholas (2-2)	None	ESPN+	312	7–14	0–1
Mar 23	Lamar		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–6	Ellis, Jacob (4-0)	Edwards, Parker (1-4)	Perez, Andres (4)		293	7–15	0–2
Mar 24	Lamar		Husky Field • Houston, TX	9–11	Moseley, Kyle (2-0)	Hamilton, Jackson (0-1)	Neal, Austin (3)	ESPN+	293	7–16	0–3
Mar 26	at Texas A&M*		Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park • College Station, TX	3–6	Chris Cortez (2–1)	Ethan Coronel (0–1)	None		4,784	7–17
Mar 28	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	1–11 (7 inn)	Stuprich, Brennan (3-2)	Willard, Nicholas (2-3)	None	ESPN+	1,343	7–18	0–4
Mar 28	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	9–2	Edwards, Parker (2-3)	Lee, Dakota (0-2)	None	ESPN+	1,332	8–18	1–4
Mar 29	at Southeastern Louisiana		Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA	7–0	Gunter, Rye (1-0)	Kinzeler, Will (1-2)	Feltman, Jett (1)	ESPN+	1,290	9–18	2–4

April (6–10)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
Apr 2	at Baylor*		Baylor Ballpark • Waco, TX	5–13	Calder, Ethan (3-1)	Valdez, Jonathan (0-2)	None	ESPN+	1,565	9–19
Apr 5	New Orleans		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–15 (7 inn)	Mercer, Colton (4-3)	Baumann, Baylor (0-2)	None	ESPN+	193	9–20	2–5
Apr 6	New Orleans		Husky Field • Houston, TX	7–1	Edwards, Parker (3-4)	Edwards, Grant (2-3)	Willard, Nicholas (1)		213	10–20	3–5
Apr 7	New Orleans		Husky Field • Houston, TX	11–4	Gunter, Rye (2-0)	Dennis, Cortez (0-2)	None	ESPN+	189	11–20	4–5
Apr 12	at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX	6–2	Hamilton, Jackson (1-1)	Hill, Jack (1-3)	None	ESPN+	350	12–20	5–5
Apr 13	at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX	17–1	Edwards, Parker (4-4)	Hunsaker, Riley (4-3)	None	ESPN+	150	13–20	6–5
Apr 14	at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi		Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX	12–13	Maddox Thornton (1–3)	Jett Feltman (2–3)	Jack Hill (2)	ESPN+	252	13–21	6–6
Apr 16	at Houston		Schroeder Park • Houston, TX	0–10 (8 inn)	Wright, Dan. (2-0)	Valdez, Jonathan (0-3)	None	ESPN+	1,047	13–22
Apr 19	Nicholls		Husky Field • Houston, TX	2–14 (7 inn)	Mayers, Jacob (3-0)	Coronel, Ethan (0-3)	None	ESPN+	337	13–23	6–7
Apr 20	Nicholls		Husky Field • Houston, TX	6–9	Desandro, Devin (4-3)	Willard, Nicholas (2-4)	Saltaformaggio, Nico (1)		273	13–24	6–8
Apr 21	Nicholls		Husky Field • Houston, TX	5–6 (12 inn)	Farley, Dylan (2-2)	Shoffner, Brock (0-1)	None		115	13–25	6–9
Apr 23	Stephen F. Austin*		Husky Field • Houston, TX	8–3	Valdez, Jonathan (1-3)	Will Larson (0-2)	None	179		14–25
Apr 24	at Louisiana*	17	M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA	10–9	Ryan, Zach (1-0)	Blake McGehee (2-2)	Wells, Jarek (1)	ESPN+	2,817	15–25
Apr 26	at Northwestern State		H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA	5–11	Prestwich, Chase (4-4)	Edwards, Parker (4-5)	Marquez, Alejandro (1)	ESPN+	672	15–26	6–10
Apr 27	at Northwestern State		H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA	2–5	Bryan, Tyler (1-1)	Gunter, Rye (2-1)	None	ESPN+	737	15–27	6–11
Apr 28	at Northwestern State		H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA	4–14 (7 inn)	Flowers, Dawson (2-3)	Hamilton, Jackson (1-2)	None	ESPN+	762	15–28	6–12

May (3–3)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SLC record
May 3	at Nevada*		William Peccole Park • Reno, NV			Cancelled
May 4	at Nevada*		William Peccole Park • Reno, NV			Cancelled
May 5	at Nevada*		William Peccole Park • Reno, NV			Cancelled
May 10	McNeese		Husky Field • Houston, TX	2–6	Voss, Zach (1-4)	Edwards, Parker (4-6)	None	ESPN+	933	15–29	6–13
May 11	McNeese		Husky Field • Houston, TX	6–13	Brock Barthelemy (3-0)	Gunter, Rye (2-2)	None		1,024	15–30	6–14
May 11	McNeese		Husky Field • Houston, TX	9–7	Lopez, Mark (1-0)	Ty Abraham (3-3)	Wells, Jarek (2)		1,024	16–30	7–14
May 16	Incarnate Word		Husky Field • Houston, TX	4–2	Edwards, Parker (5-5)	Salinas, Josh (5-3)	Diaz, Christian (2)		112	17–30	8–14
May 18	Incarnate Word		Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX^[3]	5–3	Lopez, Mark (3-0)	Zavala, Isaiah (4-5)	None	ESPN+		18–30	9–14
May 18	Incarnate Word		Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX^[3]	4–14	Berens, Micah (2-3)	Hamilton, Jackson (1-3)	None	ESPN+	124	18–31	9–15

Legend: = Win = Loss = Canceled
Bold = Houston Christian team member
Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Schedule Source:^[4]^[5]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll. |}

References

^ "2024 Southland Conference Baseball Standings". southland.org. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
^ ^a ^b James Hill (February 8, 2024). "Nicholls Chosen to Repeat at Southland Baseball Champions; Preseason All-Conference Team Released". Southland Conference. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "BSB: Saturday's Doubleheader Moved to Lamar University at 2 pm - The Huskies and Cardinals will play two in Beaumont". Houston Christian University. May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
^ "2023 Baseball Schedule". Houston Christian University Athletics. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
^ Phil Stratton (September 25, 2023). "Extra Bases - 2024 Team Schedules". College Baseball Insider. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

[1] "2024 Southland Conference Baseball Standings". southland.org. Retrieved June 4, 2024.

[Polls-2] James Hill (February 8, 2024). "Nicholls Chosen to Repeat at Southland Baseball Champions; Preseason All-Conference Team Released". Southland Conference. Retrieved February 8, 2024.

[Venue_change-3] "BSB: Saturday's Doubleheader Moved to Lamar University at 2 pm - The Huskies and Cardinals will play two in Beaumont". Houston Christian University. May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2024.

[4] "2023 Baseball Schedule". Houston Christian University Athletics. Retrieved December 21, 2023.

[5] Phil Stratton (September 25, 2023). "Extra Bases - 2024 Team Schedules". College Baseball Insider. Retrieved January 13, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Houston Christian Huskies baseball
Venues	Andy Anderson Field (1965) HBC Diamond (1965–1970) Bayland Park (1990–1992) Husky Field (1993–present)
People	Head coaches
Seasons	2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024