The 2006 Conference USA baseball season officially got underway this week with Rice, Houston and UCF playing non-conference games.

Rice started the season 2-0 with wins over Central Missouri State (9-0) and McNeese State (6-2). Rice banged out 14 hits for 9 runs including three home runs, two doubles and a triple. While the pitching struck out 12 and limited Central Missouri to only three hits, Joe Savery (1-0) picked up the victory. Against McNeese St. the pitching staff kept it going striking out 17 batters and allowing only 4 hits, Bobby Bell (1-0) earned the win. The offense came off the bat of freshman Aaron Luna, who hit his third homerun of the season. Next up for Rice will be the Houston College Classic where they will play Texas Tech, Texas, and TCU over the weekend.

Houston won their season opener in thrilling fashion over Texas-San Antonio 11-10. After being behind numerous times in the game the Cougars found themselves behind once again, in the bottom of the tenth, until junior Brad Lincoln blasted a three run homerun to lift the Cougars to the victory. Clint Corrigan (1-0) picked up the win for the cougars who will also play in the Houston College Classic this weekend. They are scheduled to play Texas, TCU, and then Texas Tech to finish up the weekend.

The University of Central Florida had a rocky start to their 2006 season, losing a pair of games to Florida International this past Sunday, 4-3 and 13-3. UCF earned their first victory Tuesday with a 8-4 win over Bethune-Cookman, junior Brian Brooks (1-0) picked up the victory in one inning of relief. Next for Central Florida will be North Florida on February 17th at Jay Bergman Field.