After experiencing winning teams throughout their careers at Mid-Pacific Institute, 2004 graduates Chris Freshour and Chris Goya were in for shock when they decided to accept scholarship offers to play baseball at Chicago State.

It wasn't so much the cold climate, even though they practiced with snow on the ground yesterday. It's just that since starting their careers there three seasons ago, the Cougars are 13-100.

"Being from Mid-Pac, where we were always winning, it's been a tough learning experience," said Freshour, a pitcher and first baseman, by phone from Chicago last night. "It's been tough. But if anything, it makes us stronger."

Freshour and outfielder Goya, both juniors, as well as sophomore catcher Preston Pires, a 2005 graduate of Kalani, arrive here today with the Cougars, who will play a five-game series with Hawai'i at Les Murakami Stadium. The Cougars (0-6) have yet to play a home game; they lost a three-game series at Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. and lost all three games at the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic in Evansville, Ind.

This will be the first collegiate games in their home state for the Hawai'i players. While Freshour and Goya said their parents have seen them play on the Mainland, this will mark the first time Pires' parents will see him play in a college game.

While they may be struggling for wins, the three said Chicago State — an independent this season after being in the Mid-Continent Conference the last time it was here — gave them a chance to play at the Division I level.

Freshour said the last time Chicago State was here in 2004, then-coach Terrence Jackson happened to catch a game at Mid-Pacific, which is next to the UH campus.

"They were interested and it was my only offer," Freshour said.

The Cougars also noticed Goya and got the package. They would join 2003 'Aiea graduate Jonathan Sakurai, an infielder who spent two seasons with the Cougars before transferring to Cal State Northridge after the 2005 season.

Sakurai said by phone yesterday he found Chicago State through a recruiting placement agency by providing a video tape of his games. (Sakurai went 7 for 14 to help the Matadors take 2 of 3 from Oklahoma State.)

Pires said he ended up at Chicago State through Sakurai.

"I got in contact with the coaches, then I found that there were two other Hawai'i guys here," Pires said.

The three share an apartment in the south side of Chicago, where the campus is located.

Freshour, a criminal justice major who wants to attend law school, said he enjoys the experience of living in a big city. They live close to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox.

"We go to a lot of White Sox games during the season," Freshour said.

Goya, a math major, said there are perks to going away for school to play ball.

"We get to travel everywhere, see a lot of places," he said.

There are 14 players from out of state among the 27 on the team. The three from Hawai'i are expected to play tour guide this weekend.

"They want us to show them around, show them where the hot spots are," Goya said.

Freshour has made two pitching starts for the Cougars. As reflective of the team's troubles, he is 0-2 with a 9.58 earned run average. He said he was scheduled to start tomorrow, but that is pending clearance from a rib injury he suffered in a base-running collision with a first baseman over the weekend. He played two games at first base when he hasn't pitched, batting 3 for 5 with an RBI.

Goya plays the outfield and second base, but is still looking for his first hit of the season. He is 0 for 11.

Pires, a reserve catcher, is 0 for 3 with two hit-by-pitches.

The Cougars are coached by Vern Hasty, his second season at the helm.

Meanwhile, Hawai'i (9-6) will try to shake off a three-game sweep from Wichita State, which moved up a notch in the national rankings to No. 11 by Baseball America.

Last Sunday's doubleheader and this week's rare five-game series started a ripple in UH's starting rotation. Ian Harrington will start tomorrow, but usual No. 2 starter Mark Rodrigues will be moved to No. 3 on Saturday to give him an extra day rest since he started on Sunday, coach Mike Trapasso said.

Josh Schneider also will start in Saturday's doubleheader. Only Friday's and Sunday's starters are to be determined. Trapasso said he is considering Cameron Wheeler for one of those starts.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.