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University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Pound Out Two Wins To Start Tournament
2/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2003
The University of Houston softball team pounded out 28 hits and scored 29 runs in taking a pair of contests to start the first day of the Hilton Houston Plaza Cougar Invitational taking part at the Cougar Softball Complex. The Cougars defeated Sam Houston State, 11-7, then scored a school-record 18 runs in shutting out Texas Southern, 18-0.
Houston improves to 3-4 on the season and will play Pittsburgh and Stephen F. Austin State tomorrow in the second day of the tournament.
In the nightcap the Cougars tied a school record with five home runs, including two by sophomore third baseman Kristen Glowacz. After a scoreless first inning, the Cougars jumped on Texas Southern starter Dreana Lemon for two runs in the second, five in the third, two more in the second and then a nine spot in the fifth before the eight-run rule was implemented to end the onslaught after five complete innings.
Glowacz homered for the first time in the third, plating sophomore Jenilee Skender with a towering shot to left field. Later in the inning junior Candis Turnbo singled and stole second. Junior Michelle Whipple, making her first start of her career in left field, singled to score Turnbo, and then after a three-base fielding error by TSU put senior Amber King on third, junior Lindsay Durham singled through the left side to give UH a commanding 7-0 lead.
The fifth inning was an explosive one for the Cougars, as Glowacz and junior Arelis Ferreris hit back-to-back shots, later followed by freshman Brandi Clark?s first career home run, boosting the Cougar lead to 18-0. As mentioned, the 18 runs is a school record, breaking the previous mark of 14 scored twice against SFA on February 16, 2002, and then South Florida on March 2, 2002.
Freshman pitcher Crystal Briscoe picked up her first career victory, pitching four innings of one-hit ball. Briscoe retired the first 10 batter she faced before hitting a batter and allowing a one-out hit to Davon Spates.
Against Sam Houston in the first game, the Cougars jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead before seeing the Bearkats claw back to within one run, 7-6, after a grand slam in the third and two runs in the fourth. Houston countered with three in the bottom half of the fourth and then tacked on a single run in the sixth.
Junior Jenny Johnson began the game for the Cougars, lasting three-and-third innings before being relieved by junior Jamie Falco, who pitched the final three-and-a-third innings to improve to 1-2 on the year. Even though she was not credited with the win, Jenny Johnson allowed only one earned run and two hits while striking out four.
Glowacz hit her first home run of the season in the first inning to stake the Cougars to a 4-0 lead. A pair of sophomores, second baseman Jeanie Davis and centerfielder Kim Nesloney, had the hot bats for the Cougars, as both pounded out a team-high three hits against Sam Houston State.
Against TSU every Cougar starter except for shortstop Jaci Gonzalez had one hit, including a game-high three hits by King. Glowacz led the Cougars with five RBI against the Lady Tigers and eight on the day.
---www.UHcougars.com---
