Freshman's Complete Game Gives Cougars Win
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 15, 2003
University of Houston freshman pitcher Crystal Briscoe scattered four runs and three hits over seven complete innings, leading the Cougars to an 8-4 win over the University of Pittsburgh in the second day of the Hilton Houston Plaza Cougar Invitational at the Cougar Softball Complex.
With the win the Cougars improve to 4-4 on the year, while the Panthers fall to 1-3.
Starting for the third time this season, Briscoe survived a rocky first inning in which Pittsburgh scored two runs without the benefit of a hit. The UH defense committed three errors in the frame, and the Panthers were able to capitalize.
After the first inning Briscoe settled down and did not give up her first hit until the fifth inning. The Buffalo, Texas native showed signs of tiring in the seventh, giving up back-to-back doubles and two runs before closing out Pittsburgh with a strikeout and a flyout to leftfield. With the win Briscoe improves to 2-1 on the year, with batters only hitting .169 against her.
The Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to knot the game at two. Jenilee Skender and Candis Turnbo led off with back-to-back single, and both advanced a base on a Brooke Johnson groundout. With two outs Jaci Gonzalez plated both runs with a single up the middle.
In the next inning the Cougars took control of the game with four runs, highlighted by a solo shot by Arelis Ferreris, her second of the season and 20th of her career, and a two-out, two-run double by Gonzalez.
UH capped their scoring with two more in the bottom of the sixth, when third baseman Kristen Glowacz connected on a two-run homer to left. For Glowacz, it was her fourth home run of the season, with all four coming in the last two days.
Ferreris, Gonzales and Skender all had two hits a piece for the Cougars, with Gonzales leading all Houston hitters with three RBI.
The Cougars will close out the three-day tournament with a game a piece against Northern Iowa and Stephen F. Austin tomorrow.
Pittsburgh 200 000 2 4 3 2
Houston 024 002 x 8 9 5
WP-Briscoe (2-1)
LP-Gasti (0-2)
E-Velazquez 2; Gonzales (3); Davis (1); Glowacz (4). LOB - Panthers 5; Cougars 8. 2B - Andrews; DiMaria; Gonzales (3). HR - Ferreris (2); Glowacz (4). SH - Gill; Nesloney (1). SB - DiMaria. CS - Thomas.
