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University of Houston
Missouri
Cougars Split in Day One of Fastpitch Classic
3/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2003
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Missouri but defeated Boston 5-2 in the first day of the 2003 Houston Crowne Plaza Fastpitch Classic Saturday at the Cougar Softball Stadium. The loss to Missouri stopped an 8-0 win streak for the Cougars, who improved their overall record to 19-11.
The Tigers (14-10) went on to shut out the Terriers (1-10) 4-0 in the final game of the day.
Jenilee Skender had Houston's first hit of the day, a solo home run to left field in the top of the second inning. Missouri responded in the fourth as Joanne Loethen doubled to right center and was advanced to third on a Sara Vassmer bunt. Heather Kunkel knocked in Loethen on a fielder's choice to tie the game as the Cougar defense knocked out the next three batters.
The Cougars threatened in the seventh inning when Jenny Baker (pinch running for Arelis Ferreris) advanced to third on a wild pitch by Erin Kalka. Candis Turnbo squeezed out a bunt to score Baker and pick up the RBI to give Houston the 2-1 lead.
Jamie Falco walked Rachael McGinnis to begin the bottom half of the seventh inning and then hit Samantha Fleeman to put two Missouri players on base. Shortstop Jaci Gonzalez made a diving stop to keep Morgan Lecluyse's hit a single as the bases were loaded with no outs. Jeni Schellert was hit by a Falco pitch on the next ball and the Tigers walked in a run to prevail 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Falco (8-4) faced 26 batters, struck out five and walked only one Tiger in her ninth start of the year. The complete-game loss was her first since a 3-2 loss to No. 25 Oregon on Feb. 22. Skender, Durham and Turnbo rounded out the Cougar offense with one hit each.
Houston came out hitting strong in game two, putting two runs on the board against Boston in the first inning. Kim Nesloney singled to left field and Jeanie Davis hit her fifth home run of the year to bring the Cougars up by two, 2-0.
Davis homered again in the third inning and Ferreris opened the fourth inning with a home run of her own to give Houston a 5-0 advantage. The Terrier bats were silent until the sixth when DeKenya Williams doubled and scored on a Kristin Knesek double to put Boston on the board.
Jenny Johnson (6-4) was relieved by Michelle Keith in the seventh inning, who pitched a three-up three-down inning to hold on to Houston's 5-2 victory. Davis led the Cougars with two homers while Neloney, Kristen Glowacz, Ferreris, Turnbo and Lindsay Durham each had hits for Houston.
The Cougars will wrap up the Crowne Plaza Fastpitch Classic Sunday as they face the Tigers at noon and the Terriers at 2 p.m.
---www.UHcougars.com---
