University of Houston
1-6
Hilton Plaza Invite - Alabama
11-0
Day 2 Of Hilton Plaza Invitational
2/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2005
HOUSTON - Day Two of the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational saw the Cougars fall to two ranked opponents in No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 12 Alabama, while the Tide continued to roll, the Sooners began picking up momentum and Sam Houston State stumbled.
Oklahoma began the day with back-to-back wins as the offense roared to life in a 12-2, five-inning-mercy-rule win against Sam Houston, followed by a 7-0 shutout against the Cougars.
Alabama then had its way with the Bearkats in a 5-2 win and followed that up with a second 5-2 victory, this time over Houston in the nightcap.
Against Oklahoma (5-4), the Cougars fell behind 6-0 after two innings with sophomore Carla Kennimer in the circle, and offensively the team struggled to connect with the Sooners' pitching. Facing a possible no-hitter, senior Michelle Keith's singled with one out in the seventh to break up the Sooners' no-hitter campaign, but the Cougars couldn't battle back and lost 7-0.
In the nightcap, Houston squared off against Alabama (11-0) who is the only team still undefeated in the Hilton Plaza Invitational.
Against the Crimson Tide, the Cougars got of five hits for two runs, but couldn't match the Tide's five runs on seven hits performance.
Down 3-0 in the fifth, Houston rallied with the bases loaded and senior Kristen Glowacz coming to bat. Glowacz came through and blasted a shot line drive at the Tide's shortstop, Tayl'r Hollis, whose throw sailed over Alabama's first baseman's glove.
Glowacz' hit drove in junior Brooke Johnson at third and senior Kim Nesloney who advanced to third on the hit, easily made it home on the Hollis error, and freshman Dru Daniels advanced to third.
The Cougars, who were the designated visiting team in the ballgame, weren't able to manufacture any more runs in the top of the fifth and trailed by one at 3-2 heading into the bottom of the inning.
With two outs, Alabama's pitcher, Staphanie VanBrakle hit a solo shot homerun over the centerfield fence to increase the lead to two, and a second Tide solo homer in the sixth sealed the game at 5-2.
Day 3 of the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational begins on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with Houston facing off one more time with Oklahoma, followed by the final game of the Invitational in an Alabama and Sam Houston matchup at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stephanie VanBrakle (5-0)
L: Angel Shamblin (1-1)
Batting:
RBI: Kristen Glowacz 1
SH: Dru Daniels 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kim Nesloney 1 ; Brooke Johnson 1
Batting:
HR: Stephanie VanBrakle 1 ; Capper Reed 1 ; Jackie Wilkins 1 ; Emily Currie 1
RBI: Staci Ramsey 1 ; Stephanie VanBrakle 1 ; Capper Reed 1 ; Jackie Wilkins 1 ; Emily Currie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ashley Courtney 1 ; Stephanie VanBrakle 1 ; Capper Reed 1 ; Jackie Wilkins 1 ; Emily Currie 1
SB: Ashley Courtney 2 ; Deasy Phillips 1 ; Emily Currie 1
