University of Houston
17-12, 2-0
Charlotte
10-17-1, 1-4
Softball Doubles Up In Charlotte
3/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 19, 2005
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Houston's Conference USA schedule got off to a great start on Saturday with a pair of wins in the C-USA softball opener for the Cougars against Charlotte in North Carolina.
Houston (17-12, 2-0) swept the twin bill with the 49ers (10-17-2, 1-4) with an 11-1 run-rule win in the first game and an 8-2 comeback victory in the second.
Picking up the victories for the Cougars were freshman Angel Shamblin (7-3) and sophomore Carla Kennimer (6-3), as the team out hit Charlotte 21-7 in the two games combined.
In Game 1, Shamblin retired four batters while giving up two hits and no earned runs. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs, two RBI and a walk.
Kennimer gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in Houston's Game 2 victory where she also threw four hitless innings during the game.
Multiple run inning for the Cougars helped Houston build its lead in the games. Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of the first game, but fell behind 2-0 in the second, but used a five-run inning in the fifth made possible by senior Kim Nesloney's three-run homer that helped put Houston up 5-2 in the come-from-behind win.
In Game 1, it didn't take long for Houston to get on the board as the Cougars plated four runs in the top of the first and never looked back.
Beginning the scoring in the first was senior Kristen Glowacz who drove in Nesloney with a single up the middle. The single also advanced Shamblin who had reached on a single of her own.
With one out and two runners on base, senior Jenilee Skender belted her second home run of the season, putting this one over the left centerfield fence for a three-run dinger that gave the Cougars their 4-0 lead.
The next inning saw Houston add to its lead with a solo shot by Nesloney, putting the Cougars up 5-0 on the 49ers.
Charlotte ended the Cougars shutout bid in the second with an RBI single by Lauren Schmitz that brought in Becky Holt from third base.
Leading 5-1 entering the top of the fifth, Shamblin airmailed her third homer of the year and first since going the distance against No. 11 Texas A&M two weeks ago, to put Houston up 6-1.
Hoping to close out the game in the sixth by run rule, the Cougars posted five runs in the inning to go ahead 11-1 thanks to a two-run single by freshman Dru Daniels, an RBI by Shamblin, and a two-run single by senior Michelle Keith.
The Cougars put the 49ers down in succession with a groundout, strikeout and a sliding catch in centerfield by Nesloney.
Game 2 of the twin bill got off to a slow start for Houston, allowing Charlotte to grab a 2-0 lead through four innings.
In the top of the fifth however, the Cougars found their mojo.
Hitting in the leadoff position for Houston, Skender doubled down the leftfield line. With freshman Courtney Spittler pinch running for Skender, Spittler advanced to third on a groundout by Keith.
Junior Brandi Clark reached base on an error by the first baseman, who had lifted her foot off the bag while trying to throw Spittler out at the plate. Spittler was safe at home, allowing Clark to advance to second on the throw to home.
While Clark advanced to second, the 49ers catcher attempted to throw her out at second and overthrew the shortstop, sending the ball into centerfield and allowing Clark to score on the play.
A pair of walks put the Cougars on second and first with the score tied at two apiece and Houston returning to the top of the batting order. Nesloney took advantage of the two-on situation and cleared the bases with a three-run blast to put Houston on top at 5-2.
Just for some added insurance, the Cougars recorded three more runs in the sixth with a Glowacz leadoff homer, Keith then singled, junior Jaci Gonzalez plated Skender with a single, and Nesloney drove in Keith with her fourth RBI of the game.
The Cougars and 49ers close out their C-USA series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. game at the Phillips Complex in North Carolina.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carla Kennimer (6-3)
L: Christy Murray (3-9)
Batting:
2B: Angel Shamblin 1 ; Kristen Glowacz 1 ; Jenilee Skender 1
HR: Kim Nesloney 1 ; Kristen Glowacz 1
RBI: Kim Nesloney 4 ; Kristen Glowacz 1 ; Brandi Clark 1 ; Jaci Gonzalez 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kim Nesloney 1 ; Kristen Glowacz 1 ; Jenilee Skender 1 ; Courtney Spittler 1 ; Michelle Keith 1 ; Brandi Clark 1 ; Jaci Gonzalez 1 ; Brooke Johnson 1
SB: Kim Nesloney 1
Batting:
2B: Kristi Killough 1
RBI: Kristi Killough 1 ; Kaycie Jones 1
SH: Evan Miller 1 ; Karianne Huffstetler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Evan Miller 1 ; Karianne Huffstetler 1
SB: Evan Miller 1
