Softball Upsets No. 16 Nebraska In Hyatt Regency Classic

March 5, 2005

HOUSTON - An upset of No. 16 Nebraska followed by a strong performance against Western Michigan on Saturday, the second day of the Hyatt Regency Cougar Classic, to put the Houston softball team above .500 for the first time this season.

The Cougars scored early against the Huskers and managed to hold on for the upset in a 4-3 extra-inning win, the first extra inning game for Houston this season. The team topped off the day with a 6-3 win over the Broncos of Western Michigan, bringing the Cougars' record to 11-10.

Senior Kim Nesloney belted the ninth triple of her career against the Broncos to move into a tie with fellow senior Kristen Glowacz for the top spot on the career charts in the category.

Houston's win over the No. 16 Huskers avenged a 0-2 no-hitter loss to Nebraska last season at the Cougars' home field.

This year, a pair of sacrifice at-bats by the Cougars put Houston on the board with a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Nesloney scored after leading off the game with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Dru Daniels.

Another freshman, Angel Shamblin, brought Nesloney in off the corner with a deep sacrifice hit to center field that allowed Nesloney to tag up and score.

Houston added a second run to its lead in the bottom of the second when sophomore Jamie Adams doubled to left field, plating junior Brandi Clark who had reached base on a single to open up the inning.

Kennimer, who threw the first back-to-back no-hitters in Cougar history last weekend, continued her hitless pitching through the first five innings of the ballgame before Nebraska's speedster Anne Steffan reached base on a bunt.

Steffan's hit ended Kennimer's streak of 19 and one-third innings without a hit and ignited a Nebraska scoring frenzy as the Huskers took the lead with three runs in the six to go up 3-2.

In the bottom of the same inning, senior Michelle Keith answered back with the 11th homerun of her career that tied up the score at three apiece. The solo shot also moved Keith into fifth place on the UH career homerun list.

The seventh ended without either team adding a run, forcing extra innings for the first time this season for the Cougars.

Kennimer forced the Huskers into a ground out to first, a pop up to third and a routine 4-3 out at first base to end the top of the eighth still tied at 3-3.

With two outs and facing a ninth inning battle, Shamblin blasted a shot to the left center fence that drove in junior Jaci Gonzalez from second who was placed there by international rules.

The win gave the Cougars their second victory of the season over a ranked opponent after downing No. 11 Baylor two weeks and now No. 16 Nebraska.

In their second game of the day, the Cougars faced off with Western Michigan in the first meeting ever between the two schools.

Houston's Nesloney led off the inning with a single down the right field line, a single to center by Daniels placed runners at first and second with no outs. Shamblin then knocked in Nesloney on the next at-bat with a single before Glowacz plated both Daniels and Shamblin with the 47th double of her career.

Leading 6-1 in the fifth, freshman Barbie Love came in to relieve junior Crystal Briscoe who had retired nine batters, allowing five hits and three runs. Love closed out the inning by forcing the Broncos' batter into a 6-5 out to end the inning with Houston leading 6-3.

Houston would go on to close out the game in seven innings and return to the field on Sunday with back-to-back games against Nebraska at noon and TSU at 2 p.m. on the last day of the Hyatt Regency Cougar Classic.

Upcoming Events

Recent Results