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University of Houston Athletics
Home Sweet Home For Houston Softball
3/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2006
UTEP at Houston Softball Game Notes (PDF)
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HOUSTON - After spending the last two weekends on the road, the University of Houston softball team (24-12, 6-3 C-USA) continues Conference USA action at the friendly confines of the Cougar Softball Stadium this weekend against UTEP (12-22, 1-4 C-USA).
"The team is looking forward to returning home after spending some time on the road," head coach Kyla Holas said. "At this point, we can't afford to overlook anyone since each game is so significant in conference play."
This weekend marks the first time that Houston and UTEP will square off on the softball diamond. The Cougars enter the weekend 7-7 against fellow Lone Star State opponents.
The Cougars are already 15-4 this season inside the friendly confines of the Cougar Softball Stadium, including victories over No. 22 Oregon, No. 15 Baylor and No. 25 BYU.
The Cougar pitching staff enters the week pacing Conference USA with a team-low 1.45 ERA and holding opponents to a league-low .201 batting average. The staff is also second in C-USA registering 253 strikeouts.
Angel Shamblin has jumped out to a 10-5 start with a 1.74 ERA holding the opposition to a .214 batting clip. Her ERA and opponent batting average against are in the Top 10 of Conference USA.
Shamblin is coming off a 2-0 weekend at UCF where she picked up a save and allowed only one earned run in three appearances against the Golden Knights. She is the only hurler in C-USA to be named Pitcher of the Week twice this season.
After a shaky opening outing against No. 19 Florida (Feb. 11), Carla Kennimer has reeled off a win in her last five decisions to improve to 5-1 with a 2.08 ERA and has held opponents to a .200 batting average. Her ERA and opponent batting average moved into the Top 10 of Conference USA this week.
In her last three starts, Kennimer hasn't allowed a run against Rhode Island, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UCF. The southpaw has been touched up for only five hits in those starts, including a one hit performance last time out against the Golden Knights.
Jessica Valis has been a spark at the top of the Cougar lineup and has started every game at shortstop this season. She is second on the squad with a .331 batting average and has tallied a team-best 13 multi-hit games in addition to being ranked in five different categories in C-USA.
Katie Bush follows Valis at the top of the Cougar batting order and has started all but one game this season in centerfield. Her 29 hits are tied for fourth on the team. Bush headlines the squad only with nine sacrifice hits on the season, including three last weekend at UCF.
Elaina Nordstrom is the first California native to play softball at UH and has provided a big bat in the Houston batting order. She has reached base safely in 31 of 36 games this season and is hitting a team-best .355 to go along with team-high 26 RBIs. Her batting average and RBIs rank inside the Top 10 of Conference USA.
After starting the season with an 11-game hitting streak, Nordstrom has hit safely in 10 of her last 11 contests and has picked up a RBI in her last four outings.
Laurie Wagner has hit safely in eight of her last 11 games, including four multi-hit and three multi-RBI performances. The Houston native has hit .414 with a team-best nine RBIs during that stretch
Saturday's doubleheader with the Miners begins at 1pm. The two teams conclude the weekend set Sunday playing a single-game with first pitch also slated for 1pm.
The Cougar softball program will salute local female heroes all weekend long as many military, teaching and fire personnel will be honored at the stadium. All games from the Cougar Softball Stadium will have live stats available on UHCougars.com
