University of Houston Athletics
Softball Slides Back Into C-USA Action Agianst Marshall
4/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Houston Softball Game Notes - The Marshall Series (PDF)
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HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team (25-14, 7-5 C-USA) jumps back into Conference USA action with a weekend series at Marshall (23-17, 10-5 C-USA). After jumping out to a 24-12 start, the Cougars have lost five of its last seven games opening the month of April.
"It's not how you start the race but how you finish," head coach Kyla Holas said. "I think the team got down on itself after it thought that it saw its goal of winning the conference championship slip away with a couple of losses early in the conference season. With the way things have shaken out over the last couple of weeks, the team realizes that we have a second chance to make a push."
Jessica Valis continues to be the spark at the top of the Cougar lineup. She is second on the squad and 10th in Conference USA with a .343 batting average and has racked up a team-best 16 multi-hit games in addition to being ranked in six different categories in Conference USA.
Valis enters the weekend on a team-best seven game hitting streak and has racked up a team-high 48 hits. The 48 hits are tied for third in C-USA. Valis is only seven hits away from matching Kristin Glowacz's freshman-record 55 hits set during the 2002 season. Of her 48 hits, 34 have not left the infield.
The Shiner, Texas, product has scored a run in 27 of 43 games on the season, including nine of her last 12 outings. Valis has also reeked havoc on the base paths, going 16-for-20 in the stolen base department. The 16 stolen bases in a season match a program record set by Riane Netardus (2002) and Kim Nesloney (2005).
Katie Bush follows Valis at the top of the batting order. She has started all but one game this season for the Cougars in centerfield. Her 37 hits are tied for third on the team and match teammate Jaci Gonzalez's 37 hits during the 2003 season for fifth-highest for a freshman in program history.
The Brenham, Texas, native has hit safely in seven of her last eight games. She headlines the squad and is tied for second in C-USA with 12 sacrifice hits on the season. Bush has also picked up three assists from the outfield using her strong arm to gun down runners at the plate.
Bush is hitting .357 with runners in scoring position and is tied for the team-lead with eight 2-out RBIs.
Elaina Nordstrom has provided a big bat in the middle of the batting order. She is hitting a team-high .359 to go along with a team-best 37 RBIs. Her batting average and RBIs rank inside the Top 10 of Conference USA.
Nordstrom's 37 RBIs on the season have already eclipsed Kristin Glowacz's freshman-record of 35 RBIs set during the 2002 season. The LaPalma, Calif. native has registered a RBI in 10 of her last 11 games, including her last five outings.
After starting the season with an 11-game hitting streak, Nordstrom has hit safely in 15 of her last 18 games. She is hitting a scorching .415 with runners in scoring position and is tied for the team-lead with eight 2-out RBIs.
Christa Raley has given a new meaning to being a utility player. Raley has already seen time at four positions during the 2006 campaign. She has seen time at catcher, first base, third base and designated player.
Raley has hit safely in four of her last five games and has hit a home run in her last two outings. Both of her long balls came on the first pitch of the second inning at Texas State (April 5) She is one of only four players to hit five home runs for the Cougars this season.
The LaPorte, Texas, native has a knack for getting on-base by any means necessary as one of only four players to draw over 20 walks. Raley has also been hit by a pitch a team-best seven times this season.
The two teams will play a Friday doubleheader followed by a Saturday single-game. First pitch on Friday is slated for 2pm followed by a 9am start Saturday.
All of the action from Huntington will have live stats on UHCougars.com and a live radio webcast provided by WMUL, the Marshall campus radio station.
