Softball Splits on Day Three of Crowne Plaza Classic

Feb. 17, 2007

HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team picked up a 5-3 win over Indiana but dropped a 4-3 extra inning decision to Southern Illinois Saturday evening in the Crowne Plaza Classic at the Cougar Softball Stadium.

"We have to do a better job with basic fundamentals of the game," head coach Kyla Holas said. "It starts with fielding the ball, making better pitches in key situations and getting our sacrifice bunts."

The Cougars (5-4) wiped away a 2-0 deficit, posting a four-spot on the board in the fourth inning. Laura Durham jumpstarted the rally with a lead-off double and moved to third base on a wild pitch. Amanda Grote followed with a walk and a stolen base.

Lara Lang notched a sacrifice foulout, while Jessica Valis slapped a RBI-single through the middle to even the score at 2-2. Houston loaded the bases as Katie Bush knocked a single and Angel Shamblin drew a walk.

The Cougars went ahead by capitalizing on an IU throwing error by second baseman Sarah Padove. Her throw went wide of the plate, attempting to throw out the go-ahead run at the plate. The miscue allowed Valis and Bush to score giving Houston a 4-2 advantage.

Houston added an insurance run in the fifth inning as Grote roped an RBI-double to centerfield to score Christa Raley, who reached a leadoff walk.

The Hoosiers loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning. Faced with a potential big inning, Carla Kennimer dug deep and coaxed a pair of fielder's choices to erase two Hoosier runners at the plate.

Indiana trimmed the deficit to 5-3 as Jennilee Huddleston drew a walk to force in a run. Kennimer regrouped and get Tory Yamaguchi to ground out. Valis charged on the ball and made a strong throw from her shortstop position and Christa Raley dug the ball out of the dirt on one-hop to get Yamaguchi by a step at first base to secure the 5-3 win.

Kennimer earned the win, allowing just one earned run in 4.1 innings of relief. She sprayed five hits as 39 of her 54 pitches were strikes.

Houston fired out to a 2-0 lead against Southern Illinois, plating a run in each of the first two innings. Valis opened the game, reaching on a SIU fielding error and came around to score on an Elaina Nordstrom RBI-single. In the second inning, Durham cranked a majestic blast over the left field fence to put UH ahead 2-0.

The Salukis drew even in the home half of the second inning, using a Tiffanie Dismore two-run two-out single.

The game stayed at 2-2 until extra innings and the international tiebreaker rule. With a runner placed on second to start the frame, Raley moved Lang over to third base with a sacrifice bunt, while Laurie Wagner drove Lang home with a sacrifice foulout, giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead.

SIU also used a sacrifice bunt to start its frame in the international tiebreaker. Lauren Hass provided a RBI-single to tie the score at 3-3. Amanda Clifton reached a fielder's choice and both runners moved into scoring position when Haley Valis' throw back to pitcher Angel Shamblin was low and with such force it scooted past Shamblin.

The Cougars loaded the bases with an intentional walk. Shamblin struck out the next batter, but Katie Wilson knocked a walk-off single to win the game. Despite 10 strikeouts, the Florida native fell to 4-2. Both of her losses this season have come in extra innings.

Houston wraps up the Crowne Plaza Classic Sunday afternoon against Centenary. First pitch against the Ladies is slated for 3pm. Admission is free this weekend to the Cougar Softball Stadium.

"We're close to playing the way we need to," Holas said. "Our team is coming up on some deciding moments on the direction we're heading. The question that is going to get answered is if we're going to play to win or play not to lose."

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