No. 14/15 Softball Takes Two During Bingham Toyota Classic

March 7, 2008

Fresno, Calif. - The University of Houston softball team won both their games to open play at the Bingham Toyota Classic in Fresno, Calif. on Friday. The Cougars defeated Santa Clara 4-0 and Rhode Island 8-1 at Bulldog Diamond on the Fresno State campus.

No. 14/15 Houston moves to 18-2 on the season and 1-0 in the all-time series against Santa Clara and 2-0 all-time against Rhode Island.

Game Two- Houston 8, Rhode Island 1
It would take two innings before the Cougars would get on the board but junior Christa Raley started things off with a single past second base. Sophomore Lara Lang-Galaviz followed that up with a bunt to move Raley to second and reach first. Raley would go on to score behind a hit by junior Jessica Valis. Junior Katie Bush would send in the second run for the Cougars with her single over second base. Bush would score the final run of the inning stealing home following junior Elaina Nordstrom's fly out to centerfield.

The Rams would respond in their next at bat. Amanda Sbei knocked a double to centerfield and would score when Leah DiBussolo followed that up with a single to centerfield.

Jessica Valis would score again in the fourth inning for the Cougars to extend their lead. She tripled out to the centerfield fence and would score on Bush's sacrifice hit. Nordstrom continued the trend hitting her second hit of the game out to centerfield but was left stranded on base after freshman Jennifer Klinkert struck out.

With a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, Houston would extend their lead to 8-1. Jessica Valis started things off for the Cougars reaching base on a walk. Bush followed that up with a single over second base. Nordstrom would fly out to centerfield but Valis and Bush would score on the play. Houston rounded out the scoring when Klinkert crossed home plate after reaching base on a single to left field.

The Rams had one final at bat and Houston would halt their efforts. Raley would get the first out catching a foul ball from the first batter and freshman Casey Willow would catch a fly ball in left field for the second out. The final play of the game freshman Baillie Lott would strike out the final batter.

Lott pitched the complete game allowing eight hits, one run, three walks and eight strikeouts. She moves to 4-0 in the circle this season.

Game One- Houston 4, Santa Clara 0
The Houston softball team scored four runs on 11 hits in their first game of the Bingham Toyota Classic to defeat Santa Clara 4-0.

Houston got on the board first in the second inning behind a hit through second base by junior Amanda Grote. She would move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nordstrom and eventually score on a base hit by Jessica Valis.

The Cougars would again be in scoring position, loading the bases in the top of the fourth but they would be unable to capitalize leaving three on base to close out the at bat.

Grote scored a second time for the Cougars in the sixth inning. She would reach base on a walk and an overthrow at first base would advance her to third. She crossed home plate on a double by senior Courtney Spittler. Jessica Valis would score Courtney Spittler on her next at bat with a triple to right field. Jessica Valis would be left stranded on base to end the inning after Bush grounded out to third base.

In the top of the seventh, Nordstrom started things off for the Cougars with a double to right field. Freshman Katy Beth Sherman would come in to pinch run for her and junior Haley Valis would move Sherman to third on a single to center field. Sherman crossed home plate after Grote hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Houston defense would hold the Broncos scoreless for their ninth shutout this season.

Pitcher Barbie Love pitched a complete game allowing just three hits, no walks, no runs and seven strikeouts. She moves to 5-1 in the circle this season.

Bingham Toyota Classic
Houston will return to the field Saturday to face Sacramento State at 11am and Cal Poly at 1pm. The Cougars will close out the tournament on Sunday with games against DePaul and Fresno State at 9am and 3pm, respectively.

Live stats for each game can be found by logging onto http://gobulldogs.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/08bulldogclassic.html. A complete wrap-up of each day's action will also be available at www.UHCougars.com.

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