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Softball Clinches C-USA Regular Season Title
4/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 28, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team clinched the Conference USA regular season title this weekend with their sweep of UAB in Birmingham, Ala. This is the second consecutive regular season title for UH.
The ninth-ranked Cougars are 44-7 overall and 18-2 in C-USA. With their 44 wins this season, Houston has tied the program record for single season wins. Houston also recorded 44 wins during the 2007 season.
Head coach Kyla Holas said winning the conference championship the second year in a row was much harder than the first time.
"I am very proud of this team. They took the statement no limits to heart and have worked very hard to make this a very memorable season," Holas said.
Doing something the second time around is a lot tougher because everyone is gunning for you. You play differently as the one with the target on your back. I think they have found a way to play with this kind of pressure very well."
En route to the C-USA title, the Cougars swept five conference series over Marshall, Southern Miss, Memphis, ECU and UAB. They went 2-1 in the series against Tulsa and 1-1 against UCF. Houston was a perfect 9-0 at home in conference action.
The Cougars have one series remaining against UTEP on May 3-4 at Cougar Softball Stadium.
Houston clinched the title over the weekend after defeating the Blazers in three games with scores of 4-0, 8-3 and 8-0. In the second game of the series, junior Laurie Wagner hit her 16th home run of the year. She is now one home run away from tying the single season record for home runs of 17 set by Kristen Glowacz in 2005. As a team Houston has 64 home runs, which is a single season record.
Last season, Houston won the regular season title with a 20-4 record. They went on to win their first C-USA tournament title and advance to the NCAA Regional.
Up Next
Houston play host to a doubleheader against Louisiana-Lafayette on April 30. First pitch is set for 4pm. Houston will hold a ceremony to present the 2007 C-USA Championship team with their rings following the second game.
The Cougars will then close out conference play with a series against UTEP on May 3-4. Saturday's double-header will begin at 1pm. The four seniors, including Angel Shamblin, Barbie Love, Amanda Grote and Courtney Spittler will be honored in between the May 3 doubleheader. The series will wrap-up with a single game on May 4 at 1pm.
