University of Houston Athletics
No. 9 Softball Prepares for Weekend Series Against UCF
4/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 5, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team looks to improve their 9-0 start in Conference USA when they travel to Orlando Fla. on April 5-6 for a three game series against UCF. The Saturday double-header is slated to begin at 1pm with the final game on Sunday to start at 1pm.
The Cougars are 31-4 over all this season and 9-0 in C-USA. They hold a 7-0 lead in the all-time series against the Knights.
Houston is currently ranked No. 9 in both the USA Today/NFCA Poll and the ESPN/USA Softball Poll. The ranking is the best in program history and the Cougars are just one of three C-USA teams all-time to rank in the Top 10. Prior to the Cougar's ranking, DePaul and Southern Miss each were ranked No. 4 during the 2003 and 2000 seasons, respectively.
Junior Laurie Wagner leads the Cougars with a .433 batting average and she is tied with freshman Jennifer Klinkert with nine home runs this season. Wagner and Klinkert need just one more home run to break into the Top 5 for the most home runs in a single season.
In the circle Houston is led by senior Angel Shamblin. Shamblin has a team and league-best 0.65 ERA. She also recorded the second perfect game of her career in a 8-0 win over Memphis on March 29.
Wagner and Shamblin swept the weekly player of the week awards in C-USA last week for their efforts in a three-game sweep of Memphis. The sweep was their third-straight this season giving them a program-best 9-0 start in conference play.
Breanne Javier lead's UCF with a .368 batting average and pitcher Allison Kime has a team-best 0.94 ERA. The Knights are 30-14 overall this season and 9-3 in C-USA.
Following the series in Orlando Houston will return home for two mid-week games against the USA Olympic Team on April 8 and a double-header against UTSA on April 9. They will then host a three-game series against ECU on April 12-13.
