University of Houston Athletics
Softball Set to Host No. 13 Missouri
3/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2009
HOUSTON--The University of Houston softball team will host Missouri in a two-game series beginning Tuesday at 5 p.m. followed by a second game to be played at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Cougar Softball Stadium.
The Cougars (13-14, 4-4 C-USA) enter Tuesday's game after a 1-2 finish in El Paso, Texas against Conference USA-rival UTEP.
UH won the second game 17-9 with a season-high 15 hits and 17 runs.
Senior Elaina Nordstrom leads the Cougars in the batter's box with her batting average of .386. She has three doubles and four home runs this season, and is tied with senior Laurie Wagner with 23 RBI. Nordstrom hit the Cougars' first grand slam in the 17-9 win over UTEP.
Wagner, this week's C-USA Hitter of the Week, has a batting average of .325, and six doubles this season. She went 10-for-19 last week.
Senior Haley Valis has eight doubles this season, which is tied in fifth for the most in C-USA. Freshman Melissa Gregson has hit a team-high six home runs, while senior Christa Raley has five home runs and three doubles and the third-highest batting average at .310.
In the circle, sophomore Baillie Lott is 6-5 with 37 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.96. Sophomore Amanda Crabtree has 102 strikeouts this season, and fanned a season-high 13 batters in the 7-6 loss to UTEP.
No. 13 Missouri (26-4, 1-1 Big 12) enters the games after splitting their first conference series with Texas.
Shana White leads the Tigers with her batting average of .476, while Rhea Taylor leads with the most hits at 33. Lindsey Ubrun has a team-high seven doubles, and Micaela Minner has the most home runs with five and leads in RBI at 31.
The Tigers have many options in the circle. Chelsea Thomas has a 10-2 record and an ERA of 1.00. She has struck out 72 this season. Kristin Nottelman is 6-0 with a 0.82 ERA, and Jana Hainey is also 6-0 and has an ERA of 1.88. Stacy Delaney is 4-2 with 37 strikeouts.
Fans can watch live stats by clicking the Gametracker link on the softball page of UHCougars.com.
