Softball Drops Final Game of C-USA Series Against Memphis

Saturday, April 11

Memphis, Tenn.

11:00 AM

University of Houston

18-19, 7-7

Memphis

19-21, 5-10

Houston

Memphis

Softball Drops Final Game of C-USA Series Against Memphis

4/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 11, 2009

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--The University of Houston softball team lost the final game of the three-game series against Memphis, 3-2, to drop all three games of the series and move to 7-7 in Conference USA and 18-19 overall.

This was the first time since the Cougars have been swept in a C-USA series since May 1, 2005 against Louisville.

Senior Jessica Valis got things started for the Cougars as the leadoff batter when she hit a triple in the top of the first inning for her third this season. Senior Katie Bush would ground out to second base and Jessica Valis would score for an early 1-0 advantage over Memphis.

The Tigers tied the score at one in the bottom of the second inning with a single by Nikki Moreno.

On one out in the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Baillie Lott walked Lelani Bernardino just before Jessica Valis made a great double play, catching the line drive from Tori Gross and throwing out Bernardino at first to end the inning and give the Cougars a chance to add some runs to the board. .

Senior Katie Bush led off the fourth inning and reached base on an error, and would steal second for her seventh stolen base this season. She would reach third base on a wild pitch and eventually score on a groundout by freshman Melissa Gregson. On two outs and bases loaded with each of the three runners reaching base on a walk, sophomore Katy Beth Sherman struck out swinging to end the inning, 2-1, over the Tigers.

After a scoreless inning, the Tigers tied the score at two with a solo home run by Tori Gross. Kailey Kassner followed it up with a single, but pinch runner Kim Sirman was picked off at first from Haley Valis, and the next batter would ground out to third base. On two outs, Jessica Phillips would hit a single to right field, but Kamri Chester would hit a line drive to Spittler for the final out of the inning.

Neither team manufactured any runs in the seventh inning so the game was forced into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Cougars left two runners on base when Lott, who hit for Spittler, grounded into a double play.

On one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Tigers loaded the bases and won the game, 3-2 on a single by Phillips to drive in Bernardino in.

Lott moves to 9-8 overall after striking out seven, walking six and allowing three runs on five hits. The Cougars had only one hit, which came from Jessica Valis. This is the first time this season that Houston was held to just one hit. Houston left seven runners on base.

UH will host UCF in a three-game conference series at Cougar Softball Stadium, beginning with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday and a final game on Sunday at 1 p.m.