Softball Takes Conference Series From Southern Miss

April 26, 2009

HATTIESBURG, Miss.--The University of Houston softball team run-ruled Southern Miss, 12-3 in five innings, to take the final game of the conference series to finish the weekend 2-1.

This was the first away conference series the Cougars have won and the first time they have run-ruled a conference opponent since May 8, 2008 when they run-ruled Memphis during the Conference USA Championship, 9-1.

In the first inning, senior Jessica Valis led off with a double, her fifth this season, and would eventually score by a single by senior Elaina Nordstrom.

Southern Miss answered in the bottom of the first inning with a run scored by Megan Hill, who walked, when Kristin Pilgrim singled to right field.

Houston would then add three more runs in the top of the second inning on two outs. Sophomores Casey Willow, Katy Beth Sherman and senior Jessica Valis each hit three consecutive singles to left field, and both Willow and Sherman would score on the fourth consecutive single, which came from senior Katie Bush. The third run of the inning would be scored by Jessica Valis on an error by the second baseman.

Southern Miss added another run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the deficit to two, and neither team would score in the third inning.

UH continued to hit in the top of the fourth adding two more runs to take a 6-2 lead.

It would be the top of the fifth that would claim the game as the Cougars added six more runs on five hits. During the inning, senior Haley Valis hit her second triple this season, while senior Christa Raley hit her fourth double and Willow hit her first double this season.

Southern Miss would add one more run in the bottom of the fifth, but due to the mercy rule, the game would be called and Houston would capture the win and move to 10-9 in C-USA and 23-21 overall.

The 15 hits during the game are tied for a season-high. Sophomore Baillie Lott moves to 14-9 after striking out three, waking four and allowing only three runs on six hits.

Jessica Valis went 4-for-4 during the game and 12-for-16 this week and now leads the team in batting average at .338. She is riding a five game hitting streak. Sherman is on a six game hitting streak, and Bush is currently on a seven game hitting streak.

The Cougars will play a doubleheader on Tuesday against Louisiana-Lafayette in Lafayette, La. beginning at 4 p.m. The second game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

The final conference series of the season will be played against Marshall with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Cougar Softball Stadium. The six seniors will be honored in between the two games. The final game of the series will be played a 1 p.m. on Sunday.

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