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University of Houston
15-10, 3-1
UCF
15-11, 2-1
Softball Drops Both Games Against UCF on Saturday
3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2010
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team ended its eight-game winning streak after dropping both games against UCF on Saturday. The Cougars drop to 15-11 (3-2 Conference USA) on the season as the Knights improve to 16-11 (3-1 C-USA).
Game One
UCF 5, Houston 1
The Cougars scored their lone run in the second inning. Angela Spittler walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Reina Gaber belted a single down the left side, sending Spittler home.
The Knights answered back with fury in the bottom of the frame as they scored five runs, taking advantage of three errors by the Cougars.
Houston registered another hit in the third inning as Mary Tyler Dobson singled to left center. Unfortunately for the Cougars, she was left stranded when Melissa Gregson grounded out to the pitcher.
The Cougars regained their defensive strength for the next three innings. Amanda Crabtree retired eight batters, fanning four.
UCF threaten in the sixth with bases loaded after Houston allowed a walk, an error and a hit. However, the Cougars pulled through with a strikeout and two outs to end the inning.
Crabtree (5-5) receives the loss after pitching a complete game with eight strikeouts, giving up only one earned run.
Game Two
UCF 2, Houston 1
The Knights scored early in first inning. Abby McClain singled to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. She advanced to third on a throw and made it home courtesy of Arielle Palafox's double. With second and third base occupied on two outs, Marissa Menendez grounded out to pitcher Bailey Watts to end the inning.
Reina Gaber registered Houston's first hit in the second inning with a single up the middle. However, she was left stranded when Holly Anderson flied out to center field.
In the fifth frame, Anderson singled up the middle and advanced on a throwing error. Katy Beth Sherman followed with a single up the middle, putting Anderson in scoring position on third base. Brooke Lathan hit a sacrifice fly to give Anderson the run, knotting the game.
UCF answered back in the bottom of the frame when Morgan Bullard singled to the shortstop and then scored on Natalie Land's single.
In the sixth inning, Melissa Gregson walked, advanced to second on a throwing error and then to third on a wild pitch. After Gaber walked on the next at bat, Anderson ended the frame as she fouled out to the catcher.
Ashleigh Jones hit a double down the left line in the seventh inning to give Houston one last hope of tying the game but her effort was cut short when Dobson grounded out to second base.
Bailey Watts (8-4) receives the loss after pitching a complete game of seven innings. The freshman pitcher struck out five batters and gave up six hits.
UP NEXT
The Cougars continue the series on Sunday at 11 a.m. before heading home for a non-conference doubleheader against Georgia Tech on March 23.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: COLE, A. (10-6)
L: Crabtree, Amanda (5-5)
Batting:
RBI: Gaber, Reina 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spittler, Angela 1
CS: Jones, Ashleigh 1
Batting:
RBI: LAND, N. 1 ; BULLARD, M. 1
SH: COLE, A. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SCHMITT, A. 1 ; COLE, A. 1 ; MENENDEZ, M. 1 ; PEREZ, V. 1 ; BULLARD, M. 1
SB: MENENDEZ, M. 2 ; BULLARD, M. 1
HBP: PALAFOX, A. 1
