University of Houston Athletics
Softball Opens C-USA Tournament Against UAB on Thursday
5/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 12, 2010
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team is set to host the No. 4 seed UAB Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at Cougar Softball Stadium. The tournament is single-elimination format.
The Blazers swept the Cougars earlier this season but the series took place in Birmingham, Ala. Houston struggled on the road this year posting a 4-14-1 record but protected their house with a 22-9 record in the Bayou City. The road struggles were no surprise as the Cougars play only six upper classmen and no seniors. The young squad was highlighted by the most Conference USA All-Freshmen selections with three (Reina Gaber, Ashleigh Jones and Bailey Watts).
Gaber was selected as the All-C-USA Second Team utility player as well as being honored on the All-Freshman team. Gaber started 43 games this year and carried the second highest batting average (.325) on the team and the 14th best in conference. Jones started all 53 games at center field this year and had the fourth most hits and the ninth highest batting average in the conference. She led the Cougars in batting average (.333), hits (59) and triples (4). Watts led the Cougars in ERA (2.86), starts (24), innings pitched (156.2), complete games (20) and shutouts (5).
The Blazers posses their own talented freshmen, led by C-USA Freshman of the Year Lauren Webster. Webster, also an All-C-USA Second Team honoree, leads the blazers with a 17-5 record and is 7-0 in C-USA action. The Mathews, Ala., native has posted a 1.81 ERA in 31 appearances with 163 strikeouts over 146.2 innings. The UAB offense is paced by their three First-Team selections in Martina Landrum, Kalya Orr and Mandy Lowman.
The pitching staff is carried by Webster and C-USA Newcomer of the Year Alisha Smith (13-11). Landrum provides the speed at the top of the order, leading the team in steals with 35. She has had ample opportunities for base swipes as she also leadsthe conference with 67 hits. Lowman leads the team with nine home runs while she and Orr are tied for the team lead in RBI with 40.The duo maintain a .348 and .355 batting average, respectively.
For more tournament information, visit here. Programs will be available at the game for $5. Single-game tickets cost $10 and $8 for adult and youth spectators, student tickets are free with valid C-USA school ID.
NOTES
-Jennifer Klinkert was named to the 2008 C-USA All-Tournament Team after collecting five RBIs on 2-for-8 hitting with four runs and a grand slam.
-Houston holds a 20-10 lead in the all-time series. Before being swept by UAB this season, the Cougars had swept the series three years in a row.
-The two teams met in the C-USA tournament in 2003, with Houston winning the opening round game 8-1.
UP NEXT
Barring a loss, the Cougars will play Friday in the semifinals at 5:30 p.m. The championship game is set to begin Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The event will be covered live by CBS College Sports Network.
