Softball Ends Regular Season with A Win Against Baylor

May 8, 2010

WACO, Texas - The University of Houston softball team concluded its 2010 campaign with a win against Baylor at Getterman Field Saturday night. After dropping the first game, 6-0, the Cougars came back with a vengeance, scoring nine unanswered runs in game two. Houston improves to 29-23-1 on the season as Baylor drops to a 27-24 record.

GAME ONE
Baylor 6, Houston 0

Baylor scored the first run in the bottom of the first. After Kayce Walker drew a walk, she advanced to second on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Nicole Wesley but, due to a throwing error, she got in scoring position on third as Wesley remained safe at first. Wesley then stole second, and Jordan Vannatta walked to load the bases with no outs. Courtney Nieten stayed alive for an 11-pitch at bat before drawing a walk, shifting Walker home.

In the following frame, Jennifer Klinkert drew a walk and advanced to second on the throwing error by shortstop KJ Freeland. Angela Spittler also walked but the two runners were left stranded after Mary Tyler Dobson lined out to Freeland to end the inning.

Vannatta hit a leadoff single in the third inning before Nieten blasted a two-run homer to left field. After Bree Hanafin popped up to second base, the Bears then loaded the bases with the next three at bats. Megan Turk hit a two-run single, batting in Freeland and Kathy Shelton, extending Baylor's lead to 5-0.

The Bear tacked on another run in the fifth inning when Shelton walked, stole second and was batted in by Turk's single to left field.

The Cougars threatened in the seventh inning when Reina Gaber reached on a single to left field. Klinkert reached on a fielder's choice and, due to a fielding error by Freeland, Gaber remained safe at the bag. On the same play, the duo advanced to second and third when Freeland made another error trying to throw back to the mound. Unfortunately, the Bears retired the next two batters, ending the game.

Bailey Watts (13-10) received the loss after giving up seven hits and only three earned run while striking out two batters and walking seven.

GAME TWO
Houston 9, Baylor 7

Houston threatened in the first inning when Melissa Gregson and Reina Gaber reached on a walk and a single. However, with two outs on the board, Jennifer Klinkert reached on a fielder's choice as Gregson was tagged out at third by Megan Turk.

Baylor tried to capture an early lead again in the bottom of the frame. Kayce Walker hit a leadoff double and continued to third when Nicole Wesley grounded out to third base. However, the Cougars retired the next two batters to end the threat.

Houston took a commanding lead in the third inning. Ashleigh Jones and Katy Beth Sherman drew back-to-back walks to begin the frame. Gregson plated Jones with a single through the left side. Gaber followed with a two-run single to center field. Klinkert then hit a two-run bomb to left-center field to put Houston up 5-0. Brooke Lathan continued the hitting spree with a single but was left stranded when Baylor retired the next two batters.

The Cougars picked up where they left off in the fourth inning. Holly Anderson hit a leadoff single but was thrown out at second on Sherman's fielder's choice. Gregson hit a single to left-center, advancing Sherman to second. Gaber followed with a two-run double, plating the two runners and giving Houston a 7-0 lead.

Houston put up two more runs in the top of the sixth. Anderson hit another leadoff single, shifted to second when Jones grounded out to the shortstop, continued to third on Sherman's single and scored courtesy of Gregson's sacrifice fly. Gaber belted a double to center field, collecting her fifth RBI of the game as she plated Sherman.

Baylor made a four-run rally in the sixth inning. The Bears loaded the bases with a walk and two back-to-back hits. Kelsi Kettler, who came in to pinch hit for KJ Freeland, walked in a run before Megan Turk collected two RBI on a fielder's choice. Sydney Wilson followed with an RBI, batting in Freeland, who reentered as a base runner.

Baylor kept their momentum in the bottom of the seventh inning. After the Bears loaded the bases with three consecutive hits, Bailey Watts came in to pitch for Amanda Crabtree in attempt to salvage the inning. Turk reached on a fielder's choice, giving Nieten enough time to score. Walker batted in the two final runs of the game with a single to left field.

Crabtree (12-10) received the win after striking out three batters and walking four over six innings of work, and Watts received her second save of the season.

UP NEXT
The Cougars are set to host the 2010 Conference USA Softball Tournament at Cougar Softball Stadium on May 13-15.

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