No. 23 Houston Splits Day Two of Campbell/Cartier Classic

March 4, 2011

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of Houston softball team used an explosion of offense to defeat Cal Poly, 10-1, in the first game of the day, but couldn't muster the same run production against Long Beach State and fell, 3-0.

Houston moves to 15-5 through their first 20 games of the season following Saturday's action. Freshman Diedre Outon (2-0) threw the first seven-inning complete game of her career to defeat the Mustangs, while senior Amanda Crabtree (9-1) took her first loss of the season while matching her season-high strikeout count (12) against the 49ers.

Junior left fielder Melissa Gregson set the tone at the plate, going 4-for-6 on the day, including her fourth home run of the year. Sophomore third baseman Holly Anderson also had a career day, as she tied her career-high in hits in a game (3) and set a new career game-high in runs scored (4) in the Cougars' first game against Cal Poly.

GAME ONE: No. 23 Houston 10, Cal Poly 1
In her second start of the season, Outon received an onslaught of help from her offense, coming via 10 runs off of 13 hits, including the team's 20th home run of the year.

The Cougars reached the scoreboard first when Anderson beat out an infield error and moved around the bases using a sac bunt and a groundball to the right side. Sophomore shortstop Brooke Lathan pushed a sharp ground ball past the shortstop to give Houston the early, 1-0 lead.

Anderson got the scoring rally started again in the top of the third with a base hit just beyond the shortstop's reach, she took second off another well-executed Gregson sac bunt. Senior designated player Baillie Lott drew a walk and both runners moved into scoring position on a play at the plate on Lathan.

Redshirt junior Jennifer Klinkert stepped in and drove a well-place two-RBI single to right, putting the Cougars ahead, 3-0. Senior right fielder Katy Beth Sherman capped off the three-spot by pelting another RBI single to right.

In the following inning, Anderson was in action again. Her leadoff single was the first of three-straight Cougar hits. A Mustang miscue on Gregson's single gave Anderson room to score and Lott's single brought Gregson home to give Outon a comfortable 6-0 cushion.

Although the Mustangs would scratch a run across in the bottom of the sixth, the Cougar offense would unload in the top of the seventh to put the game completely out of reach. Anderson's third hit of the game followed by Gregson's monster three-run shot to left concluded the offensive overload, handing the Cougars the 10-1 victory.

GAME TWO: Long Beach State 3, No. 23 Houston 0
Two first-inning walks came back to hurt Crabtree and the Cougars when LBSU second baseman Nalani S. Germain tallied just the third home run the senior right-hander has surrendered all season. Although Crabtree would not surrender another run in the next six innings, the Cougars would not overcome the 3-0 deficit.

Crabtree settled down quickly, tossing at least one strikeout in for the next two innings to move through the third down, 3-0. LBSU starter Taylor Petty was also getting comfortable, sitting the Cougars down on strikes through their half of the third.

Crabtree picked up her 10th strikeout to end the 49ers sixth to send her team back to the plate. Gregson smacked a single to right, giving the Cougars more hits than LBSU, but wasn't able to get the run across as the Cougars fell, 3-0.

Houston will wrap up its San Diego trip against No. RV/23 Fresno State at 9 a.m. local time, 11 a.m. CT.

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