University of Houston Athletics
Houston Heads West to Take on UTEP
4/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2011
| HOUSTON vs UTEP | |
|---|---|
| Time | 2 p.m. CT/4 p.m. CT (Sat.) | 1 p.m. CT (Sun.) |
| Location | El Paso, Texas |
| Stadium | Helen of Troy Softball Complex |
| Series Record | Houston leads, 9-6 |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | Houston Notes  Conference USA Notebook |
| Social Media |  Facebook •  Twitter |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team returns to Conference USA action this weekend as they head to El Paso, Texas for a three-game series against UTEP, April 9-10. The first game of the Saturday doubleheader has been moved up to a 2 p.m. CT start.
Houston (25-12, 8-4) is running on all cylinders heading into the team's fourth C-USA series, this time against UTEP (16-23, 1-8). After shutting out Houston Baptist at home on April 5, the Cougars have won seven-straight and nine of their last 10 games for their second-longest win streak of the season.
As UAB began the week atop the conference standings, Houston climbed into a tie with East Carolina for third place after sweeping Marshall last weekend. The Cougars will start the weekend three games out of first and two games back from second-place Tulsa while they hold a two-game lead over fifth-place Memphis.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Saturday's series opener will mark the 15th meeting between the two schools, as Houston has built the 9-6 all-time series advantage.
The last time the Cougars faced the Miners, Houston won the March 28, 2010 meeting, 8-5, to take the series two games to one.
HOUSTON (25-12, 8-4 Conference USA)
OVERALL: The Cougars obliterated an 0-3 start to conference play by going 8-1 in the next three series to propel themselves into a tie for third. All three aspects of Houston's game have ran smoothly during the 9-of-10 game tear, as Houston ranks sixth in the nation in team ERA (1.28) and leads the league in homeruns (36) while fielding at a .964 percentage to rank in the league's top three.
IN THE CIRCLE: Senior Amanda Crabtree (13-6) continues to bring it in the circle. This week's NCAA statistical comparisons reveal that the right-handed pitcher ranks third in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings (12.0) and sixth in total strikeouts (235).
Crabtree earned her first save of the season on Tuesday when she was called in with a runner on first with a three-run lead. She proceeded to strikeout five of the six batters she faced to complete the shutout victory.
The Kingwood, Texas native is holding batters to a conference-best .105 batting average and her 1.08 overall ERA ranks third in the league.
Fellow senior Donna Bourgeois (10-6) picked up the win against HBU on Tuesday. In her last five starts, Bourgeois has gone 5-0 with a 0.00 ERA to bring her season mark to 1.60. In conference action, Bourgeois' 0.21 ERA is second in the league only to UAB's Lauren Webster, who has yet to surrender an earned run against a C-USA opponent.
AT THE PLATE: During the team's current hot streak, Houston is crushing the ball. The Cougars are leading the league in overall homeruns (36). Twelve of those have left the park during conference play, also topping the league.
Houston's hitters are also showing off their discipline at the plate, as they rank second in walks (124), while totaling the lowest overall strikeout numbers (172).
In conference play only, Houston ranks in the top three in batting average (.266, 3rd), slugging percentage (.432, 1st), on-base percentage (.358, 3rd), runs scored (54, 2nd), hits (82, 3rd) and RBI (45, 3rd).
Junior Melissa Gregson has become a true leader in every sense. Gregson has taken to splitting time in the left field and at catcher depending on which pitcher is in the circle. Meanwhile, she has also executed the game plan at the plate selflessly, too. She leads the team in homeruns (10) and RBI (25), while also giving herself up more than any other member of the UH lineup with 14 sacrifice bunts.
Senior right fielder Katy Beth Sherman went 2-for-3 in the Cougars' last time out against HBU to build her team-leading batting average to .305. Sophomore shortstop Brooke Lathan hit her eighth long ball of the season on Tuesday against HBU to closely follow Sherman with a .303 average. Gregson is pacing the team in C-USA batting average with a .394.
UTEP (16-23, 1-8 Conference USA)
OVERALL: The Miners enter the weekend on a four-game losing streak and have dropped nine of their last 10. The rough stretch has included a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Nebraska, and back-to-back conference sweeps from Memphis then UAB. UTEP posted its first C-USA win of the season against Central Florida on March 12.
IN THE CIRCLE: UTEP has four different pitchers on the staff who have posted 30-plus innings. Unfortunately for the Miners, the added depth hasn't proved very beneficial as the team holds a cumulative ERA of 5.63.
Senior right-hander Courtney Auger (8-11) leads the staff in ERA (4.35), strikeouts (88) and opposing batting average (.253).
AT THE PLATE: The Miners have a powerful weapon on their side in senior Chelsea Troupe. Spending time in the catching, outfield and designated player roles, Troupe leads the conference in home runs (14), RBI (31), runs scored (37), on-base percentage (.548), slugging percentage (.902) and batting average (.412).
As a team, the Miners are posting a .278 average with 32 homeruns a number second only to Houston.
The first pitch of the Saturday doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. CT with the nightcap to follow at approximately 4 p.m. CT. The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.
