University of Houston Athletics
Crabtree, Gregson Named to the All-Region Team
5/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 20, 2011
HOUSTON - University of Houston senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree and junior outfielder Melissa Gregson added to their list of accolades when the duo was named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region Second Team, Thursday evening.
Crabtree, Houston's all-time, single-season strikeout leader, and Gregson, the C-USA Player of the Year, were recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association after posting a stellar regular season that led their to the C-USA regular season title.
Heading into the NCAA Austin Regional, Crabtree has acquired a list of accomplishments worthy of the regional respect. The senior currently holds an 18-8 record with a 0.94 ERA and 314 strikeouts. The five-time C-USA Pitcher of the Week threw her first career no-hitter against Nicholls State on Feb. 18 to start the season with a 9-0 record.
Taking control of her senior season, Crabtree went on to throw no-hitters against ULM and C-USA foe Southern Miss. In a road matchup against Memphis, she broke UH's single-game strikeout record, striking out 17 in the series opener against the Tigers.
The Kingwood, Texas native's 10 complete-game shutouts ranks in the top-20 among NCAA pitchers, and she continues to make her presence known across the nation. Crabtree leads the NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings (12.3) and hits allowed per seven innings (2.77), while her 0.94 ERA ranks fourth in the nation.
Her 314 strikeouts rank 11th in NCAA, as she became Houston's all-time, single-season strikeout leader after racking up 11 strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work at the Conference USA Tournament.
Gregson has an impressive list of achievements to match. The junior enters the NCAA Tournament after becoming the third player in Houston's history to be named the C-USA Player of the Year. She sits just four homeruns shy of becoming the Cougars all-time, single-season homerun leader after connecting on a league-leading 16 homers during the regular season.
An offensive machine, Gregson finished the regular season as the C-USA leader in homeruns (16), RBI (43) and third in slugging percentage (.678). Not just a power hitter, the selfless Gregson is second in the league in sacrifice bunts (15) and has started in left field, catcher and first base for Houston.
The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native has become the team's resident hero as her homers provided the go-ahead runs in crucial contests, including the 4-3 comeback win against nationally ranked Texas A&M, in the 2-0 win over first-place Tulsa and the game winner against ECU to give Houston a share of the C-USA regular season title.
UP NEXT
Crabtree, Gregson and the Cougars (40-16) will matchup against No. 24/25 Louisiana-Lafayette (49-9) in the opening round of the double-elimination regional tournament, Friday at 4 p.m.
