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Houston Softball Finishes Season Ranked in Nation's Top 20
6/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 14, 2011
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball team returned to its nationally ranked status as the final rankings for the 2011 season listed the Cougars at No. 16 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll and No. 18 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.
Although the Cougars received votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll for five consecutive weeks leading up to the NCAA Regionals, Tuesday's release of the final rankings put Houston back in the top 25 for the first time since the week of March 8.
The Cougars posted a 44-18 record in 2011, including winning the program's second Conference USA regular season title and claiming the NCAA Austin Regional championship. Houston upset the overall-No. 3 seed and regional host Texas to advance to the team's second NCAA Super Regional appearance.
In the Stillwater Super Regional, Houston forced a decisive game three before falling to Oklahoma State, 6-5, just one run shy of the program's first Women's College World Series berth. The Cowgirls checked in at No. 8 on both final polls.
The No. 16/18 rankings mark the highest Houston has held since February 2009 and the Cougars' best of the 2011 campaign. In the second week of the season, Houston took down then-No. 20/22 Oklahoma State and twice repeated the feat against then-No. 16/18 LSU to rack up three wins against nationally ranked teams in the same weekend for the first time in program history.
The following week, the Cougars debuted at No. 23 in both polls. A three-week stay among the NCAA elite was interrupted until the Cougars began receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll again on April 19 and for the remainder of the season. In their return to the top 25, Houston finished the season ranked ahead of Texas (20/19) and last season's WCWS champion, UCLA (19/20).
In addition, the final NCAA statistics were also unveiled this week. Houston's pitching staff, comprised of seniors Amanda Crabtree and Donna Bourgeois and freshman Diedre Outon, finished the season with the best team ERA in the nation (1.35).
Crabtree, an All-Region Second-Team honoree, completed her illustrious final season as the NCAA leader in strikeouts per seven innings (12.0) and hits allowed per seven innings (2.85). Her 0.96 ERA ranked second in the NCAA only to fellow Conference USA hurler Tulsa's Aimee Creger (0.95).
The Cougar sluggers didn't go unnoticed. The lineup that went yard 67 times this season finished the year ranked 27th in the NCAA in home runs per game (1.08). Junior left fielder and C-USA Player of the Year Melissa Gregson's 16 homeruns tied for 25th in the NCAA's final statistical rankings.
2012 SEASON TICKETS
Deposits are now being accepted for NEW 2012 softball season tickets. Fans can buy now to watch the 2011 NCAA Austin Regional and C-USA regular season champions in action next season!
A $25 per seat deposit reserves your spot to watch every home game during the 2012 season. A form will be mailed to you in the winter with the remaining balance once ticket prices have been determined.
All 2011 season ticket holders will receive a renewal application in January and do not need to place a deposit for their tickets. Click here for more information.
