University of Houston Athletics
Softball Opens 2012 Season Ranked Top 25
1/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jan. 24, 2012
HOUSTON - The University of Houston softball program debuted in the top 25 preseason polls conducted by both the USA Today/NFCA (No. 20) and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate (No. 22).
The Cougars are coming off one of the best years in program history in 2011 with a 44-18 record, a share of the regular season title and advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. Last year the Cougars were a pitching powerhouse as they led the nation in ERA and senior Amanda Crabtree led the nation in strikeouts per game.
The challenge this year for head coach Kyla Holas and the team is replacing that pitching dominance while relying on a core group of position players who return.
"I'm excited for this group," said Holas. "It would have been easy for a lot of voters to say that this team won't be the same since we lost senior pitching from last year but we do return a talented core group from our team last year. The fact that the voters still consider us to be a top-25 team says a lot about where our program is."
Houston returns six position players who started 40 or more games last year including 2011 Conference USA Player of the Year Melissa Gregson.
The Cougars went 17-8 against teams ranked or receiving votes last year. This year's schedule features five teams (Texas A&M No. 15, Oklahoma State No. 16, Texas No. 19, Nebraska No. 20, Louisiana-Lafayette No. 24) ranked in the preseason top 25.
The last time the Cougars appeared in the preseason top 25 polls was in 2009 when they opened up the year No. 13/18.
UP NEXT
The Houston softball program will participate in the Love Out Loud community service event this Saturday at Reliant Park. The initiate aims to raise awareness about depression, self-injury and suicide through cooperation between students and other community members.
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