University of Houston Athletics
Softball Competes at UCSB Gaucho Classic This Week
2/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 23, 2012
QUICK HITS
After hosting the first nine games of the year at Cougar Softball Stadium, Houston hits the road for the first time in 2012 for the Gaucho Classic hosted by UC Santa Barbara.
The Cougars will face: UCSB Gauchos (1-10), Nevada (3-7), San Diego (2-3) and UNLV (4-5).
SCHEDULE (PST)
Thursday, February 23
12:00 PM Houston at UCSB
2:15 PM UCSB vs. Houston
Friday, February 24
8:15 AM San Diego vs. Houston
Saturday, February 25
10:30 AM Houston vs. UNLV
12:45 PM Nevada vs. Houston
LAST TIME OUT
Houston posted a 2-2 record with run-rule wins over ULM (9-0, 13-0) and one-run losses to McNeese State (6-4, 5-4) as the Cougars hosted the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic Feb. 18-19. Reina Gaber was named the C-USA Hitter of the Week after going 8-for-14 with six runs and five RBIs. In three of the four game set, she posted multiple RBIs and hits.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Live stats for all games will be available at UHCougars.com or http://livestats.prestosports.com/ucsb/
GOING BACK TO CALI
The Cougars have five student-athletes who hail from California - Reina Gaber (Whittier/South El Monte HS), Sydney Gerbracht (San Diego/Torrey Pines HS), Melissa Gregson (Rancho Cucamonga/Rancho Cucamonga HS), Jennifer Klinkert (Chino/Chino Hills HS) and Julia Pecina (La Habra/La Habra HS).
Houston travelled to California last year for the Campbell/Cartier Tournament hosted by San Diego State University March 3-5. The Cougars went 3-2 in the tournament with wins over BYU (4-0), Cal Poly (10-1) and No. 23 Fresno State (4-3) and dropped games to Long Beach State (3-0) and San Diego State (6-0).
FRESHMAN FIRSTS
Redshirt freshman Sydney Gerbracht has been one of the Cougars top pinch hitters all season and against UNT (Feb. 12) delivered her first career home run … Jamie Edwards hit her first career home run in a grand performance with a grand slam against ULM (Feb. 19).
NEED FOR SPEED
Houston went 33-for-51 in stolen bases last year, an area head coach Kyla Holas emphasized all offseason as an area for improvement. Through nine games this year, the Cougars are 24-for-26 in steals led by Ashleigh Jones (7-for-7) who leads C-USA in the category. Reina Gaber and Jennifer Klinkert are both perfect (4-for-4) as well, giving the opposing catchers fits when the top of the order comes up.
CHASING RECORDS
Melissa Gregson needs to replicate her 2011 home run total of 16 to become Houston's all-time leader in home runs (Kristen Glowacz, 2002-05; 47). Gregson hit eight both her freshman and sophomore years before belting a team-leading 16 in 2011 to combine for 32 in her first three years.
NO-NO
Bailey Watts pitched her second career no hitter as the Cougars defeated ULM 9-0 on Feb. 18. Watts faced 19 batters and posted six strikeouts over the five innings of work. Watts last no-hitter was April 10, 2010 against Memphis.
GOING STREAKING
Junior Holly Anderson has hit safely in each game this year for a nine-game hitting streak. Reina Gaber and Jaime Edwards have both hit safely in seven straight games.
IN THE POLLS
The No. 23 Cougars were ranked in the preseason polls for the second time in program history. Houston started the season No. 20/22 and have been ranked in each weekly poll for the 2012 season.
