University of Houston Athletics
Softball Hosts No. 11 Louisiana Wednesday
3/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2012
| No. 11 Louisiana (17-0) at Houston (10-9) | |
|---|---|
| Wednesday March 7 Houston vs. Louisiana 4 p.m. | | Watch All-Access |
| Houston vs. Louisiana 6 p.m. | | Watch All-Access |
HOUSTON - The University of Houston Cougars softball team hosts the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns for a doubleheader Wednesday, March 7 at 4 p.m.
The Cougars and Cajuns are familiar foes as the two teams have faced off 18 times with Louisiana holding a 6-12 advantage. The two teams met in the NCAA Austin Regional last year and Houston defeated the Cajuns twice, including a 4-1 victory as Houston advanced to the Super Regionals with the second win.
Houston's head coach Kyla Holas ties with Louisiana go back even further as the Houston native graduated from then Southwestern Louisiana. After being named a three-time All-American (1992-94) and posting a career 104-20 record with a .301 batting average, Holas No. 11 jersey has been retired by the school and she was inducted into the Louisiana-Lafayette Hall of Fame (class of 1999).
LAST TIME OUT
The Cougars dropped four of five games at the Texas A&M Invitational over the weekend, their second road tournament in as many weekends. After being shut out for the first time all year by Texas State (L, 0-5), Houston was again blanked by Nebraska (L, 0-2) the second game of the opening day.
Last Saturday, the Cougars knocked off No. 21 Texas A&M 3-2 for their second win over a ranked opponent this year, and ended the Aggies NCAA leading home-winning streak of 34 games. Ty'ara Law made her second career start and pitched a complete game allowing
The Cougars led the Aggies in Sunday's finale but gave up two runs in the sixth inning as Texas A&M took the win 3-2.
OPPONENT NOTES
Louisiana enters the midweek contest with a 17-0 record and No. 11 ranking. The Ragin' Cajuns swept their competition at their home invitational tournament last week posting a 5-0 record.
Louisiana is averaging 10.5 runs per game and have outscored their opponents 179-38 on the year. UL leads the Sun Belt Conference in nine offensive categories, including batting average (.375), RBIs (156) and home runs (23). Louisiana is a perfect 37-for-37 on the season in stolen bases.
Nerissa Meyers was named the Co-Sun Belt Player of the Week after connecting on 13 hits with a .619 batting average last week.
Ashley Brignac leads the UL pitchers with a 1.38 ERA in 50.2 innings this year.
FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Live stats for all games will be available at UHCougars.com or fans can follow @UHCougarSB on Twitter for live in-game updates.
NEED FOR SPEED
Houston went 33-for-51 in stolen bases in 2011, and heading into the offseason Holas emphasized that as an area for improvement. Through 19 games this year, the Cougars are 43-for-49 in steals led by Ashleigh Jones (11-for-12) and rank second overall in C-USA (Marshall - 66).
RALLY TIME
Of the 88 RBIs Houston has had this year, 47 runs have come home with two outs. Holly Anderson leads the team with 10 two-out RBIs and as a team the Cougars are hitting .354.
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.
Gregson has yet found her long-ball stroke this year but through the non-conference portion of the schedule, she had only five homers.
CONFERENCE USA LEADERS
Reina Gaber leads C-USA in batting average with her .483 mark. Gaber is tied for first in hits (28) and ranks fifth in on base (.508).
HOME SWEET HOME
After playing the last ten games on the road, the Cougars receive a brief respite with the home doubleheader against Louisiana before travelling to Marshall this upcoming weekend for the beginning of C-USA action.
Houston has posted a 7-2 record at home, with both losses coming by only one run. The Cougars posted a 19-6 record at Cougar Softball Stadium in 2011.
PROMOTIONS
Wednesday's games will be UH Staff/Faculty Appreciation day. Tickets for any UH faculty/staff members will be only $5 and prizes will be given away during the game.
UP NEXT
Houston begins Conference USA play this upcoming weekend with a road series at Marshall. The Cougars are 15-3-1 against Marshall, with the 2010 4-4 tie being Houston's only draw in program history. The Cougars haven't lost to the Thundering Herd the last eight times the two have faced off.
