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PREVIEW: Softball at American Championship
5/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
2016 Schedule | 2016 Season Stats | Game Notes 
HOUSTON â€" The University of Houston Softball program is set to open the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championship this weekend in Tulsa, Okla.
The Cougars earned the No. 4 seed after finishing tied for third with Tulsa in conference play. Houston will face No. 5-seed Memphis in game one of the tournament Thursday at 11 a.m.
The two teams met last weekend in the season finale when the Cougars swept the Tigers in Houston. Last season, the Cougars met Memphis in the first round of the tournament and advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 win.
| Gameday Central >> Houston at American Athletic Conference Championship | ||
| Date | Time | May 12-14, 2016 | |
| Location | Collins Family Softball Complex Tulsa, Okla. | |
| Coverage | Championship Central | Bracket | Ticket Info Live Stats | American Digital Network | |
| Social Media |    | |
 | TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE |
Thursday, May 12/Quarterfinals
(all games on The American Digital Network)
Game 1 - No. 4 Houston (26-28, 9-9) vs. No. 5 Memphis (26-30, 7-11), 11 a.m.
Game 2 - No. 2 UCF (35-19, 12-4) vs. No. 7 UConn (19-31, 4-12), 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 3 Tulsa (32-18, 9-9) vs. No. 6 East Carolina (23-30, 5-13), 4 p.m.
Friday, May 13/Semifinals
(all games on The American Digital Network)
Game 4 â€" No. 1 USF (43-13, 15-3) vs. Memphis/Houston winner, 1 p.m.
Game 5 â€" UCF/UConn winner vs. Tulsa/East Carolina winner , 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 14/Championship
(televised live on ESPN)
Game 6 - Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5, 11 a.m.
| THE MATCH UP |
• Series: Houston leads, 27-9
• Last Meeting: W, 4-3 â€" May 8, 2016 (Season finale)
• Last Meeting at Cougar Softball Stadium: W, 4-3 â€" May 8, 2016 (Season finale)
• This is the second straight year the Cougars will meet Memphis in the American Athletic Conference Championship opener.
| HITS ON HOUSTON |
• Houston Softball picked up its first conference sweep of the season with three wins over Memphis last weekend. Friday, the Cougars defeated Memphis 6-1 and sealed the series win with a 2-1 win on Saturday. In the series finale, senior Courtney Klingler hit a two-run walk-off home run to lead the Cougars over Memphis, 4-3.
• Freshman Maya Thomas was named to the American Athletic Conference Honor Roll for the first time this season as she hit .625 against the Tigers pitching staff.
• Senior Courtney Klingler has hit 13 home runs this season including two grand slams and a walk-off home run. She leads the American and ranks 62nd in the nation with the most home runs per game (0.27).
| SPEEDY ST. PIERRE |
• Senior Katie St. Pierre recorded her 18th stolen base of the season and 63rd of her career to extend the school record for career stolen bases. She ties her previous best of 18 in a single season, ranking fifth in school history.
• St. Pierre also ranks in the top five in school history for career walks (105), runs scored (162), hits (242) and hit by pitch (23).
• St. Pierre has focused on her on-base percentage this season. She has reached base in 50 of the 54 games this season and has a .470 OB% that ranks second in conference.
| TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM... OR 60 |
• A pitch has hit the Cougars 66 times this season. The 66 HBPs this season is ranks second in school history and is six shy of tying the 2013 total (72) and the school record.
• Sophomore Kaylin Crumpton leads the team with 22 followed by teammate Courtney Klingler who has been pegged 16 times.
• Crumpton also leads the league in hit by pitches this season and sits tenth nationally for most HBP per game (0.41). Klingler is second behind Crumpton in the conference with (0.33) and ranks 21st in the nation.
• With 42 career hit by pitches, Crumpton takes sole possession of second in school history and is tied for 12th nationally on the Active Career Leaders list.
| ON MEMPHIS |
• 2016 Record: 26-30, 7-11 The American
• Head Coach: Natalie Poole (McNeese State, 1998) | 5th Season | 398-439
• Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/8
| STAY CONNECTED |
For all the behind-the-scenes action, follow Houston Softball on Twitter @UHCougarSB and "Like" /HoustonCougarSoftball on Facebook. Houston Softball is now on Instagram (@uhcougarsb).
| JOIN THE DIAMOND CLUB |
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GOUH.
