University of Houston
26-28, 9-9
Memphis
26-30, 7-11
Walk-off Home Run Completes Sweep
5/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HOUSTON -- A walk-off two-run home run by senior Courtney Klingler sealed a 4-3 win and completed the sweep over Memphis during the season finale Sunday afternoon.
The Cougars improved to 26-28, 9-9 in the American Athletic Conference while Memphis fell to 26-30 on the year, 7-11 in league play. With the 9-9 finish in conference, the Cougars stand tied for third with Tulsa and earn the No. 4 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Memphis took a 3-0 lead off two solo home runs and a sacrifice fly out heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Houston didn't back down as freshman Elise LeBeouf belted her sixth home run of the season. The run marked her 34th RBI of the season.
The Cougars held Memphis scoreless in the top of the seventh before putting the rally caps on.
Freshman Brooke Vannoy led the team with a solo home run to initiate the rally, marking her seventh of the season. Senior Katie St. Pierre battled at the plate and drew a walk before moving to second on a sac bunt by Kaylin Crumpton. LeBeouf advanced her to third on a flyout to center.
The Cougars were down 3-2 with two outs on the board as senior Courtney Klingler stepped up to the plate. Memphis pitcher Molly Smith left the first pitch out over the plate and Klingler took her yard for the walk-off win. The home run was Klingler's 13th of the season and 20th of her career.
Senior LHP Julana Shrum (8-9) earned the win for the Cougars. In her eighth complete game of the year and 33rd of her career, Shrum allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two.
NEXT AT BAT
Houston Softball is set to compete at the American Athletic Conference Championships next weekend. With the 9-9 record in league play, the Cougars claimed the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will face Memphis in the first game on Thursday. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. in Tulsa, Okla.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Shrum, Julana (8-9)
L: SMITH, Molly (11-15)
Batting:
HR: LEE, Brooke 1 ; SEALE, Brittany 1
RBI: STICKROD, Lindsey 1 ; LEE, Brooke 1 ; SEALE, Brittany 1
SH: HARRELL, Hannah 1
SF: STICKROD, Lindsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LEE, Brooke 1 ; SEALE, Brittany 1 ; LAMB, Jessie 1
CS: CROWDUS, Lindsay 1 ; VALENZUELA, Breana 1
Batting:
2B: LeBeouf, Elise 1
HR: LeBeouf, Elise 1 ; Klingler, Courtney 1 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1
RBI: LeBeouf, Elise 1 ; Klingler, Courtney 2 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1
SH: Crumpton, Kaylin 1 ; Thomas, Maya 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pierre, Katie 1 ; LeBeouf, Elise 1 ; Klingler, Courtney 1 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1
SB: Thomas, Maya 1 ; Shrum, Julana 1
