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University of Houston
1-1
UC Santa Barbara
0-2
Cougars Split 2017 Season Opener
2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Season Stats | Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Softball team spilt a pair of decisions, falling 4-3 in eight innings to Wright State and picking up a convincing 14-2 five-inning run rule over UC Santa Barbara to kickoff the 2017 season on Friday at Cougar Softball Stadium as part of the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational.
Senior Shelby Miller paced the Cougars (1-1) offensively going 4-for-7 with two home runs, one double, eight RBI and three runs scored across the two games.
Sophomore Presley Bell (1-0) picked up her first win of the season in Houston's nightcap against UCSB (0-2). The native of Liberty, Texas, scattered four hits and two runs in a complete-game effort.
The Cougars continue their host tournament with two games tomorrow. Due to travel issues for Boston College, the tournament schedule has again been adjusted for Saturday. For a full list of games and links to follow the actions, fans can visit the tournament central page on UHCougars.com or click HERE.
SATURDAY'S TOURNAENT SCHEDULE
9 a.m. | UC Santa Barbara vs. Wichita State
11:30 a.m. | Wright State vs. UC Santa Barbara
2 p.m. | Wichita State at HOUSTON
4:30 p.m. | Boston College at HOUSTON
7:00 p.m. | Wright State vs. Boston College
Houston fans should note the Cougars will now be playing the 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. games instead of the 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. time slots as initially released.
TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
1. Wichita State (2-0)
T2. Houston (1-1)
T2. Wright State (1-1)
4. UC Santa Barbara (0-2)
HOUSTON 14, UC SANTA BARBARA 2 (5)
KEY INNINGS
1st | The Cougars jumped out front with six runs on five hits in the bottom of the first. Freshman Arielle James and sophomore Maya Thomas both singled to open the frame. Two batters later, sophomore Elise LeBeouf plated James with a single to right field before Miller cleared the bases with a three-run blast over the batter's eye in center field. Freshman Sarah Queen and junior Sarah Barker tacked on two more runs with a double and sacrifice fly, respectively.
2nd | After junior Kaylin Crumpton drew a walk to open the bottom frame, LeBeouf gave Houston an 8-0 lead with a two-run homer to left center.
3rd | UCSB broke up the shutout with one run on a fielder's choice in the third inning.
Houston turned in another six-run frame in the bottom of the third. An infield throwing error starting things off, allowing James to score, before doubles from Crumpton (2 RBI), Miller (2 RBI) and Barker (RBI) bolstered the Cougars' lead to 14-1.
4th | A sacrifice fly gave the Gauchos another run in the fourth.
5th | Bell retired the side to seal the run-rule and secure Kristin Vesely's first win as a head coach.
HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Shelby Miller | 3-4, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R
Elise LeBeouf | 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB
Kaylin Crumpton | 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
Pitching Breakdown:
Presley Bell (W, 1-0) | 5.0 IP, CG, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 K
WRIGHT STATE 4, HOUSTON 3 (8)
KEY INNINGS
4th | After three scoreless innings, Miller gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead with a home run down the left field line.
6th | WSU's Alexis Mayle played the equalizer with a two-run double to tie the game in the top of the sixth.
8th | With the international tie breaker in effect, the Raiders were able to push across two runs to go up 4-2. The Cougars had a chance to answer in the bottom frame, but were only able to scratch across one run in dropping their season opener, 4-3.
HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Shelby Miller | 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
Savannah Heebner | 2-4, 2B, 1 R
Kaylin Crumpton | 2-4
Pitching Breakdown:
Trystan Melancon | 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K
Shelby Miller (L, 0-1) | 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
ON DECK
The Cougars continue their Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational with two games on Saturday. Houston and Wichita State get underway at 2 p.m. with the Cougars to face off against Boston College in a 4:30 p.m. first pitch immediately following.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Softball on Twitter @UHCougarSB and "Like" /HoustonCougarSoftball on Facebook. Houston Softball is also on Instagram at UHCougarSB.
SHASTA PASS
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2016-17 athletic season. For only $80, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial savings as single-game tickets start at $5 for all four sports. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.
JOIN 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. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bell, Presley (1-0)
L: Mayer, Lena (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Clark, Kristen 1 ; Hinojosa, Jacqueline 1
SF: Clark, Kristen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Johnston, Jessica 1 ; Menor, Melanie 1
HBP: Cavazos, Stacy 1
Batting:
2B: Crumpton, Kaylin 1 ; Miller, Shelby 1 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; Barker, Sarah 1
HR: LeBeouf, Elise 1 ; Miller, Shelby 1
RBI: Crumpton, Kaylin 2 ; LeBeouf, Elise 3 ; Miller, Shelby 5 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; Barker, Sarah 2
SF: Barker, Sarah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: James, Arielle 2 ; Thomas, Maya 2 ; Crumpton, Kaylin 2 ; LeBeouf, Elise 3 ; Miller, Shelby 2 ; Heebner, Savannah 1 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; Barker, Sarah 1
HBP: James, Arielle 1 ; MARTIN, Kurstin 1
