University of Houston
Princeton
Houston Wins Twice at Host Tournament
3/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Season Stats | Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Softball team picked up two big wins, run-ruling Princeton, 14-1, in five innings, before claiming a 6-5 edge on a walk-off single from sophomore Brooke Vannoy against Sam Houston State in the nightcap on Friday at Cougar Softball Stadium as part of the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic.
With the wins, the Cougars improve to 9-11 overall, while Princeton and SHSU fall to 0-2 and 7-10, respectfully.
Senior Shelby Miller turned in a monster .833/1.833/.857 slash, going a combined 5-for-6 with a double, triple, home run, five RBI, five runs scored, walk and stolen base between the two games. The homer is Miller's American-Athletic-Conference-leading eighth of the season.
Redshirt sophomore Sarah Barker finished 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base.
Pitchers Trystan Melancon (3-5) and Savannah Heebner (4-3) each picked up wins in the circle. Melancon scattered one run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts in four innings of work against Princeton, before sophomore Presley Bell closed out the fifth inning. Heebner worked around 11 hits, five runs (four earned) with four walks and one strikeout in going the distance against SHSU.
The Cougars will continue their host tournament with two games on Saturday. Houston will face rv/rv Wisconsin at 4:30 p.m., before seeing Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m.
SATURDAY'S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
9 a.m. | Princeton vs. Wisconsin
11:30 a.m. | Sam Houston State vs. Princeton
2 p.m. | Louisiana-Monroe vs. Sam Houston State
4:30 p.m. | Wisconsin at HOUSTON
7 p.m. | Louisiana-Monroe at HOUSTON
TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Houston (2-0)
Wisconsin (2-0)
Louisiana-Monroe (1-1)
Sam Houston State (1-1)
Princeton (0-2)
HOUSTON 14, PRINCETON 1 (5)
KEY INNINGS
1st | After the Tigers plated one run on a triple and sacrifice fly to open the game, Houston responded with four runs it its first trip to the plate in the bottom frame. With two on, Miller tripled home freshman Arielle James (single, stolen base) and Barker (walk), before coming around on a throwing error in the same play. Sophomore Maya Thomas reached on a bunt single in the next at bat and stole second, scoring one batter later on a single to left center from junior De'Zha Scott.
2nd | RBI singles from Barker and Miller helped tack two more runs in the bottom of the second. Junior Mariah Garcia led off with a walk and advanced around to third on a double from James, before Barker and Miller logged back-to-back hits to give Houston a 6-1 lead.
4th | The Cougars broke out for eight runs on six hits and two Princeton errors to take a commanding 14-1 lead. Sophomore Rachel Hill sparked the big inning with a one-out, pinch-hit single, before trotting home on Barker's home run to left center. Miller (double) and Thomas (single) followed with base hits to put two more in scoring position. An infield error allowed Miller to score, as walks to Kelli Montgomery, Elise LeBouf and Garcia plated two more runs. A two-RBI single from Breezy Burton and another Tiger error helped the Houston score thee more runs.
HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Sarah Barker | 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB, SB
Shelby Miller | 3-3, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R, SB
Arielle James | 2-3, 2B, 2 R, SB
Maya Thomas | 2-3, 2 R, SB
Pitching Breakdown:
Trystan Melancon (W, 3-5) | 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Presley Bell | 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
HOUSTON 6, SAM HOUSTON STATE 5
KEY INNINGS
1st | With the bases loaded Thomas got the Cougars on the board with a RBI single down the left field line.
3rd | After the Bearkats plated two runs in the top of the third, Miller responded with a two-run home run in the bottom frame to give Houston a 3-1 lead.
5th | A solo home run from Barker in the bottom of the fifth extended Houston's lead to 4-1.
6th | Once again the Cougars matched SHSU's offensive output, each scoring one run in the sixth. LeBeouf walked and advanced to second on a groundout in the next at bat, before scoring on a single up the middle from junior Kaylin Crumpton.
7th | After the Bearkats rallied for two runs to tie the game at 5-5, Vannoy plated the game-winning run on a walk-off single down the left field line.
HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Arielle James | 2-4, R
Kaylin Crumpton | 1-3, RBI, BB
Sarah Barker | 1-3, 1 RBI, 2 R, BB
Shelby Miller | 2-3, 2 RBI, R, BB
Maya Thomas | 2-3, RBI, R
Brooke Vannoy | 1-3, RBI
Pitching Breakdown:
Savannah Heebner (W, 4-3) | 7.0 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
ON DECK
The Cougars will continue their Houston Hilton Plaza Classic with two games on Saturday. Houston faces rv/rv Wisconsin at 4:30 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m.
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.
