University of Houston
17-8
Eastern Kentucky
17-10
Houston Splits Games in Round Robin
3/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Season Stats 
| Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Softball team defeated Eastern Kentucky, 11-4, and fell 6-4 to Dartmouth on Sunday afternoon at Cougar Softball Stadium to close the Houston Round Robin.
With the split, the Cougars move to 17-9 overall, while the Colonels fall to 17-10 and the Big Green improve to 5-9, respectively.
In the circle, junior Savannah Heebner improved to 10-2, while junior Presley Bell fell to 3-3. Heebner, who relieved sophomore starter Trystan Melancon, limited EKU to one run on four hits while walking none and striking out three in four and two-third innings pitched. Bell surrendered six runs (three earned) across three innings against Dartmouth before Heebner tossed four innings of one-hit relief.
Against EKU, freshman designated player Aspen Howie finished a perfect 4-for-4. The Austin native recorded a home run, double and two singles to account for three RBI and three runs scored. Her performance is the second 4-for-4 showing for the Cougars on the season, as redshirt junior Sarah Barker went 4-for-4 against No. 15/18 Ole Miss on Feb. 16.
Cougars Rachel Hill, Lindsey Stewart and Arielle James also turned in multi-hit performances. Hill (three RBI, one run scored) and Stewart (one RBI, two runs scored) each turned in a career-high three hits in 3-for-4 showings, while James finished 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored.
Against Dartmouth, sophomore third baseman Sarah Queen went 3-for-4, recording her team-leading fifth home run of the season. She finished with two RBI and one run scored.
HOUSTON 11, EASTERN KENTUCKY 4
KEY INNINGS
1st | The Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the first. James led off with a double down the right-field line and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from junior right fielder Maya Thomas. After senior left fielder Kaylin Crumpton reached on a hit by pitch, one of two for her in the game, Queen delivered James with a single through the right side of the infield. One batter later, Howie cleared the bases with a three-run home run off the left-field video board.
3rd | After EKU scored three runs in the top of the third, Houston responded with two runs in the bottom frame. Howie singled and Stewart reached on a fielder's choice with no out being made on the play to put two on. Junior catcher Brooke Vannoy advanced the two Cougars with a sacrifice bunt, and Hill delivered the pair with a single up the middle to make it 6-3.
5th | The Colonels hit a solo home run on the fifth, but Houston once again answered in the bottom frame. Howie and Stewart each singled to lead things off. After a fielder's choice off the bat of Vannoy, Hill singled in the infield to load the bases. On the next play, an obstruction call on EKU catcher Zoey Mihalicz awarded Queen home plate, and James followed with an RBI single through the infield to deliver Hill for an 8-4 advantage.
6th | In the sixth, Howie collected her fourth hit of the game, a two-out double to left center. Stewart and junior Breelyn Thames (pinch-hit) and Hill all followed with RBI singles for the 11-4 final.
HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Aspen Howie | 4-4, 2B HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Rachel Hill | 3-4, 3 RBI, R
Lindsey Stewart | 3-4, RBI, 2 R
Arielle James | 2-4, 2B, RBI, R
Pitching Breakdown:
Trystan Melancon | 2. 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 K
Savannah Heebner (W, 10-2) | 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K
DARTMOUTH 6, HOUSTON 4
KEY INNINGS
1st | After the Big Green scored five runs in the opening frame, Houston responded with two runs in the bottom of the first. James led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Thomas. After Crumpton drew a walk, James scored on an infield error. One batter later, Stewart plated Crumpton with a single to make it 5-2.
3rd | Dartmouth added an unearned run on the top of the third. Queen opened the bottom frame with a solo home run to center field. Howie walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Stewart before scoring one batter later on a Vannoy single.
HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Sarah Queen | 3-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
Lindsey Stewart | 1-2, RBI
Brooke Vannoy | 1-3, RBI
Arielle James | 1-3, BB, R
Pitching Breakdown:
Presley Bell (L, 3-3) | 3. 0 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Savannah Heebner | 4. 0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
ON DECK
The Cougars visit Sam Houston State for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 20, before opening American Athletic Conference play with a three-game series at ECU across Match 23-25.
COUGAR SOFTBALL STADIUM UPGRADES
Thanks to a record year for the Diamond Club, Houston Softball announced the addition of an LED, Daktronics video board (completed) and indoor practice facility as major upgrades to Cougar Softball Stadium.
According to Daktronics, the new outfield video board will be the fifth largest at an on-campus softball stadium in the country and the largest in the state of Texas. The board, which will sit just beyond the left-field wall, will stand 29-feet-3.1-inches tall and measure 24-feet-4.0-inches wide with 576 square feet of space (24-feet by 24-feet) for live video, instant replays, statistics and scoring information, graphics and animations, and sponsor messages. The display features a 13HD pixel layout for crisp, clear imagery for a great view from every seat at the stadium.
The indoor facility, which will replace the current batting cage down the right-field line, will measure 70-feet by 80-feet. The 5,600-square-foot space will feature five batting cages, measuring 60-feet long by 15-feet wide each, with retractable nets for the space to be used in a variety of ways. The facility will have a synthetic turf floor and will be temperature controlled.
In total, the two capital projects represent $1.2 million in upgrades.
SHASTA PASS
The Houston Athletics Ticket Office is once again proud to offer the Shasta Pass for the 2017-18 season. For just $80, Cougar fans can purchase one Shasta Pass, which allows season-long general admission entrance to all Houston Volleyball, Soccer, Women's Basketball and Softball home games.
The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial saving as single-game tickets start at $5 for all four sports. To purchase a Shasta Pass, call 713-GO-COOGS or CLICK HERE.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Softball on Twitter and Instagram at UHCougarSB, and "Like" UHCougarSB on Facebook.
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: Heebner, Savannah (10-2)
L: PAULICK, Mollie (6-4)
Batting:
2B: LIZZMORE, Destinee 1
HR: CLARK, Hannah 1
RBI: LIZZMORE, Destinee 1 ; ALSTON, Johnkyria 1 ; CLARK, Hannah 2
Base Running:
RUNS: LIZZMORE, Destinee 1 ; MURPHY, Paige 1 ; CLARK, Hannah 1 ; JACOBSEN, Melissa 1
Batting:
2B: James, Arielle 1 ; Howie, Aspen 1
HR: Howie, Aspen 1
RBI: James, Arielle 1 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; Howie, Aspen 3 ; Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1 ; Thames, Breelyn 1 ; Hill, Rachel 3
SH: Thomas, Maya 1 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: James, Arielle 1 ; Crumpton, Kaylin 1 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; Howie, Aspen 3 ; Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 2 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1 ; Scott, De'Zha 1 ; Hill, Rachel 1
HBP: Crumpton, Kaylin 2
