University of Houston Athletics
Preview: at ECU*
3/22/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HOUSTON -- The University of Houston Softball team opens American Athletic Conference play with a three-game series at ECU across March 23-25 in Greenville, N.C.
| UP TO THE PLATE | ||
March 23-25 | • Houston (19-9, 0-0 The American) at ECU* (14-16, 0-0 The American) March 23-25 ECU Softball Stadium | Greenville, N.C. | |
Coverage | Live Stats: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3 Live Stream: Game 1, Game 2, Game 3 | |
SINGLES
• Houston, which is 19-9 on the season, is coming off a doubleheader sweep at Sam Houston State on Tuesday. Junior Savannah Heebner tossed a one-hitter, retiring the final 19 batters she faced, in a 6-0 shutout in the first game, before the Cougars rallied to win 13-11 in 10 innings in the nightcap.
• Against the Bearkats, sophomore second baseman Arielle James led the offense, going 4-for-7 between the two games. In the first game, James was one of six Cougars to record a base hit. She followed with a 3-for-4 effort with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in the second game. Senior left fielder Kaylin Crumpton also collected three hits, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, career-high four RBI and one run scored.
• On the season, the Cougars are outscoring the opposition, 130-68.
• Houston leads The American in hit by pitch (28), while Crumpton holds the top individual mark with 13, tied for fifth in the NCAA.
• Entering the weekend, sophomore infielders James (.368) and Sarah Queen (.367) rank one-two on the team in batting average (.378). James also holds the top mark in hits (35), while Queen leads in slugging percentage (.589), home runs (5) and RBI (16). As a team, Houston is batting .294.
• In the circle, Heebner leads the Cougars with a 12-2 record and 0.72 ERA. Heebner's ERA leads The American and sits 11th in the NCAA, while her total wins are tied for the top conference mark and sit 20th nationally. She also leads the league in opponent batting average (.165). Pitchers Presley Bell (3-3) and Trystan Melancon (4-4) have 1.74 and 2.26 ERAs, respectively. The staff carries a 1.41 ERA, a mark that ranks second in The American and sits 15th in the NCAA.
• Prior to the season, Houston was tabbed second in The American Preseason Coaches' Poll, garnering two first-place votes.
• Houston is 34-17 all-time against ECU and 11-9 in trips to Greenville, N.C.
• Winners of five straight, the Pirates enter conference play with a 14-16 record, recently defeating Duke, 4-1, on Wednesday.
• Tate McCellan leads ECU in batting average (.311), slugging percentage (.633), doubles (8), home runs (7) and RBI (22), while Ashley Cruise owns a staff-best 7-6 record with a 3.02 ERA. As a team, the Pirates are batting .234 and have a 3.03 ERA.
• The Pirates are led by Head Coach Courtney Oliver, who is 63-77all-time in her third year at the helm.
• ECU was picked eighth in The American Preseason Coaches' Poll.
ON DECK
After the weekend series, the Cougars will host UCF in their conference home opener across March 29-31 at Cougar Softball Stadium.
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.
