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Friday, March 22
Wichita, Kan.
6 p.m.
University of Houston
at
Wichita State
Houston Opens Conference Play at Wichita State
3/21/2019 1:00:00 PM | Softball
Cougars conclude final three games of 10-game road trip
HOUSTON – Having won 17 of its past 20 games, the University of Houston Softball team wraps up its road swing with a trip to Wichita, Kan., to open up its 2019 American Athletic Conference slate.
Houston has won each of its past two league-opening series and will look to continue that recent trend of success this weekend. Last season, Houston and Wichita State met for the first three-game series between the two teams, in which the Cougars came out on top, 2-1.
By winning the first game of that series, Houston head coach Kristin Vesely became the first coach in program history to lead the Cougars to a victory over Wichita State. This upcoming series with the Shockers marks the first time the two squads will meet in Wichita.
At Wichita State
Last Time Out
Entering a hostile environment in Waco, Texas, Houston stepped into enemy territory at Baylor and walked away with a pair of midweek wins over the Lady Bears. With its two wins over Baylor, has moved to 4-2 in the past six contests between the two squads.
The Cougars opened the day with a 2-0 shutout victory and followed that with a 6-1 win over the Lady Bears. Houston's shutout marked its 12th of the year, as Baylor was held scoreless for just the second time this season.
Defensive highlights proved to be the stronghold for the Cougars that day, throwing runners out at the plate and converting multiple double plays as well. On the day, senior outfielder Sarah Barker went 3-7 with a pair of runs scored and a run batted in.
Junior infielder Sarah Queen drove in three runs in game two with her two-out double in the fourth. With a run scored in the bottom of the fifth in the second game, junior pitcher Trystan Melancon had her scoreless inning streak ended at 21 innings.
By collecting a hit in each contest, junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart extended her team-best reached base streak to 19 games, while junior infielder pushed her hitting streak to six games.
Stewart Ain't So Little
After bolstering a .526 batting average, driving in 12 runs and recording a pair of triples to go along with a home run record, junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart was awarded The American Athletic Conference Player of the Week for games played through Feb. 25.
Stewart also led the Cougars to a perfect 6-0 record that week, including a 5-0 mark at the Houston Challenge. The Pearland, Texas, product started the weekend with a bang, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a triple and four RBIs, all coming in the first inning of the Cougars' 10-run frame against Incarnate Word. She finished that contest 3-for-3 with a career-high six RBIs.
On the year, Stewart has been a wrecking ball at the plate, destroying opposing pitchers. Not only is she currently riding an eight-game hitting streak, she has also reached base in 19-straight contests.
She enters the weekend with a .414 batting average that is second-best in the conference, as her 36 hits on the year ranks in the top 40 in the nation. Her speed has also been put on display, with a team-high four stolen bases and a conference-best four triples.
Just 'Bell'ieve
Senior pitcher Presely Bell has put together one of the most impressive starts to the 2019 season in the entire country. In her 45.2 innings of work, she has allowed just one extra-base hit and after beginning the season having gone without allowing an earned run in her first 15.1 innings of work, Bell has surrendered just three earned runs this season.
She enters the contest against Wichita State with a 6-1 record and leads The American with her 0.46 ERA, which ranks third in the nation. Her three shutouts on the year are tied for second-best in the conference.
As a result of her performances at the Houston Classic (Feb. 15-17), where she went 2-0 with complete-game shutouts in both of her starts, Bell was named to the American Weekly Honor Roll, marking the fourth time in her career she has earned the honor.
The Best of the Best
Prior to the start of the season, senior pitcher/utility Savannah Heebner earned herself a spot on the Top 50 Watch List for the 2019 USA Softball Player of the Year award, which was announced by USA Softball. She was the only player from the American Athletic Conference named to the list.
Heebner was also named to Justin's World of Softball 2019 Preseason All-America list as member of the Second Team. Last year, the Sedalia, Colo., native led The American in wins (26), opponent batting average (.204) and a minuscule ERA of 1.15 in route to receiving Co-The American Pitcher of the Years honors, as well as a Second Team NFCA All-America nod.
2019 has seen much of the same dominance in the circle from Heebner as 2018 did. With a conference-best four shutouts on the year that ranks 12th in the nation, Heebner has enters this weekend riding a scoreless inning streak of 14 games, posting back-to-back shutouts in the process.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchased for $80. Fans can also purchase a flex package of 20 games, where they can choose which games they want to attend.
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.
– UHCougars.com –
Houston has won each of its past two league-opening series and will look to continue that recent trend of success this weekend. Last season, Houston and Wichita State met for the first three-game series between the two teams, in which the Cougars came out on top, 2-1.
By winning the first game of that series, Houston head coach Kristin Vesely became the first coach in program history to lead the Cougars to a victory over Wichita State. This upcoming series with the Shockers marks the first time the two squads will meet in Wichita.
At Wichita State
- Friday, March 22 at 6 p.m. | Houston at Wichita State | Live Stats | Watch
- Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. | Houston at Wichita State | Live Stats | Watch
- Sunday, March 24 at Noon | Houston at Wichita State | Live Stats | Watch
Last Time Out
Entering a hostile environment in Waco, Texas, Houston stepped into enemy territory at Baylor and walked away with a pair of midweek wins over the Lady Bears. With its two wins over Baylor, has moved to 4-2 in the past six contests between the two squads.
The Cougars opened the day with a 2-0 shutout victory and followed that with a 6-1 win over the Lady Bears. Houston's shutout marked its 12th of the year, as Baylor was held scoreless for just the second time this season.
Defensive highlights proved to be the stronghold for the Cougars that day, throwing runners out at the plate and converting multiple double plays as well. On the day, senior outfielder Sarah Barker went 3-7 with a pair of runs scored and a run batted in.
Junior infielder Sarah Queen drove in three runs in game two with her two-out double in the fourth. With a run scored in the bottom of the fifth in the second game, junior pitcher Trystan Melancon had her scoreless inning streak ended at 21 innings.
By collecting a hit in each contest, junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart extended her team-best reached base streak to 19 games, while junior infielder pushed her hitting streak to six games.
Stewart Ain't So Little
After bolstering a .526 batting average, driving in 12 runs and recording a pair of triples to go along with a home run record, junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart was awarded The American Athletic Conference Player of the Week for games played through Feb. 25.
Stewart also led the Cougars to a perfect 6-0 record that week, including a 5-0 mark at the Houston Challenge. The Pearland, Texas, product started the weekend with a bang, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a triple and four RBIs, all coming in the first inning of the Cougars' 10-run frame against Incarnate Word. She finished that contest 3-for-3 with a career-high six RBIs.
On the year, Stewart has been a wrecking ball at the plate, destroying opposing pitchers. Not only is she currently riding an eight-game hitting streak, she has also reached base in 19-straight contests.
She enters the weekend with a .414 batting average that is second-best in the conference, as her 36 hits on the year ranks in the top 40 in the nation. Her speed has also been put on display, with a team-high four stolen bases and a conference-best four triples.
Just 'Bell'ieve
Senior pitcher Presely Bell has put together one of the most impressive starts to the 2019 season in the entire country. In her 45.2 innings of work, she has allowed just one extra-base hit and after beginning the season having gone without allowing an earned run in her first 15.1 innings of work, Bell has surrendered just three earned runs this season.
She enters the contest against Wichita State with a 6-1 record and leads The American with her 0.46 ERA, which ranks third in the nation. Her three shutouts on the year are tied for second-best in the conference.
As a result of her performances at the Houston Classic (Feb. 15-17), where she went 2-0 with complete-game shutouts in both of her starts, Bell was named to the American Weekly Honor Roll, marking the fourth time in her career she has earned the honor.
The Best of the Best
Prior to the start of the season, senior pitcher/utility Savannah Heebner earned herself a spot on the Top 50 Watch List for the 2019 USA Softball Player of the Year award, which was announced by USA Softball. She was the only player from the American Athletic Conference named to the list.
Heebner was also named to Justin's World of Softball 2019 Preseason All-America list as member of the Second Team. Last year, the Sedalia, Colo., native led The American in wins (26), opponent batting average (.204) and a minuscule ERA of 1.15 in route to receiving Co-The American Pitcher of the Years honors, as well as a Second Team NFCA All-America nod.
2019 has seen much of the same dominance in the circle from Heebner as 2018 did. With a conference-best four shutouts on the year that ranks 12th in the nation, Heebner has enters this weekend riding a scoreless inning streak of 14 games, posting back-to-back shutouts in the process.
Season tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchased for $80. Fans can also purchase a flex package of 20 games, where they can choose which games they want to attend.
Follow Houston Softball on Twitter and Instagram at UHCougarSB, and "Like" UHCougarSB on Facebook.
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.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP/1B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
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