Saturday, May 18
Austin, Texas
1 p.m.
University of Houston
39-17
5
vs
0
Sam Houston State
35-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Houston
0
0
0
0
3
0
2
5
8
1
Sam Houston State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Houston Advances to Regional Final
5/18/2019 7:48:00 PM | Softball
Bell tosses two-hit shutout in victory
AUSTIN, Texas – Behind a two-hit shutout from senior Pitcher Presley Bell, the University of Houston Softball team advanced to the Austin Regional Final, after taking down Sam Houston State, 5-0, on Saturday.
This will be the first Regional Final appearance for the Cougars (39-17) since 2011. Houston's win over the Bearkats (35-22) also marks the Cougars' 12th victory in their past 14 games overall. Houston's 39 wins this year are the most in a single season since 2013.
On the day, Bell cashed in her fourth shutout of the season, having taken a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning. She finished the contest surrendering just two hits, while allowing no walks, having needed only 68 pitches to improve her record 13-3 on the year. Her top-15 ERA is now a miniscule 1.16 this season.
Offensively, senior outfielder and 2019 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Sarah Barker posted a game-high three hits to go along with her game-high two runs scored. Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart launched a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
With her two-out, two-RBI double in the top of the seventh, sophomore infielder Tierrah Williams provided crucial insurance runs late in the game. Senior Maya Thomas went 1-for-4 on the afternoon, extending her hitting streak to 15 games.
HOUSTON 5, SAM HOUSTON STATE 0
KEY INNINGS
5th | After senior catcher Brooke Vannoy, drew a bases-loaded walk, senior outfielder Sarah Barker bunted her way on base and on the play, a fielding blunder from Sam Houston State allowed Vannoy and Barker to score, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart then stepped up to the plate and blasted her third home run of the season over the wall to push the Houston lead to three.
7th | Barker got the Cougar offense rolling again, as her double in the gap forced the Bearkats to intentionally walk junior infielder Arielle James. With two outs in the inning, sophomore infielder Tierrah Williams used a pinch-hit two-RBI double to drive home Barker and James, adding important insurance runs to the board and giving Houston the 5-0 lead.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
Sarah Barker | 3-4, 2B, R
Lindsey Stewart | 1-3, HR
Tierrah Williams | 1-1, 2B, 2 RBIs
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Presley Bell (W, 13-3) | 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 68 NP
ON DECK
Houston will vie for a spot in a Super Regional, when the Cougars face the winner between Texas and Sam Houston State on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
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 –
This will be the first Regional Final appearance for the Cougars (39-17) since 2011. Houston's win over the Bearkats (35-22) also marks the Cougars' 12th victory in their past 14 games overall. Houston's 39 wins this year are the most in a single season since 2013.
On the day, Bell cashed in her fourth shutout of the season, having taken a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning. She finished the contest surrendering just two hits, while allowing no walks, having needed only 68 pitches to improve her record 13-3 on the year. Her top-15 ERA is now a miniscule 1.16 this season.
Offensively, senior outfielder and 2019 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Sarah Barker posted a game-high three hits to go along with her game-high two runs scored. Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart launched a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.
With her two-out, two-RBI double in the top of the seventh, sophomore infielder Tierrah Williams provided crucial insurance runs late in the game. Senior Maya Thomas went 1-for-4 on the afternoon, extending her hitting streak to 15 games.
KEY INNINGS
5th | After senior catcher Brooke Vannoy, drew a bases-loaded walk, senior outfielder Sarah Barker bunted her way on base and on the play, a fielding blunder from Sam Houston State allowed Vannoy and Barker to score, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart then stepped up to the plate and blasted her third home run of the season over the wall to push the Houston lead to three.
7th | Barker got the Cougar offense rolling again, as her double in the gap forced the Bearkats to intentionally walk junior infielder Arielle James. With two outs in the inning, sophomore infielder Tierrah Williams used a pinch-hit two-RBI double to drive home Barker and James, adding important insurance runs to the board and giving Houston the 5-0 lead.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
Sarah Barker | 3-4, 2B, R
Lindsey Stewart | 1-3, HR
Tierrah Williams | 1-1, 2B, 2 RBIs
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Presley Bell (W, 13-3) | 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 68 NP
Houston will vie for a spot in a Super Regional, when the Cougars face the winner between Texas and Sam Houston State on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
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 –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bell, Presley (13-3)
L: McLeod, Lindsey (22-9)
Batting:
2B: Barker, Sarah 1 ; Williams, Tierrah 1
HR: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1
RBI: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1 ; Williams, Tierrah 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Barker, Sarah 2 ; Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1 ; James, Arielle 1 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballHIGHLIGHTS: Houston 5, Utah 2
Sunday, March 30
HIGHLIGHTS: Houston 10, McNeese 6
Wednesday, March 26
HIGHLIGHTS: Houston 10, Lamar 6
Wednesday, March 19
Cinematic Recap vs. Iowa State
Tuesday, March 11