
Offense Powers Way to Doubleheader Sweep
2/28/2020 4:53:00 PM | Softball
Cougars hit seven home runs in pair of wins
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With the wins, the Cougars (14-4) extend their winning streak to nine games, marking the third year in a row that Houston has put together a win streak of at least eight games.
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Houston began the day erupting for a season-high 14 runs in a shutout over UTEP, then followed that with another convincing win, taking down New Mexico State by a score of 9-1. In the matchup against the Aggies (9-4), Houston launched four home runs, the third time this season such a task has been accomplished. The Cougars have now hit 14 home runs in their last four games.
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Sophomore outfielder Bethany Busch sealed the win over the Aggies with a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, the first homer of her career. She started the day scoring a career-high three runs against the Miners (4-11).Â
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In the matchup with New Mexico State, junior outfielder Aspen Howie connected on her fourth home run of the season, tying her career-high with four RBIs. Sophomore catcher Kati Ray Brown began the day with her conference-leading seventh home run of the season, driving in a career-high four runs in the process.
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Against the Miners, freshman pitcher Logan Hulon tossed a two-hit shutout, allowing no walks and striking out seven batters to earn the sixth victory of her career.
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KEY INNINGS
1st | Houston wasted no time showing off its offense, as a pair of walks from senior outfielder Lindsey Stewart and senior designated player Charese Wyatt was followed by a single from senior infielder Sarah Queen to put the Cougars ahead by a score. After a base hit from senior infielder Kelli Montgomery scored Wyatt, Houston found itself ahead by a pair with nobody out. Once a couple of bases-loaded walks pushed the lead to four, Houston ended up crossing the plate two more times to cap off a six-run first inning.
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2nd | Brown stretched the lead even further, as her single right up the middle allowed Queen and Busch to come around and score, giving the Cougars an eight-run advantage.
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4th | After a solo run from Queen put Houston out in front by nine, graduate transfer infielder Becca Schulte blasted her third home run of the season, with Busch on base, to push the lead even further. Holding a 12-run lead, Brown then came up to the plate and launched her seventh long ball of the year to give Houston a 13-run advantage and cap off a five-run, four-hit inning.
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5th | Freshman infielder Britaney Shaw came off the bench and brought around Montgomery to score with the first hit of her career.
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TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Kati Ray Brown | 2-2, HR, 4 RBIs
Becca Schulte | 1-2, HR, 2 RBIs
Kelli Montgomery | 2-3, 3 R
Sarah Queen | 2-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBIs
Bethany Busch | 3 R
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PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Logan Hulon (W, 6-2) | 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB 7 K
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GAME 2 | Houston 9, New Mexico State 1 (5)
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KEY INNINGS
1st | The Cougars continued to flex its muscle as the plate, as a leadoff triple from Stewart resulted in her scoring off a wild pitch. The long ball continued to be a factor for Houston, courtesy of a three-run bomb from Howie that quickly gave the Cougars a four-run lead.
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3rd | After Wyatt launched her fifth home run of the season, Howie came up to the plate with freshman infielder Paige Hulsey on base and drove her home to stretch the lead to five.
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4th | With junior infielder Rock Benavides reaching base on a fielding blunder from New Mexico State, Stewart then stepped up to the plate and sent the sixth home run of the day over the wall to give Houston a seven-run advantage.
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5th | Busch's first home run of her career cemented the 9-1 win for the Cougars.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Aspen Howie | 2-3, HR, 4 RBIs
Lindsey Stewart | 2-3, HR, 3B, 2 RBIs, 2 R
Bethany Busch | 1-3, HR
Charese Wyatt | 1-2, HR, 2 R
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PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (W, 3-0) | 5.0 IP, ER, 7 H, 5 K
The Cougars continue their weekend at the Boyd Gaming Classic with a pair of games on Saturday. Houston will face UTEP at 2:30 p.m. and UNLV at 7:30 p.m.
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The matchup with UNLV will be streamed and can be viewed here.
Season tickets for the 2020 season are on sale now and can be purchased here for $90. Fans can also purchase a 10-game flex plan for $60 or a 20-game flex plan for $90.
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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.
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– UHCougars.com –Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hulon, Logan (6-2)
L: MUNOZ, Bryana (0-2)

Batting:
2B: Montgomery, Kelli 1
HR: Queen, Sarah 1 ; Schulte, Becca 1 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1
RBI: Queen, Sarah 2 ; Montgomery, Kelli 1 ; Howie, Aspen 1 ; Shaw, Britaney 1 ; Busch, Bethany 1 ; Schulte, Becca 2 ; Brown, Kati Ray 4 ; Benavides, Rock 1
SF: Howie, Aspen 1 ; Benavides, Rock 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1 ; Wyatt, Charese 1 ; Queen, Sarah 3 ; Montgomery, Kelli 3 ; Howie, Aspen 1 ; Busch, Bethany 3 ; Schulte, Becca 1 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1
SB: Queen, Sarah 1 ; Montgomery, Kelli 2
HBP: Queen, Sarah 1 ; Schulte, Becca 2 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1