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Sunday, February 28
Houston
12 p.m.
University of Houston
6-5
10
vs
8
Abilene Christian
3-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Abilene Christian
1
0
4
0
1
0
2
8
6
1
Houston
2
0
4
4
0
0
X
10
11
2
Photo by: Wilf Thorne/Wilf Thorne Photography
Long Ball Powers Houston to Pair of Wins
2/28/2021 5:29:00 PM | Softball
Cougars hit seven home runs against Abilene Christian
HOUSTON – Behind a combined 23 runs and seven home runs, the University of Houston Softball team swept its doubleheader against Abilene Christian on Sunday.
The Cougars (7-5) opened the day launching a pair of home runs in the 10-8 win over the Wildcats (3-9), before plating 13 runs off another five home runs in the 13-5 victory in game two of the day.
Houston's five home runs hit in the second game are the most in a single contest since the Cougars launched five in the 12-3 win over Incarnate Word on Feb. 19, 2017.
Three Cougars hit multiple homers on Sunday, including seniors Rock Benavides and Aspen Howie, along with junior Kati Ray Brown. Sophomore Britaney Shaw also connected on a long ball, the first of her career.
Benavides had a day to remember, going a combined 4-for-6 with two home runs, five RBIs, and four runs scored. Shaw also had a career-day, having gone a combined 3-for-7 with six RBIs and a pair of runs scored to go along with her home run.
GAME 1: Houston 10, Abilene Christian 8
KEY INNINGS
1st | After ACU grabbed the first lead of the game in the top of the inning, Houston responded right away with a pair of runs of its own, courtesy of RBIs from Shaw and Benavides.
3rd | The Wildcats plated four runs in the top half off a pair of hits, but the Cougars found a rebuttal and scored four runs to reclaim the lead at 5-4. With two outs in the inning, redshirt senior Sarah Queen got the rally going with a double to right field. Benavides then singled her home, and after Howie collected an RBI of her own, Brown plated two runs with her double to centerfield.
4th | Another four-run inning from the Cougars proved to be the difference in the game, as a three-run shot Shaw followed by a solo bomb from Benavides put the game out of reach for ACU.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Rock Benavides | 3-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 2B
Britaney Shaw | 1-1, HR, 4 RBIs
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 2-4, 2 R
Sarah Queen | 2-4, 2 R
Kati Ray Brown | 1-4, 2 RBIs
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (ND) | 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K
Megan Lee (W, 2-1) | 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB
GAME 2: Houston 13, Abilene Christian 5 (5 Innings)
KEY INNINGS
1st | Houston wasted no time jumping out to the early advantage, plating five runs off four hits, including a two home runs. Once junior Bethany Busch scored the first run, Shaw stepped up to the plate and doubled around redshirt senior Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn. With Shaw at second, Benavides elevated a 2-1 pitch over the wall to put UH ahead by four. Howie immediately the homer from Benavides with a solo shot to cap off the five-run frame from Houston.
2nd | ACU fought back to score five runs of its own and tie the game, but Houston scored another three in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead at 8-5.
3rd | Houston stretched its lead again after Brown sent one over the wall in left. Following a single from Stewart-Vaughn that scored freshman Paige Lott, the Cougars found themselves leading 10-5.
4th | Howie connected on a two-run blast to dead centerfield. The Cougars then went back-to-back courtesy of a rocket off the scoreboard from Brown, pushing Houston's lead to eight.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Aspen Howie | 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R
Kati Ray Brown | 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R
Rock Benavides | 1-2, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R
Britaney Shaw | 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2B
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2B, R
Sarah Queen | 2-3, RBI, R
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Hailey Hudson (W, 3-1) | 5.0 IP, 0 BB, 69 NP
ON DECK
Houston hosts No. 7/7 Texas inside Cougar Softball Stadium for a midweek showdown with the Longhorns at 6 p.m., Wednesday and can be viewed on ESPN+.
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 –
The Cougars (7-5) opened the day launching a pair of home runs in the 10-8 win over the Wildcats (3-9), before plating 13 runs off another five home runs in the 13-5 victory in game two of the day.
Houston's five home runs hit in the second game are the most in a single contest since the Cougars launched five in the 12-3 win over Incarnate Word on Feb. 19, 2017.
Three Cougars hit multiple homers on Sunday, including seniors Rock Benavides and Aspen Howie, along with junior Kati Ray Brown. Sophomore Britaney Shaw also connected on a long ball, the first of her career.
Benavides had a day to remember, going a combined 4-for-6 with two home runs, five RBIs, and four runs scored. Shaw also had a career-day, having gone a combined 3-for-7 with six RBIs and a pair of runs scored to go along with her home run.
KEY INNINGS
1st | After ACU grabbed the first lead of the game in the top of the inning, Houston responded right away with a pair of runs of its own, courtesy of RBIs from Shaw and Benavides.
3rd | The Wildcats plated four runs in the top half off a pair of hits, but the Cougars found a rebuttal and scored four runs to reclaim the lead at 5-4. With two outs in the inning, redshirt senior Sarah Queen got the rally going with a double to right field. Benavides then singled her home, and after Howie collected an RBI of her own, Brown plated two runs with her double to centerfield.
4th | Another four-run inning from the Cougars proved to be the difference in the game, as a three-run shot Shaw followed by a solo bomb from Benavides put the game out of reach for ACU.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Rock Benavides | 3-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R, 2B
Britaney Shaw | 1-1, HR, 4 RBIs
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 2-4, 2 R
Sarah Queen | 2-4, 2 R
Kati Ray Brown | 1-4, 2 RBIs
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (ND) | 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K
Megan Lee (W, 2-1) | 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB
GAME 2: Houston 13, Abilene Christian 5 (5 Innings)
KEY INNINGS
1st | Houston wasted no time jumping out to the early advantage, plating five runs off four hits, including a two home runs. Once junior Bethany Busch scored the first run, Shaw stepped up to the plate and doubled around redshirt senior Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn. With Shaw at second, Benavides elevated a 2-1 pitch over the wall to put UH ahead by four. Howie immediately the homer from Benavides with a solo shot to cap off the five-run frame from Houston.
2nd | ACU fought back to score five runs of its own and tie the game, but Houston scored another three in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead at 8-5.
3rd | Houston stretched its lead again after Brown sent one over the wall in left. Following a single from Stewart-Vaughn that scored freshman Paige Lott, the Cougars found themselves leading 10-5.
4th | Howie connected on a two-run blast to dead centerfield. The Cougars then went back-to-back courtesy of a rocket off the scoreboard from Brown, pushing Houston's lead to eight.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Aspen Howie | 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBIs, 2 R
Kati Ray Brown | 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R
Rock Benavides | 1-2, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R
Britaney Shaw | 2-3, 2 RBIs, 2B
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 2-2, 2 RBIs, 2B, R
Sarah Queen | 2-3, RBI, R
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Hailey Hudson (W, 3-1) | 5.0 IP, 0 BB, 69 NP
Houston hosts No. 7/7 Texas inside Cougar Softball Stadium for a midweek showdown with the Longhorns at 6 p.m., Wednesday and can be viewed on ESPN+.
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: Lee, Megan (2-1)
L: Bradley, Samantha (1-3)
Batting:
HR: Rudd, Val 1 ; Burris, Calie 1 ; Harris, Paige 1
RBI: Rudd, Val 1 ; Burris, Calie 1 ; Belch, Katelyn 2 ; Alani, Shaylee 1 ; Harris, Paige 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Rudd, Val 2 ; Keeling, Kayla 1 ; Burris, Calie 2 ; Johnson, Donelle 1 ; Belch, Katelyn 1 ; Harris, Paige 1
SB: Alani, Shaylee 1
Batting:
2B: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; Benavides, Rock 1 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1
HR: Shaw, Britaney 1 ; Benavides, Rock 1
RBI: Shaw, Britaney 4 ; Benavides, Rock 3 ; Howie, Aspen 1 ; Brown, Kati Ray 2
SF: Shaw, Britaney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Busch, Bethany 1 ; Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 2 ; Queen, Sarah 2 ; Shaw, Britaney 1 ; McClain, Jordan 1 ; Benavides, Rock 2 ; Howie, Aspen 1
SB: Queen, Sarah 1
HBP: Shaw, Britaney 1 ; Lott, Paige 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
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