.png&width=48&height=48&type=webp)
Friday, March 26
Orlando, Fla.
3 p.m.
University of Houston
9-15, 0
1
at
2
UCF
21-6, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Houston
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
1
UCF
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
2
6
0
Houston Drops Doubleheader in Conference Opener
3/26/2021 9:09:00 PM | Softball
Cougars fall in heartbreaking fashion
ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Houston Softball team fell in its American Athletic Conference opener to No. 22/24 UCF, dropping both contests on Friday.
Houston (9-15, 0-2 AAC) opened league action leading 1-0 for much of the game, until the Knights (22-6 2-0 AAC) came back and won in extra innings by a score of 2-1. The Cougars held another lead in game two, but a two-run home from UCF put them out in front and never looked back in route to the 5-1 win.
In the first game of the day, junior Rachel Hertenberger went the distance and surrendered just two runs in here seven-plus innings of work. She has now allowed two or fewer run in six of her past seven starts against ranked teams.
GAME 1
KEY INNINGS
3rd | After junior Kati Ray Brown reached on a walk, the Cougars moved her to third in which redshirt senior Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn used a sacrifice fly to score Brown from third to give Houston the first lead of the game.
5th | The Knights managed to load the bases, but Hertenberger fought back to retire the side and keep the Cougars ahead.
6th | UCF tied the score with a single to center.
7th | Senior Aspen Howie recorded the first out of the inning with a diving grab in the outfield, then made a game-saving catch with another incredible grab to send the game to extras.
8th | A solo home run from the Knights in the bottom of the inning sealed the 2-1 win for them.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Kati Ray Brown | 1-2, 2B, R
Sarah Queen | 2-3
Charese Wyatt | 1-3
Paige Hulsey | 1-3
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (L, 4-4) | 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 K
GAME 2
KEY INNINGS
1st | The Cougars jumped out to the first lead of the game, as senior Charese Wyatt drove home junior Bethany Busch from second.
3rd | A two-run home run from UCF put them out in front in by one.
6th | Another two-run shot in the bottom of the inning, stretched the lead to four, proving to be the difference in the game.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 2-3, 2B
Bethany Busch | 1-4, R
Aspen Howie | 1-3, 2B
Britaney Shaw | 1-2, 2B
Charese Wyatt | 1-3, RBI
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Megan Lee (L, 2-5) | 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB
Logan Hulon | 3.0 IP, 3 ER, BB 4 K
ON DECK
Houston continues its time in Orlando, where the Cougars will face UCF for game three of the series at 2 p.m., Saturday.
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 (9-15, 0-2 AAC) opened league action leading 1-0 for much of the game, until the Knights (22-6 2-0 AAC) came back and won in extra innings by a score of 2-1. The Cougars held another lead in game two, but a two-run home from UCF put them out in front and never looked back in route to the 5-1 win.
In the first game of the day, junior Rachel Hertenberger went the distance and surrendered just two runs in here seven-plus innings of work. She has now allowed two or fewer run in six of her past seven starts against ranked teams.
KEY INNINGS
3rd | After junior Kati Ray Brown reached on a walk, the Cougars moved her to third in which redshirt senior Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn used a sacrifice fly to score Brown from third to give Houston the first lead of the game.
5th | The Knights managed to load the bases, but Hertenberger fought back to retire the side and keep the Cougars ahead.
6th | UCF tied the score with a single to center.
7th | Senior Aspen Howie recorded the first out of the inning with a diving grab in the outfield, then made a game-saving catch with another incredible grab to send the game to extras.
8th | A solo home run from the Knights in the bottom of the inning sealed the 2-1 win for them.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Kati Ray Brown | 1-2, 2B, R
Sarah Queen | 2-3
Charese Wyatt | 1-3
Paige Hulsey | 1-3
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (L, 4-4) | 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 K
GAME 2
KEY INNINGS
1st | The Cougars jumped out to the first lead of the game, as senior Charese Wyatt drove home junior Bethany Busch from second.
3rd | A two-run home run from UCF put them out in front in by one.
6th | Another two-run shot in the bottom of the inning, stretched the lead to four, proving to be the difference in the game.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lindsey Stewart-Vaughn | 2-3, 2B
Bethany Busch | 1-4, R
Aspen Howie | 1-3, 2B
Britaney Shaw | 1-2, 2B
Charese Wyatt | 1-3, RBI
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Megan Lee (L, 2-5) | 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB
Logan Hulon | 3.0 IP, 3 ER, BB 4 K
Houston continues its time in Orlando, where the Cougars will face UCF for game three of the series at 2 p.m., Saturday.
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: Alea White (11-1)
L: Hertenberger, Rachel (4-4)
Batting:
2B: Brown, Kati Ray 1
RBI: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1
SH: Howie, Aspen 1 ; Shaw, Britaney 2
SF: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Kati Ray 1
SB: Hulsey, Paige 1
HBP: Queen, Sarah 1
Batting:
HR: Jada Cody 1
RBI: Jada Cody 1 ; Juliana Wilson 1
SH: Denali Schappacher 2 ; Jazmine Esparza 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jada Cody 2
SB: Kennedy Searcy 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ 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