Cougars Welcome Trio of NCAA Tourney Teams

HOUSTON − The Houston softball team stays home to host three 2021 NCAA Tournament teams, McNeese and Texas State along with defending national champion Oklahoma.

HOUSTON CLASSIC
Teams				Houston (4-1), McNeese (5-0), Oklahoma (5-0), Texas State (2-1)
Dates				Feb. 18-20 \| Tournament Central
Location				Houston, Texas \| Cougar Softball Stadium
Live Stream				ESPN+ (Houston games only)
Live Stats				UHStats.com
Game Notes				Houston \| McNeese \| Oklahoma \| Texas State
Social Media				@uhcougarsb \| @uhccougarsb \| Cougar Softball \| #GoCoogs

HEAD COACH KRISTIN VESELY
Overall record: 143-107 (6th season)
At Houston: same

SERIES VS MCNEESE
Overall record: 14-9, Houston
Under Vesely: 4-3, McNeese
Streak: McNeese, 2

SERIES VS OKLAHOMA
Overall record: 11-1, Oklahoma
Under Vesely: 5-0, Oklahoma
Streak: Oklahoma, 9

SERIES VS TEXAS STATE
Overall record: 17-12, Houston
Under Vesely: 4-3, Texas State
Streak: Texas State, 3

FIRST PITCH

Upperclassmen Becca Schulte and Kenna Wilkey were named to The American Honor Roll after their performances in the Houston Invitational.
Becca Schulte hit a home run in the final game of 2020, did not play in 2021, and hit a home run in her first at-bat of 2022. Thus, Schulte hit a home run in back-to-back games spanning 23 months.
Schulte hit home runs in back-to-back at-bats on Opening Day and drove in 9 RBI over the weekend.
Freshman Ja'Naiya Thomas was named to D1Softball's preseason Top 75 Impact Freshman list.
Thomas was named D1Softball's Preseason Freshman of the Year for The American.
Houston added 14 newcomers to the 2022 roster, eight of which are freshmen.
The Cougars have 13 upperclassmen, including six seniors and two graduate students.
Graduate student Becca Schulte is competing in her seventh season as a collegiate athlete. Schulte graduated high school in 2015.
Houston added seven transfers this fall, five of which come from Power 5 schools.
The circle for the Cougars in 2022 features five new faces with Megan Lee as the lone returner.
Houston will face four Preseason Top 25 teams in 2022, including three teams in the Top 10 of D1Softball's preseason poll.
The Cougars were picked to finish fourth in The American.
Houston will join the Big 12 within the next two years.
The Cougars play 10 teams that made a regional in 2021. Houston's schedule penned seven Power 5 opponents into the 2022 schedule, facing those seven teams a total of 11 total times.
Head coach Kristin Vesely added East Carolina's former head coach Courtney Oliver as the Cougars' associate head coach for 2022. Oliver brought in the No. 22 ranked recruiting class in 2018.
Jordan Reid was named Director of Softball Operations in January.

COMPLETE NOTES
Click here.

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 −

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Megan Lee

Becca Schulte

Ja'Naiya Thomas

Kenna Wilkey

Upcoming Events

Recent Results