Eight Late Runs Down No. 18 UCF

Sunday, April 24

Houston, Texas

12 p.m.

University of Houston

24-22-1, 8-6-1

UCF

39-11, 11-1

UCF

Houston

4/24/2022 3:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Seniors power Cougars to comeback win over No. 18 Knights

HOUSTON – In an emotional back-and-forth game, Houston softball stunned No. 18 UCF 9-8 on Sunday at Cougar Softball Stadium thanks to an 11-hit offensive performance and a leaping home run robbery in the seventh inning.

The game featured four different lead changes, including the final change in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly and UCF (39-11, 11-1 American) throwing error.

Two Cougars (24-22-1, 8-6-1 American) drove in multiple runs and three different players registered multi-hit games. Two seniors hit home runs on the final day of Senior Weekend. Houston produced 11 hits, the most since the team posted 16 at Tulsa on March 26, and eight runs, the most since scoring as many at East Carolina on April 10.

Down go the Knights! #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/Dc8l5N7rqE
— Houston Softball (@UHCougarSB) April 24, 2022

Houston took its first lead in the series on a first inning solo home run to left-center by senior center fielder Aspen Howie.

The lead did not last for long as the Knights plated four runs in the third inning on two home runs. UCF added three more runs off a pair of Houston errors in the fourth.

Houston capitalized on a UCF error in the bottom of the fourth, pushing three runs across with two outs. Pinch hitter Emma Robertson reached on a throwing error by UCF, which allowed second baseman Becca Schulte to score. Then a single to left-center off the bat of shortstop Rock Benavides scored two more runs.

The Cougars struck for three more runs in the fifth inning. Howie doubled for her second hit of the game, and then scored on a wild pitch and throwing error by UCF. With a runner on first, Schulte hit her team-leading 12th home run of the season to tie the game at seven apiece.

Entering the game without a home run, second baseman Justene Molina hit two solo home runs, one in the third inning to tie the game and then again in the sixth to give the Knights the lead.

Right fielder Paige Hulsey singled to leadoff the sixth inning and moved to third on Howie's third hit of the day. A walk to catcher Kati Ray Brown loaded the bases for Schulte. On an 0-1 pitch, Schulte skied the pitch to right center, deep enough to score Hulsey from third. The ensuing throw went to third base but hit Howie and scooted into foul territory, far enough for Howie to score the go-ahead run.

UCF got aggressive on the bases in the seventh, stealing second and then trying to advance on an errant throw but was thrown out at third by Howie, drawing exuberant protest from UCF.

Pandemonium in Houston! What a throw by the senior!#GoCoogs x @aspenh4 pic.twitter.com/tyNPEAOcd3
— Houston Softball (@UHCougarSB) April 24, 2022

A leaping catch at the wall by Hulsey sealed the Cougars second win over a ranked opponent this season.

UP NEXT
Houston will travel to Lafayette, La. on Wednesday to face Louisiana at 6 p.m. in the final road midweek game of the season. The Cougars will then go on the road to face South Florida in the final conference series of the season April 29-May 1.

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