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University of Houston
2-2
Virginia
4-0
Cougars Drop Pair of Games on Houston Invitational Day Three
2/11/2023 9:57:00 PM | Softball
Houston lost to Nebraska before falling short in its resumed game against Virginia; Saturday’s originally scheduled game against Virginia won’t be played
GAME ONE – NEBRASKA 7, HOUSTON 0
Nebraska, who made the 2022 NCAA Tournament as an at-large selection, wasted no time getting on the board with a solo home run on the first pitch of the game.
The game seemed destined to be a pitcher's duel, with neither Kenna Wilkey nor the Huskers' Courtney Wallace ceded much ground in the circle through five innings.
Nebraska broke through in the sixth, however, adding three runs to their lead and following it up with another trio of runs in the seventh.
Houston loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but wasn't able to push any runs across for its first loss of the year.
SUSPENDED GAME – VIRGINIA 14, HOUSTON 0
Following the Nebraska game, the Cougars resumed their game against Virginia from Thursday night.
Prior to the suspension, Virginia put up two runs in the top of the first, but Britaney Shaw cut into the lead with a single that scored Turiya Coleman. Virginia then put up six runs in the top of the third prior to the game being called.
With the game being resumed, Houston, facing an 8-1 deficit entering the bottom of the third, quickly rallied to close the gap. Coleman drew a walk to start the frame and Ja'Naiya Thomas followed it up with a single to put two runners on. Bree Cantu singled through the right side to drive home Coleman and Shaw cleared the bases with a two RBI single to make the score 8-4.
The Cougars weren't done in the inning. Four batters later, LA Matthews laced a double into the left-field corner that plated two and put the Cougars within striking distance at 8-6.
Houston added another run in the fourth, courtesy of a bloop single to right by Kati Ray Brown that scored Cantu, but Virginia got the run back on a solo home run off the bat of Tori Gilbert that struck the left field foul pole.
The Cavaliers rallied further in the seventh, plating five runs on a sustained rally to end the scoring at 14-7.
Between Thursday and Saturday in the game against Virginia, Shaw went three-for-three with three RBIs, while Matthews went two-for-four with two RBIs and a double.
UP NEXT
The Cougars finish the weekend at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow with a battle against Delaware.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jenny Bressler (2-0)
L: Wilkey, Kenna (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Leah Boggs 1
3B: Jade Hylton 1 ; Gabby Baylog 1
HR: M.C. Eaton 1 ; Abby Weaver 1 ; Tori Gilbert 1 ; Leah Boggs 1
RBI: Sarah Coon 1 ; M.C. Eaton 3 ; Abby Weaver 3 ; Tori Gilbert 1 ; Gabby Baylog 1 ; Leah Boggs 3 ; Reece Holbrook 1
SF: Gabby Baylog 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jade Hylton 1 ; Katie Goldberg 2 ; M.C. Eaton 2 ; Kelly Ayer 1 ; Abby Weaver 1 ; Tori Gilbert 2 ; Kailyn Jones 1 ; Gabby Baylog 1 ; Leah Boggs 2 ; Reece Holbrook 1
SB: Tori Gilbert 1 ; Kailyn Jones 1 ; Gabby Baylog 1
HBP: Jade Hylton 1 ; Gabby Baylog 2
Batting:
2B: Matthews, LA 1
RBI: Cantu, Bree 1 ; Shaw, Britaney 3 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1 ; Matthews, LA 2
SH: Shaw, Britaney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coleman, Turiya 2 ; Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1 ; Cantu, Bree 2 ; Hulsey, Paige 1 ; Carden, Amanda 1
SB: Shaw, Britaney 1
