Saturday, February 18
Houston, Texas
3 p.m.
University of Houston
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Hofstra
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7
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E
Hofstra
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Houston
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Softball Sweeps Houston Classic Day Two
2/18/2023 9:29:00 PM | Softball
Houston powers to a pair of three-run victories against Hofstra, Morgan State
HOUSTON – The University of Houston softball team guaranteed a winning record at the Houston Classic, posting a 3-0 victory against Hofstra to open the afternoon, followed by a 5-2 win over Morgan State Saturday evening at the Cougar Softball Stadium.
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Houston (6-3) has now won its last three games, its longest streak of the young season. Graduate Kenna Wilkey and sophomore Hannah Blincoe both earned complete-game victories, with Wilkey tallying her second shutout of the year.Â
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Sophomore Ja'Naiya Thomas paced Cougar hitters, going 6-for-7 with three runs, three stolen bases, two RBIs and a double on the afternoon. Bree Cantu, who tallied her second home run of the weekend in the first game of the day, Paige Hulsey and Turiya Coleman have all reached base safely all nine games this season, while Brooke Lorenzo extended her own reached base streak to eight games.Â
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GAME ONE – HOUSTON 3, HOFSTRA 0
Senior Katy Repa put the Cougars on the board first as she cracked her second RBI double in as many days to bring Thomas home.
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Lorenzo doubled the Houston lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single, driving home Hulsey to put the Cougars up 2-0.
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After two scoreless frames, senior Bree Cantu crushed her second home run of the weekend to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.Â
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The Cougars secured the victory after senior Britaney Shaw and sophomore Brooke Lorenzo teamed up for a game-ending double play, the team's second of the afternoon.
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Graduate Kenna Wilkey tossed six strikeouts in 7.0 innings against Hofstra (0-4) for her second shutout performance of the season and 10th of her career.Â
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GAME TWO – HOUSTON 5, MORGAN STATE 2
Morgan State (3-4), who also took an early lead in its first game of the day against #12/14 Washington, struck first in its game against Houston with a solo home run off the bat of Vic Fletcher in the second inning.Â
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The Cougars responded in the bottom of the third. Lorenzo reached on a bunt single and capitalized on Morgan State defensive miscues to reach third on a wild pitch and throwing error. Lorenzo completed her trip around the bases on a RBI single from Thomas to even the score at 1-1. Thomas would later score herself, showing off her speed by beating a throw to the plate on an infield fielder's choice to put Houston up, 2-0.Â
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The Lady Bears tied the game again in the fourth, but Houston reasserted a 3-2 lead in the fifth as Bree Cantu crossed the plate as Hulsey singled to center field. The Cougars added another pair of runs in the sixth. Back-to-back doubles from Lorenzo and Thomas allowed Lorenzo to score, while Thomas later scored on a ground-out from Amanda Carden.Â
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Blincoe sat Morgan State down in order in the seventh to clinch her first career complete-game and first career victory. Thomas finished 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, two runs and two stolen bases. She's the first Houston hitter to get four hits in a game since Becca Schulte tallied four against Tulsa on March 26, 2022.Â
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UP NEXT
The Cougars close out the weekend tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. rematch against #12/14 Washington.Â
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BUY TICKETS
Fans can purchase Houston Softball tickets by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or by clicking here.Â
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SUPPORT HOUSTON RISEÂ
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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JOIN the DIAMOND CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
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Houston (6-3) has now won its last three games, its longest streak of the young season. Graduate Kenna Wilkey and sophomore Hannah Blincoe both earned complete-game victories, with Wilkey tallying her second shutout of the year.Â
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Sophomore Ja'Naiya Thomas paced Cougar hitters, going 6-for-7 with three runs, three stolen bases, two RBIs and a double on the afternoon. Bree Cantu, who tallied her second home run of the weekend in the first game of the day, Paige Hulsey and Turiya Coleman have all reached base safely all nine games this season, while Brooke Lorenzo extended her own reached base streak to eight games.Â
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GAME ONE – HOUSTON 3, HOFSTRA 0
Senior Katy Repa put the Cougars on the board first as she cracked her second RBI double in as many days to bring Thomas home.
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Lorenzo doubled the Houston lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single, driving home Hulsey to put the Cougars up 2-0.
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After two scoreless frames, senior Bree Cantu crushed her second home run of the weekend to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.Â
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The Cougars secured the victory after senior Britaney Shaw and sophomore Brooke Lorenzo teamed up for a game-ending double play, the team's second of the afternoon.
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Graduate Kenna Wilkey tossed six strikeouts in 7.0 innings against Hofstra (0-4) for her second shutout performance of the season and 10th of her career.Â
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GAME TWO – HOUSTON 5, MORGAN STATE 2
Morgan State (3-4), who also took an early lead in its first game of the day against #12/14 Washington, struck first in its game against Houston with a solo home run off the bat of Vic Fletcher in the second inning.Â
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The Cougars responded in the bottom of the third. Lorenzo reached on a bunt single and capitalized on Morgan State defensive miscues to reach third on a wild pitch and throwing error. Lorenzo completed her trip around the bases on a RBI single from Thomas to even the score at 1-1. Thomas would later score herself, showing off her speed by beating a throw to the plate on an infield fielder's choice to put Houston up, 2-0.Â
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The Lady Bears tied the game again in the fourth, but Houston reasserted a 3-2 lead in the fifth as Bree Cantu crossed the plate as Hulsey singled to center field. The Cougars added another pair of runs in the sixth. Back-to-back doubles from Lorenzo and Thomas allowed Lorenzo to score, while Thomas later scored on a ground-out from Amanda Carden.Â
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Blincoe sat Morgan State down in order in the seventh to clinch her first career complete-game and first career victory. Thomas finished 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, two runs and two stolen bases. She's the first Houston hitter to get four hits in a game since Becca Schulte tallied four against Tulsa on March 26, 2022.Â
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UP NEXT
The Cougars close out the weekend tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. rematch against #12/14 Washington.Â
Â
BUY TICKETS
Fans can purchase Houston Softball tickets by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or by clicking here.Â
Â
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISEÂ
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
Â
JOIN the DIAMOND CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilkey, Kenna (3-3)
L: Mullin, N (0-2)
Base Running:
HBP: Vaillancourt 1
Batting:
2B: Repa, Katy 1 ; Hulsey, Paige 1
HR: Cantu, Bree 1
RBI: Repa, Katy 1 ; Cantu, Bree 1 ; Lorenzo, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1 ; Cantu, Bree 1 ; Hulsey, Paige 1
SB: Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1 ; Coleman, Turiya 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
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