Softball Earns Weekday Win over HCU

Thursday, February 23

Houston, Texas

5:30 p.m.

University of Houston

7-4

HCU

8-4

Houston Christian

Houston

2/23/2023 8:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Edwards tosses complete-game, earns third win of the season

HOUSTON – The University of Houston softball team cruised to a 4-1 win over Houston Christian on Thursday night at Cougar Softball Stadium behind a complete-game effort in the circle from junior Taylor Edwards.

Edwards, throwing her third complete game of the season, also earned her third win of the campaign as Houston (7-4) opened a five-game slate of games at the Houston Tournament. The junior struck out nine, allowing only one unearned run in the game.

With a pair of hits, sophomore Turiya Coleman extended her streak and has reached base in all 11 games so far this season. Junior Paige Hulsey also had an exceptional outing, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of diving grabs in the outfield.

Houston took the lead early, with Britaney Shaw driving home Coleman with an RBI double in the bottom of the first. Shaw later scored on a wild pitch, putting the Cougars up 2-0 after an inning of play.

The Huskies (8-4) closed the gap in the fourth, capitalizing on a Cougar error to get a runner to third, who later scored on a groundout to cut Houston's lead to 2-1.

Head Coach Kristin Vesely's squad bounced back with their own run in the fifth. Aggressive baserunning from Ja'Naiya Thomas forced a HCU error that allowed her to score, extending the lead back to 2-0.

The Cougars added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. LA Matthews hit a rope to left field for a double that allowed Bree Cantu to score.

The Houston defense shut the door in the top of the seventh, with Thomas and Hulsey making a pair of diving grabs to end any chance of a HCU comeback.

NOTABLES

-       Hulsey now has 10 career multi-hit games with three this season.
-       The game was the first in 138 games where Kati Ray Brown did not start behind the plate for the Cougars.
-       Coleman and Thomas are both on six game hitting streaks.
-       Houston starting pitchers have tossed six complete games out of 11 games so far this season.
-       With 7.0 innings without an earned run tonight, Edwards' season ERA sits at 1.62. She's allowed just five runs in 21.2 innings pitched.
-       Houston stole four bases tonight, bringing its total to 18 on the year.
-       Houston is 9-2 all-time against HCU.

UP NEXT
Houston continues the Houston Tournament against Illinois on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

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