Thursday, May 11
Tampa, Fla.
9 a.m.
University of Houston
20-30
2
vs
3
Tulsa
24-27
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Houston
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
2
1
Tulsa
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
3
7
0
Softball’s Season Ends in Conference Tournament
5/11/2023 3:18:00 PM | Softball
Houston falls in a pitching duel to Tulsa in opening round
TAMPA, Fla. – No. 5 seed University of Houston softball came up short, 3-2, in the opening game of the American Athletic Conference Softball Championship against No. 4 seed Tulsa on Thursday morning from USF Softball Stadium.
Graduate Kenna Wilkey (15-14) tossed a complete game for Houston (20-30), her 15th of the season, ceding only two earned runs to the Golden Hurricane in 6.1 innings in the circle. Maura Moore (14-12) picked up the win in her own complete game for Tulsa (24-27).
Game Highlights:
· Sophomore Turiya Coleman picked up three walks, the second Cougar to hit the mark this season. Houston drew six walks in the game overall.
· Coleman finishes the year with a .397 average, the fifth highest in a single-season in program history.
· The game marked Wilkey's 26th start of the season, moving her into a tie for eighth on Houston's single-season list. It was also her 53rd start for Houston, tying her for ninth on the Cougars' career list.
· Sophomore Ja'Naiya Thomas stole her 10th base of the year in the game. She's swiped double-digit bases in both of her seasons so far.
Player Highlights:
· Bree Cantu: 1-3, BB
· Turiya Coleman: 0-0, 3 BB, R
· Kati Ray Brown: 1-2
Key Innings
5th | With a pair of runners in scoring position, Kailyn Bearpaw launched a sac-fly to center field that allowed Tulsa to take a 1-0 lead. Wilkey induced a lineout two batters later to keep the deficit at one heading into the sixth.
6th | Houston took no time to start its own rally as the first two batters in the sixth reached on a walk and hit by pitch. After being bunted forward by senior Kati Ray Brown and sophomore Baylea Myers' pinch-hit walk to load the bases, the Cougars capitalized on a fielder's choice from Thomas, scoring two runs as Thomas drew a rundown to take a 2-1 lead.
Tulsa would tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning, using an error to plate a run on a sacrifice bunt from the Golden Hurricane.
7th | After Houston nearly took the lead in the top of the inning, Tulsa's MacKenzie Denton singled to lead off the inning, and, after advancing to second, was able to score on a single through the right side to give Tulsa a 3-2 win.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
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.
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.
Graduate Kenna Wilkey (15-14) tossed a complete game for Houston (20-30), her 15th of the season, ceding only two earned runs to the Golden Hurricane in 6.1 innings in the circle. Maura Moore (14-12) picked up the win in her own complete game for Tulsa (24-27).
Game Highlights:
· Sophomore Turiya Coleman picked up three walks, the second Cougar to hit the mark this season. Houston drew six walks in the game overall.
· Coleman finishes the year with a .397 average, the fifth highest in a single-season in program history.
· The game marked Wilkey's 26th start of the season, moving her into a tie for eighth on Houston's single-season list. It was also her 53rd start for Houston, tying her for ninth on the Cougars' career list.
· Sophomore Ja'Naiya Thomas stole her 10th base of the year in the game. She's swiped double-digit bases in both of her seasons so far.
Player Highlights:
· Bree Cantu: 1-3, BB
· Turiya Coleman: 0-0, 3 BB, R
· Kati Ray Brown: 1-2
Key Innings
5th | With a pair of runners in scoring position, Kailyn Bearpaw launched a sac-fly to center field that allowed Tulsa to take a 1-0 lead. Wilkey induced a lineout two batters later to keep the deficit at one heading into the sixth.
6th | Houston took no time to start its own rally as the first two batters in the sixth reached on a walk and hit by pitch. After being bunted forward by senior Kati Ray Brown and sophomore Baylea Myers' pinch-hit walk to load the bases, the Cougars capitalized on a fielder's choice from Thomas, scoring two runs as Thomas drew a rundown to take a 2-1 lead.
Tulsa would tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning, using an error to plate a run on a sacrifice bunt from the Golden Hurricane.
7th | After Houston nearly took the lead in the top of the inning, Tulsa's MacKenzie Denton singled to lead off the inning, and, after advancing to second, was able to score on a single through the right side to give Tulsa a 3-2 win.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
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.
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: MOORE, Maura (14-12)
L: Wilkey, Kenna (15-14)
Batting:
RBI: Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1
SH: Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Farina, Bella 1
SB: Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1
HBP: Shaw, Britaney 1
Batting:
2B: KEITH, Rylee 1
RBI: BEARPAW, Kailyn 2
SH: EDWARDS, Imani 1 ; JONES, Abby 1
SF: BEARPAW, Kailyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MORGAN, Haley 1 ; DENSON, MacKenzie 1 ; CRAMER, Kennedy 1
SB: MORGAN, Haley 1 ; DENSON, MacKenzie 1
HBP: MORGAN, Haley 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
0
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
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