Softball Closes Regular Season by Hosting South Florida

Friday, May 5

Houston, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Houston

South Florida

Tickets

Softball Closes Regular Season by Hosting South Florida

5/4/2023 2:36:00 PM | Softball

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Cougars wrap up the regular season with its senior weekend

HOUSTON – The University of Houston softball team concludes its 2023 regular season as South Florida visits Cougar Softball Stadium for a three-game series this weekend.

The slate kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by a 2 p.m. Saturday tilt and a noon Sunday finale. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Throughout the weekend, Houston will recognize six of its graduating seniors. Mattie Boyd, Kati Ray Brown, Taylor Edwards, Saleen Flores, Britaney Shaw and Kenna Wilkey will all be celebrated prior to the game on either Saturday or Sunday.

South Florida
Teams				Houston vs. South Florida
Dates				May 5 at 6 p.m. May 6 at 2 p.m. May 7 at noon
Location				Houston, Texas \| Cougar Softball Stadium
Live Stream				ESPN+ \| Friday \| Saturday \| Sunday
Live Stats				U HStats.com
Game Notes				Houston
Social Media				@uhcougarsb \| @uhccougarsb \| Cougar Softball \| #GoCoogs

HEAD COACH KRISTIN VESELYOverall record: 185-161-1 (7th season)
At Houston: same

SERIES VS. SOUTH FLORIDAOverall record: 28-16, South Florida
Under Vesely: 12-4, South Florida
Streak: South Florida, 4

THE RUNDOWN

Houston is 16-28 all-time against South Florida. Under Vesely, the Cougars are 4-12 against the Bulls.
The Cougars were swept in last year's series.
South Florida is on a four-game winning streak.
The series against USF dates back to 2001, when Houston won a three-game series, 2-1.
The Cougars battled the Bulls every year from 2001-2005, then the series faded until being renewed in 2014 and the two have since played annually.

FIRST PITCH

Senior Kenna Wilkey ranks near the top nationally in multiple stat categories, sitting at 21st in innings pitched (172.2) and 38th in strikeouts (159), both of which also lead the conference. Senior Bree Cantu sits at 44th nationally in sacrifice flies with four, while sophomore Turiya Coleman is second in the conference with a .397 average.
With the win over Wichita State on April 16, head coach Kristin Vesely extended her streak and has defeated a top-25 opponent in each of her seven years at the helm of the Cougars.
Houston has yet to have a conference series unaffected by weather. The Cougars faced postponements against Memphis, and East Carolina, delays against Wichita State and Tulsa and a time-change against UCF.
Cantu leads the AAC in batting average in conference games, hitting .489 nearing the end of the season. She also leads the conference in on-base percentage (.545), and doubles (8). Among pitchers, Wilkey paces the league in strikeouts (68), innings pitched (71.1).
Senior Kati Ray Brown is the only AAC catcher to have picked off the only runner in conference play this season and sits at fifth in the conference in league play having caught three runners stealing.
Houston sits tied for fourth in The American entering the last week of regular season play and is one of two teams to have taken a game from leader Wichita State.
Among active Division I players, Wilkey has the 19th most appearances (141), 36th most wins (56), the 23rd most innings pitched (624.1) and the 33rd most strikeouts (545).
The Cougars boast one of the tougher nonconference schedules in the nation. Houston's nonconference slate was ranked as the 31st toughest, only behind Tulsa's 21st toughest nonconference schedule.
The Cougars are playing their last season in The American prior to joining the Big 12 Conference next season.

BUY TICKETS
Fans can purchase Houston Softball tickets by calling 713-GO-COOGS (462-6647) or by clicking here.

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.