PREVIEW: Softball Remains Home, Hosts Houston Classic

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team remains at home for the season's second weekend to host the Houston Classic from Thursday through Sunday at Cougar Softball Stadium.

Houston (4-1) will battle UTSA (4:30 p.m.) and Nicholls (7 p.m.) on Thursday before playing UMass at 6:30 p.m., Friday and Nicholls again at 6:30 p.m., Saturday. The team wraps up play on Sunday with a doubleheader against Northwestern State starting at 11:30 a.m.

The Cougars are coming off a successful opening weekend at the Houston Invitational. The team posted back-to-back run-rule wins on Opening Day, defeating Colgate (10-0, five innings) and Indiana State (13-1, five innings) before notching a 6-1 win against Indiana State and a 6-3 victory against Rutgers.

Houston Invitational
Teams				Houston, UTSA, Nicholls, UMass, Northwestern State
Dates				Thursday, Feb. 15 4:30 p.m. – UTSA vs. Houston 7 p.m. – Nicholls vs. Houston Friday, Feb. 16 11 a.m. – Northwestern St. vs. UTSA 1:30 p.m. – UTSA vs. Nicholls 4 p.m. – Nicholls vs. UMass 6:30 p.m. – UMass vs. Houston Saturday, Feb. 17 11 a.m. – UMass vs. Northwestern St. 1:30 p.m. – Northwestern St. vs. UTSA 4 p.m. – UTSA vs. UMass 6:30 p.m. – Nicholls vs. Houston Sunday, Feb. 18 9 a.m. – UMass vs. Nicholls 11:30 a.m. – Northwestern St. vs. Houston 2 p.m. – Northwestern St. vs. Houston
Location				Houston, Texas \| Cougar Softball Stadium
Live Streams				Houston Games: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Live Stats				UHStats.com
Game Notes				Houston

SERIES vs UTSA
Overall: 12-6
First Meeting: W, 5-2 (8), March 19, 2001
Last Meeting: W, 9-5, Feb. 12, 2022
In Houston: 8-3
Houston Streak: W3

SERIES vs NICHOLLS
Overall: 5-1
First Meeting: W, 2-1, Feb. 8, 2008
Last Meeting: L, 0-2, Feb. 16, 2019
In Houston: 5-1
Houston Streak: L1

SERIES vs UMASS
Overall: 1-0
First Meeting: W, 5-4, Feb. 14, 2015
Last Meeting: W, 5-4, Feb. 14, 2015
In Houston: 1-0
Houston Streak: W1

SERIES vs NORTHWESTERN STATE
Overall: 8-2
First Meeting: L, 1-4, Feb. 17, 2001
Last Meeting: W, 5-0, March 13, 2022
In Houston: 7-1
Houston Streak: W7

FIRST PITCH

With the win over Wichita State on April 16, 2023, Head Coach Kristin Vesely extended her streak and has defeated a top-25 opponent in each of her seven years at the helm.
Houston joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023. The 2024 season marks Houston's inaugural softball season in the conference with the team's first Big 12 game coming on March 8 at home against Texas.
Houston has had success against this weekend's tournament slate in the past. Combined, the Cougars boast a 26-9 record all-time against this weekend's opponents.
While Houston boasts a new-look roster in 2024, the team does return a lot of experience. The team features 15 newcomers and just eight returners. However, six of the returners were starters on last year's team.
Turiya Coleman was voted to the Preseason All-Big 12 team by the league's coaches. She became Softball's first Big 12 honoree with the recognition.
Houston added two new assistant coaches over the offseason: Nadia Taylor and Hope Trautwein. Taylor joined the Cougars after a year at Michigan State while Trautwein served as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma last season. Both currently play professional softball, as Taylor plays for Athletes Unlimited and Trautwein plays in the WPF.

BUY TICKETS
Tickets for the 2024 Softball season are available now. This year's home slate features 30 games, including five Big 12 Conference series.

Season tickets cost $120, or just $4 per game, and include all neutral site games at Cougar Softball Stadium. Click here to ensure you don't miss any of the action during the Cougars' inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference in the same great seats!

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise, and by joining the Diamond Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on X, formerly known as 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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