Thursday, February 15
Houston
4:30 p.m.
University of Houston
5-1
15
vs
3
UTSA
0-6
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
UTSA
0
2
0
1
0
3
4
3
HOUSTON
1
6
2
6
X
15
13
0
Softball Sweeps Day One at Houston Classic
2/15/2024 9:55:00 PM | Softball
Cougars earn run-rule win against UTSA in game one while outlasting Nicholls in game two
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball program opened up the Houston Classic with a pair of wins over UTSA and Nicholls at Cougar Softball Stadium on Thursday evening.
GAME ONE – HOUSTON 15, UTSA 3 (5 innings)
Graduate Shelby Smith (2-0) earned the complete-game victory for Houston (5-1), tossing five innings in the run-rule win. Kenzi Schultz (0-4) earned the decision for UTSA (0-6) after tossing two innings.
Player Highlights
2nd | After UTSA took a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the second, Houston responded quickly in the home half of the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Cantu crushed Houston's second grand slam of the season to put the Cougars ahead, 5-2. Two batters later, sophomore Mandy Esman hit her first Houston homer, a two-run shot to center to put Houston up by five.
3rd | Hulsey kept Houston's bats hot in the bottom of the third, lacing an RBI double to left field to push the score to 8-2. After loading the bases, freshman Mikalah Nitta drew a walk to force another run home to cap the inning.
4th | UTSA got a run back in the top of the fourth, but junior Turiya Coleman opened the home half by beating out the throw on a bunt single, then scored as graduate Jazmyn Rollin ripped a triple down the right field line. Smith drove Rollin home with a single in the next at-bat to extend Houston's lead to eight. Kennedy Thomas reached on an error that allowed Wilkins to score before junior Lair Beautae and Cantu hit back-to-back home runs to cap the scoring, giving Houston the 15-3 win.
Game Two – Houston 5, Nicholls 1
Sophomore Nicole Bodeux (1-1) earned her first Houston (6-1) win after tossing 3.2 hitless innings in relief while allowing only one unearned run. Redshirt sophomore Paris Lehman picked up her second career save after relieving Bodeux and throwing 1.2 perfect innings to close the door on Nicholls (4-3).
Player Highlights
4th | Nicholls opened the scoring with a run crossing on a wild pitch, the first time this season that Houston didn't get on the board first.
The Cougars wasted no time in answering as Esman and Wilkins both posted two-RBI doubles to put Houston up by three.
6th | Houston added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Wilkins hit the Cougars' fifth sacrifice fly of the season to plate Coleman, giving Houston the 5-1 win.
UP NEXT
Houston continues play at the Houston Classic with a 6:30 p.m., Friday game against UMass.
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!
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.
GAME ONE – HOUSTON 15, UTSA 3 (5 innings)
Graduate Shelby Smith (2-0) earned the complete-game victory for Houston (5-1), tossing five innings in the run-rule win. Kenzi Schultz (0-4) earned the decision for UTSA (0-6) after tossing two innings.
Player Highlights
- Bree Cantu – 3-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R
- Mandy Esman – 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Lair Beautae – 2-2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R
- Shelby Smith – 5.0 IP, W, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
- Graduate Bree Cantu hit Houston's second grand slam of the season and the team's 50th in program history.
- Cantu posted the team's first individual multi-home run game since Becca Schulte hit two against Tulsa on March 26, 2022.
- Cantu drove home a career-high six runs. It was the program's first six RBI game since Britney Shaw tallied the same number against Boise state on March 10, 2022. It also marked her 15th career multi-RBI game.
- Houston hit four home runs in the game, the most since the Cougars hit five against Tulsa on March 26, 2022.
- The Cougars scored 15 runs for the first time since matching the total against Sam Houston on Feb. 24, 2021.
- Graduate Shelby Smith posted Houston's first complete game of the season.
- Entering the game tied for 10th with Bethany Busch, graduate Paige Hulsey took sole possession of the spot on Houston's career stolen bases list with 34 in her career.
- Graduate Kennedy Thomas extended her reached-base streak to eight games dating back to last season.
2nd | After UTSA took a 2-1 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the second, Houston responded quickly in the home half of the inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Cantu crushed Houston's second grand slam of the season to put the Cougars ahead, 5-2. Two batters later, sophomore Mandy Esman hit her first Houston homer, a two-run shot to center to put Houston up by five.
3rd | Hulsey kept Houston's bats hot in the bottom of the third, lacing an RBI double to left field to push the score to 8-2. After loading the bases, freshman Mikalah Nitta drew a walk to force another run home to cap the inning.
4th | UTSA got a run back in the top of the fourth, but junior Turiya Coleman opened the home half by beating out the throw on a bunt single, then scored as graduate Jazmyn Rollin ripped a triple down the right field line. Smith drove Rollin home with a single in the next at-bat to extend Houston's lead to eight. Kennedy Thomas reached on an error that allowed Wilkins to score before junior Lair Beautae and Cantu hit back-to-back home runs to cap the scoring, giving Houston the 15-3 win.
Game Two – Houston 5, Nicholls 1
Sophomore Nicole Bodeux (1-1) earned her first Houston (6-1) win after tossing 3.2 hitless innings in relief while allowing only one unearned run. Redshirt sophomore Paris Lehman picked up her second career save after relieving Bodeux and throwing 1.2 perfect innings to close the door on Nicholls (4-3).
Player Highlights
- Mandy Esman – 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Jordee Wilkins – 1-2, 2B, 3 RBI
- Turiya Coleman – 0-1, BB, HBP, 2 R
- Nicole Bodeux – 3.2 IP, W, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB
- Freshman Jordee Wilkins posted a career-high three RBIs, her second multi-RBI game of the season.
- Houston is 4-0 when wearing pinstripes in 2024.
- At 6-1, Houston earned it's best seven-game start since going 6-1 to open the year in 2014.
4th | Nicholls opened the scoring with a run crossing on a wild pitch, the first time this season that Houston didn't get on the board first.
The Cougars wasted no time in answering as Esman and Wilkins both posted two-RBI doubles to put Houston up by three.
6th | Houston added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Wilkins hit the Cougars' fifth sacrifice fly of the season to plate Coleman, giving Houston the 5-1 win.
UP NEXT
Houston continues play at the Houston Classic with a 6:30 p.m., Friday game against UMass.
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!
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.
− UHCougars.com −
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bodeux, Nicole (1-1)
L: McNeill, A. (3-2)
S: Lehman, Paris (1)
Base Running:
RUNS: Rutherford,R 1
SB: VandenBout 1
Batting:
2B: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1
RBI: Esman, Mandy 2 ; Wilkins, Jordee 3
SH: Cantu, Bree 1
SF: Wilkins, Jordee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, Kennedy 1 ; Nitta, Mikalah 1 ; Coleman, Turiya 2 ; Esman, Mandy 1
SB: Wilkins, Jordee 1
HBP: Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Hulsey, Paige 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
UTL
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P
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UTL
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C/UTL
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OF
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P
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OF
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INF
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P/UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballHIGHLIGHTS: Houston 5, Utah 2
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