Friday, February 9
Houston
1:30 p.m.
University of Houston
1-0
10
vs
0
Colgate
0-2
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Colgate
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
HOUSTON
1
3
2
4
X
10
9
0
Softball Opens Season with Pair of Run-Rule Wins
2/9/2024 8:48:00 PM | Softball
Cougars earn back-to-back run-rule wins on season’s opening day
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team started its 2024 campaign with a pair of run-rule victories to kick off the Houston Invitational on Friday at Cougar Softball Stadium.
The Cougars (2-0) began the day with a 10-0, five-inning win over Colgate (0-2) before keeping their bats alive for a 13-1, five-inning victory against Indiana State (0-1) in game two of the day.
Game One – Houston 10, Colgate 0
Sophomore Tamya Waiters (1-0) picked up her first decision at Houston by tossing three one-hit innings against the Raiders while redshirt junior Paris Lehman completed the shutout with two scoreless innings in her Cougar debut. Maya Servedio (0-1) earned the decision for Colgate (0-2).
Player Highlights:
· Lair Beautae: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB
· Kennedy Thomas: 2-2, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB
· Jordee Wilkins: 1-1, 2B, R, 2 RBI
· Tamya Waiters: 3.0 IP, W, 1 H, 0 R, 5 SO
Game Highlights:
· Both freshman Jordee Wilkins and freshman Mikalah Nitta tallied their first career hits in the game with both coming via RBI doubles.
· Houston improved to 6-2 in season openers in the Kristin Vesely era.
· The shutout win was Houston's first in a season-opener since a 4-0 win over Tennessee Tech on Feb. 12, 2016.
· The Cougars have earned run-rule wins in three of their last four season openers.
· The Houston pitching staff combined for a one-hitter in the
· Graduate Kennedy Thomas earned her 10th career multi-RBI game.
· The win marked Houston Softball's 750th in program history.
Key Innings
2nd | After Houston claimed the lead with a run in the bottom of the first, junior Lair Beautae led off Houston's half of the second with a double and after Kennedy Thomas walked, both stole their next base to put a pair in scoring position with no outs. Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases and graduate Paige Hulsey, sophomore Mandy Esman and junior Turiya Coleman all drove home a run each to push Houston's lead to 4-0.
3rd | After Waiters stranded two Raiders in the top of the third, Houston rallied again in the bottom of the frame. With Beautae and Kennedy Thomas on the corners, Wilkins hit a sacrifice fly to give Houston a 5-0 lead, followed by Hulsey picking up her second RBI of the day with a single up the middle to drive home Kennedy Thomas.
4th | With the bases loaded, Beautae drove home a run with a ground out to stretch the Cougars' lead to seven. Kennedy Thomas singled and cleared the bases with a two-RBI single in the next at-bat and later scored on a Wilkins double.
Game Two – Houston 13, Indiana State 1
Houston (2-0) kept rolling in the second game of the day, cruising to another run-rule win. Graduate Shelby Smith (1-0) earned the victory in the circle with four innings of work while Cassi Newbanks (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Indiana State (0-1).
Player Highlights
· Lair Beautae: 2-2, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
· Turiya Coleman: 2-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
· Kennedy Thomas: 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
· Shelby Smith: 4.0 IP, W, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 SO
Game Highlights
· Houston's 12 run win was its largest since a 13 run victory against Dayton on Feb. 13, 2022.
· The Cougars' nine runs in the third inning were the most since the team scored nine in the sixth inning against UT Arlington on May 2, 2017.
· Kennedy Thomas' grand slam was Houston's 49th in team history.
· Jazmyn Rollin tallied her 40th career multi-hit game while Turiya Coleman posted her 20th.
Key Innings
1st | Houston grabbed its second early lead of the day as Beautae, who reached on a walk, scored on a groundout from Coleman.
2nd | After Indiana State tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the inning, the Cougars reclaimed the lead in their half of the second. Back-to-back doubles from Esman and Beautae pushed two runs across, giving Houston a 3-1 lead.
3rd | A trio of home runs powered Houston's offense for nine runs in the third inning. After the first three batters reached, Kennedy Thomas crushed her first Houston home run to right field for a grand slam. Graduate Jazmyn Rollin scored next on a Hulsey sacrifice fly before Beautae hit her first Cougar homer, a two-run shot to center. Coleman capped the inning with a two-run home run of her own to push Houston's advantage to 12-1.
UP NEXT
Houston continues play at the Houston Invitational on Saturday with another pair of games. The Cougars begin play at 12:30 p.m. against Indiana State before closing the day at 3 p.m. against Rutgers. Houston then caps the weekend on Sunday at noon with another battle with Rutgers.
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 includes 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.
The Cougars (2-0) began the day with a 10-0, five-inning win over Colgate (0-2) before keeping their bats alive for a 13-1, five-inning victory against Indiana State (0-1) in game two of the day.
Game One – Houston 10, Colgate 0
Sophomore Tamya Waiters (1-0) picked up her first decision at Houston by tossing three one-hit innings against the Raiders while redshirt junior Paris Lehman completed the shutout with two scoreless innings in her Cougar debut. Maya Servedio (0-1) earned the decision for Colgate (0-2).
Player Highlights:
· Lair Beautae: 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, SB
· Kennedy Thomas: 2-2, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB
· Jordee Wilkins: 1-1, 2B, R, 2 RBI
· Tamya Waiters: 3.0 IP, W, 1 H, 0 R, 5 SO
Game Highlights:
· Both freshman Jordee Wilkins and freshman Mikalah Nitta tallied their first career hits in the game with both coming via RBI doubles.
· Houston improved to 6-2 in season openers in the Kristin Vesely era.
· The shutout win was Houston's first in a season-opener since a 4-0 win over Tennessee Tech on Feb. 12, 2016.
· The Cougars have earned run-rule wins in three of their last four season openers.
· The Houston pitching staff combined for a one-hitter in the
· Graduate Kennedy Thomas earned her 10th career multi-RBI game.
· The win marked Houston Softball's 750th in program history.
Key Innings
2nd | After Houston claimed the lead with a run in the bottom of the first, junior Lair Beautae led off Houston's half of the second with a double and after Kennedy Thomas walked, both stole their next base to put a pair in scoring position with no outs. Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases and graduate Paige Hulsey, sophomore Mandy Esman and junior Turiya Coleman all drove home a run each to push Houston's lead to 4-0.
3rd | After Waiters stranded two Raiders in the top of the third, Houston rallied again in the bottom of the frame. With Beautae and Kennedy Thomas on the corners, Wilkins hit a sacrifice fly to give Houston a 5-0 lead, followed by Hulsey picking up her second RBI of the day with a single up the middle to drive home Kennedy Thomas.
4th | With the bases loaded, Beautae drove home a run with a ground out to stretch the Cougars' lead to seven. Kennedy Thomas singled and cleared the bases with a two-RBI single in the next at-bat and later scored on a Wilkins double.
Game Two – Houston 13, Indiana State 1
Houston (2-0) kept rolling in the second game of the day, cruising to another run-rule win. Graduate Shelby Smith (1-0) earned the victory in the circle with four innings of work while Cassi Newbanks (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Indiana State (0-1).
Player Highlights
· Lair Beautae: 2-2, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
· Turiya Coleman: 2-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
· Kennedy Thomas: 2-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
· Shelby Smith: 4.0 IP, W, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 SO
Game Highlights
· Houston's 12 run win was its largest since a 13 run victory against Dayton on Feb. 13, 2022.
· The Cougars' nine runs in the third inning were the most since the team scored nine in the sixth inning against UT Arlington on May 2, 2017.
· Kennedy Thomas' grand slam was Houston's 49th in team history.
· Jazmyn Rollin tallied her 40th career multi-hit game while Turiya Coleman posted her 20th.
Key Innings
1st | Houston grabbed its second early lead of the day as Beautae, who reached on a walk, scored on a groundout from Coleman.
2nd | After Indiana State tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the inning, the Cougars reclaimed the lead in their half of the second. Back-to-back doubles from Esman and Beautae pushed two runs across, giving Houston a 3-1 lead.
3rd | A trio of home runs powered Houston's offense for nine runs in the third inning. After the first three batters reached, Kennedy Thomas crushed her first Houston home run to right field for a grand slam. Graduate Jazmyn Rollin scored next on a Hulsey sacrifice fly before Beautae hit her first Cougar homer, a two-run shot to center. Coleman capped the inning with a two-run home run of her own to push Houston's advantage to 12-1.
UP NEXT
Houston continues play at the Houston Invitational on Saturday with another pair of games. The Cougars begin play at 12:30 p.m. against Indiana State before closing the day at 3 p.m. against Rutgers. Houston then caps the weekend on Sunday at noon with another battle with Rutgers.
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 includes 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: Waiters, Tamya (1-0)
L: Servedio, Maya (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Nitta, Mikalah 1 ; Beautae, Lair 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1
RBI: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Nitta, Mikalah 1 ; Beautae, Lair 1 ; Thomas, Kennedy 2 ; Wilkins, Jordee 2 ; Hulsey, Paige 2
SF: Wilkins, Jordee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Cantu, Bree 1 ; Nitta, Mikalah 1 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 1 ; Beautae, Lair 2 ; Thomas, Kennedy 3 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1
SB: Beautae, Lair 1 ; Thomas, Kennedy 1
CS: Coleman, Turiya 1
HBP: Cantu, Bree 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
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