PREVIEW: Softball Heads to Nacogdoches

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team closes out a four-game road swing with a trip to Nacogdoches, Texas, for a battle against Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. on ESPN+.

Stephen F. Austin (8-22, 1-2 WAC)
Teams				Houston at Stephen F. Austin
Dates				Wednesday, March 20 at 5 p.m.
Location				Nacogdoches, Texas \| SFA Softball Field
Live Streams				ESPN+
Live Stats				Sidearm
Game Notes				Houston

HEAD COACH KRISTIN VESELY
Overall record: 204-172-1 (8th season)
At Houston: same

SERIES vs SFA

Overall: 8-3
First Meeting: L, 2-6, Feb. 18, 2001
Last Meeting: L, 7-9, April 4, 2023
Last Houston Win: W, 5-0, April 4, 2023
In Nacogdoches: 2-0
Run Differential: 84-37 (H+47)
Last five: 3-2
Last 10: 7-3
Under Vesely: 3-1
Houston Streak: L1

FIRST PITCH

Houston joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023. The 2024 season marks Houston's inaugural softball season in the conference. The Cougars won their first Big 12 game in style, sealing the team's highest ranked win in program history with a 12-10 win over No. 2 Texas on March 8. The victory also continued Head Coach Kristin Vesely's streak of seasons with a win over a ranked opponent.
Houston's 94 runs tied the program record for most runs through the first 11 games, originally set in 2014.
The Cougars' 202 runs scored have surpassed the season totals from 2023, 2020 and 2001. Houston's run production is on pace to break the program record.
The team posted its best 11 game start (10-1) since 2008 when the program went 11-0. At 15-5, the team earned its best 20 game start since 2020 (16-4).
Bree Cantu's 31 RBIs so far this season rank 27th in the country and fourth in the Big 12.
The Cougars rank sixth nationally in walks drawn (113), eighth in scoring (7.48), 10th in on-base percentage (.431), 22nd in slugging percentage (.522) and 26th in batting average (.324).
Nationally, Kennedy Thomas sits at 16th in on-base percentage (.548) and 19th in 'toughest to strike out'. Her 1.26 runs per game also sit at eighth in the country.
Bree Cantu has drawn a team-leading 21 walks this season. Her 0.78 walks per game sits at 21st nationally.
Houston played the longest game in program history in both innings and duration on Feb. 28 against McNeese. At 13 innings and four hours and 13 minutes, the game bested the previous marks of 12 innings vs. DePaul on March 22, 2005 and three hours and 57 minutes at Wichita State on April 14, 2023. The game is the second-longest by innings in Division I this season.

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 – 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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Bree Cantu

Kennedy Thomas

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