Softball Opens Weekend with Run-Rule Win over A&M-Commerce

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team started its three-game series against Texas A&M Commerce with a 10-1 win in five innings on Friday night at Cain Family Field.

Tamya Waiters (3-2) picked up the win for Houston (13-5) in the circle after allowing one run in three innings in the circle. Julia Sanchez (4-5) picked up the decision for A&M-Commerce (5-14) with six runs on five hits in three innings.

Player Highlights

Ja'Naiya Thomas: 2-2, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Lair Beautae: 2-2, HR, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
Mandy Esman: 1-3, 3 RBI
Tamya Waiters: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB

Game Highlights

Head Coach Kristin Vesely earned her 199^th career win.
Junior Ja'Naiya Thomas posted her 14^th multi-hit game and eighth multi-RBI game.
Graduate Kennedy Thomas extended her reached-base streak to five game.
Houston has tallied five multi-home run games this season.
Ja'Naiya Thomas' two home runs are the second time a Cougar has tallied multiple in a game this season.
Ja'Naiya Thomas' two home runs came in her first two at bats of the season.
Graduate Bree Cantu drew three walks in the game.
The Cougars are 11-1 this year when scoring first.

Key Innings
1^st | Junior Lair Beautae started the game with a bang, hitting a lead-off home run to give the Cougars a quick 1-0 lead. Another run crossed later in the inning on a sacrifice bunt from Turiya Coleman to put Houston up by two after one inning.

3^rd | A walk and a pair of singles loaded the bases for sophomore Mandy Esman, who hit a single to center to drive home both freshman Mikalah Nitta and Cantu. Senior Jazmyn Rollin forced another run home in the next at-bat to put Houston up 5-0.

A&M-Commerce got on the board in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit to four.

4^th | Houston expanded its lead to run-rule distance in the fourth. Pinch-hitting to lead off the inning, Ja'Naiya Thomas hit her first home run of the season in her first at bat of the year to regain a five run advantage. After a trio of walks loaded the bases, Cantu drew a fourth walk to score Beautae. Back-to-back groundouts after forced home another pair of runs to move the score to 9-1.

Another Thomas homer in the fifth inning put the Cougars up by nine, clinching the win in five innings.

UP NEXT
Houston continues its series against the Lions at noon, Saturday, before closing the weekend at noon, Sunday. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

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