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Wednesday, March 20
Nacogdoches, TX
5 p.m.
University of Houston
19-9
17
at
5
Stephen F. Austin
8-23
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3
4
5
R
H
E
HOUSTON
3
0
9
3
2
17
17
0
Stephen F. Austin
0
1
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5
8
1
Softball Dominates SFA in Midweek Matchup
3/20/2024 9:01:00 PM | Softball
Cougars power for 17 runs in a win on Wednesday night
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The University of Houston Softball team used a nine-run third inning as its offense exploded for 17 hits to power a 17-5 win over SFA at SFA Softball Stadium on Wednesday night.
Houston (19-9) moves to 17-5 in non-conference play and 6-4 in true road games (8-5 away from Cougar Softball Stadium). The win was fueled by a nine-run, nine-hit third inning that saw 14 Cougars come up to the plate and included the team's fourth grand slam of the season.
Tamya Waiters (3-2) earned the victory for Houston after spinning 3.0 innings in the circle and striking out five while walking none. Aydenne Brown (5-6) took the loss for SFA (8-23), allowing 10 runs in 2.2 innings.
Player Highlights
1st | Houston wasted no time in establishing a lead in Nacogdoches. Beautae led of the game with a bunt single followed by back-to-back walks from graduates Kennedy Thomas and Jazmyn Rollin to load the bases. Cantu picked up her first RBI of the game with a sac-fly to left that scored Beautae, while both Kennedy Thomas and Rollin scored on a 2-RBI double from Nitta to put Houston up 3-0.
3rd | While SFA would get on the board with a run in the bottom of the second, Houston plated nine runs in the third to extend its lead to 11.
Three of the first four Cougars at the plate singled to load the bases with one out. Another single from graduate Paige Hulsey plated Nitta to start the scoring. The remaining eight runs would come with two outs in the frame after Beautae popped to short in the following at-bat. Kennedy Thomas walked to force home a run while Rollin drove home sophomore Mandy Esman to put the Cougars up 6-1 with the bases still loaded.
Cantu used a grand slam in the next at-bat to clear the bases and push Houston's lead to nine. The rally wouldn't stop there, as Nitta singled up the middle and later scored as Coleman tripled down the right-field line. Esman capped the scoring in the inning, singling home Coleman to give the Cougars a 12-1 lead.
SFA cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Waiters worked out of a two-on jam to keep a 10-run edge.
4th | The Cougars didn't let up in the fourth. A pair of singles and a walk again loaded the bases, followed by senior Amanda Carden's ground out that plated Beautae. Coleman's double as the next hitter scored the remaining pair of runners on base and extended Houston's lead to 13.
The Ladyjacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth and plated three on a two-out double, again slicing Houston's lead to 10.
5th | With a pair of runners in scoring position, Houston capitalized on a defensive miscue to add another insurance run as junior Brooke Lorenzo crossed the plate. Another run scored on a groundout from Rollin, clinching a 17-5 win for Houston.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return home to continue conference play against Kansas with a three-game series starting at 6 p.m., Friday. Game two is slated for 2 p.m., Saturday with the weekend finale at noon, Sunday. All three games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
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 – 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 −
Houston (19-9) moves to 17-5 in non-conference play and 6-4 in true road games (8-5 away from Cougar Softball Stadium). The win was fueled by a nine-run, nine-hit third inning that saw 14 Cougars come up to the plate and included the team's fourth grand slam of the season.
Tamya Waiters (3-2) earned the victory for Houston after spinning 3.0 innings in the circle and striking out five while walking none. Aydenne Brown (5-6) took the loss for SFA (8-23), allowing 10 runs in 2.2 innings.
Player Highlights
- Bree Cantu: 1-2, R, 5 RBI, HR, SF
- Turiya Coleman: 3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B
- Mikalah Nitta: 3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B
- Tamya Waiters: 3.0 IP, W, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 SO, 0 BB
- Graduate Shelby Smith has reached base in 10 straight games.
- Freshman Mikalah Nitta posted her first career multi-RBI game.
- Junior Lair Beautae tied her season-long reached base streak at 13 consecutive games.
- Houston scored in the first inning for the 17th time this season. Overall, the Cougars have plated 50 runs in the opening frame.
- The Cougars recorded their 19th sacrifice fly of the season, just two away from the single-season record set last year.
- Graduate Bree Cantu posted her second grand slam of the season (fifth home run of the year). It is also her second career grand slam as a Cougar, entering into a 10-way tie for sixth on Houston's all-time list.
- With four grand slams on the year, Houston is one away from tying its single-season record.
- The Cougars have hit a home run from every position in the batting order.
- With nine runs in the third inning, it marked the team's fourth time plating nine-or-more runs in a frame and 12th time scoring five-or-more.
- Junior Turiya Coleman hit her second triple of the season. The three-bagger also marked the team's fifth of the year.
- The Cougars' 17 hits in the win tied the team's season-high.
- Houston has scored 219 runs this season, already eclipsing the number the team scored in 2023, 2021, 2020 and 2001 and is within 25 runs of its 2022, 2016, 2010, 2009, 2007 and 2004 production.
1st | Houston wasted no time in establishing a lead in Nacogdoches. Beautae led of the game with a bunt single followed by back-to-back walks from graduates Kennedy Thomas and Jazmyn Rollin to load the bases. Cantu picked up her first RBI of the game with a sac-fly to left that scored Beautae, while both Kennedy Thomas and Rollin scored on a 2-RBI double from Nitta to put Houston up 3-0.
3rd | While SFA would get on the board with a run in the bottom of the second, Houston plated nine runs in the third to extend its lead to 11.
Three of the first four Cougars at the plate singled to load the bases with one out. Another single from graduate Paige Hulsey plated Nitta to start the scoring. The remaining eight runs would come with two outs in the frame after Beautae popped to short in the following at-bat. Kennedy Thomas walked to force home a run while Rollin drove home sophomore Mandy Esman to put the Cougars up 6-1 with the bases still loaded.
Cantu used a grand slam in the next at-bat to clear the bases and push Houston's lead to nine. The rally wouldn't stop there, as Nitta singled up the middle and later scored as Coleman tripled down the right-field line. Esman capped the scoring in the inning, singling home Coleman to give the Cougars a 12-1 lead.
SFA cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning, but Waiters worked out of a two-on jam to keep a 10-run edge.
4th | The Cougars didn't let up in the fourth. A pair of singles and a walk again loaded the bases, followed by senior Amanda Carden's ground out that plated Beautae. Coleman's double as the next hitter scored the remaining pair of runners on base and extended Houston's lead to 13.
The Ladyjacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth and plated three on a two-out double, again slicing Houston's lead to 10.
5th | With a pair of runners in scoring position, Houston capitalized on a defensive miscue to add another insurance run as junior Brooke Lorenzo crossed the plate. Another run scored on a groundout from Rollin, clinching a 17-5 win for Houston.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return home to continue conference play against Kansas with a three-game series starting at 6 p.m., Friday. Game two is slated for 2 p.m., Saturday with the weekend finale at noon, Sunday. All three games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
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 – 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 −
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Waiters, Tamya (4-3)
L: A. Brown (5-6)
Batting:
2B: Nitta, Mikalah 1 ; Coleman, Turiya 1
3B: Coleman, Turiya 1
HR: Cantu, Bree 1
RBI: Thomas, Kennedy 2 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 2 ; Cantu, Bree 5 ; Nitta, Mikalah 2 ; Carden, Amanda 1 ; Coleman, Turiya 3 ; Esman, Mandy 1 ; Hulsey, Paige 1
SH: Carden, Amanda 1
SF: Cantu, Bree 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Beautae, Lair 2 ; Aguilar, Bethany 1 ; Thomas, Kennedy 2 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 3 ; Cantu, Bree 1 ; Dumas, Zaquai 1 ; Nitta, Mikalah 2 ; Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Smith, Shelby 1 ; Esman, Mandy 1 ; Lorenzo, Brooke 1 ; Hulsey, Paige 1
Batting:
2B: H. Lusk 1 ; B. Coe 1
RBI: M. Webb 1 ; H. Lusk 3 ; E. Vance 1
Base Running:
RUNS: K. Paul 1 ; V. Cully 1 ; E. Vance 1 ; A. Callaway 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
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