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Friday, March 8
Houston
6 p.m.
University of Houston
17-5, 0
12
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10
Texas
19-2, 0
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Texas
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HOUSTON
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12
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Softball Upsets #2/#1 Texas
3/9/2024 12:12:00 AM | Softball
Houston out-slugged top-ranked Texas for first Big 12 Conference win
HOUSTON – In front of a sold-out crowd of 1,266 fans, the University of Houston Softball team upset #2/#1 Texas, 12-10, in the Cougars' highest ranked win in program history on Friday night at Cougar Softball Stadium.
Shelby Smith (9-2) earned the win for Houston (17-5, 1-0 Big 12) with 3.1 innings in the circle, while starter Paris Lehman reentered late in the game to pick up her second save of the year. Estelle Czech (3-2) took the loss decision for Texas (19-2, 0-1 Big 12), allowing seven runs (two earned) in 3.0 innings in the circle.
Player Highlights
Game Highlights
Key Innings
1st | Houston wasted no time in establishing a presence in the game. Leading off for Houston, junior Lair Beautae sent a 2-2 pitch over the left-center field fence to put Houston up 1-0. Graduate Kennedy Thomas doubled in the next at-bat, then Rollin crushed her first homer of the game to right-center. Two batters later, junior Turiya Coleman kept the bats hot with her fifth home run of the year to put the Cougars up by four.
4th | After Texas used five runs in the third and a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead, the Cougars erupted for eight runs in the home half of the inning. Four batters into the frame, Houston had loaded the bases via a walk and two hit-by-pitches. Senior Amanda Carden reached on an error to drive home a run and keep the bases full. Beautae drove home her second run of the game with a single that plated Ja'Naiya Thomas, followed by Kennedy Thomas reaching on another Longhorn error that allowed sophomore Mandy Esman and Carden to score.
Then Rollin cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left-center for her 44th-career home run to put the Cougars up 11-7. Following a Texas pitching change, Smith helped her own cause in the circle by singling through the left side to plate Cantu.
7th | While Texas again closed the gap with three runs in the sixth, Lehman slammed the door on any comeback from the Longhorns in the final frame. Lehman spun Houston's lone strikeout of the game to seal her fourth career save and clinch the Cougars' first Big 12 Conference win.
UP NEXT
The Cougars continue the series against the Longhorns at noon, Saturday, before closing the set with a noon, Sunday, matchup.
Both games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Tickets for both games have sold out.
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.
Shelby Smith (9-2) earned the win for Houston (17-5, 1-0 Big 12) with 3.1 innings in the circle, while starter Paris Lehman reentered late in the game to pick up her second save of the year. Estelle Czech (3-2) took the loss decision for Texas (19-2, 0-1 Big 12), allowing seven runs (two earned) in 3.0 innings in the circle.
Player Highlights
- Jazmyn Rollin: 2-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 HR
- Lair Beautae: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Kennedy Thomas: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B
- Paris Lehman: 3.2 IP, SV, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Game Highlights
- The win over a #1 opponent is Houston Athletics' first victory against a top-ranked foe since Houston Baseball defeated #1 Rice on May 12, 2006.
- The win over a #2 team in the NFCA Coaches' poll is the team's highest ranked victory in program history, beating a win over #4 Michigan on March 7, 2014. It's also the team's highest ranked win at home, topping a victory over #5 Oklahoma on March 6, 2004.
- Houston hit four home runs in the game, the most Texas has given up in a single game since giving up six against Oklahoma on June 8, 2022.
- The Cougars hit four home runs in a game for the second time this season.
- Houston's 12 runs are the most allowed by the Longhorns since allowing 16 against Oklahoma on June 8, 2022.
- With two her two home runs, graduate Jazmyn Rollin is the third Cougar to hit multiple homers in a game this season, joining graduate Bree Cantu (vs. UTSA, 2/15) and junior Ja'Naiya Thomas (vs. A&M-Commerce, 3/1).
- Head Coach Kristin Vesely extended her streak of seasons with a ranked win to eight, encompassing her entire tenure as head coach at Houston. The victory is her second against a top-five opponent, fourth against a top-10 team and 11th against a ranked team.
- The victory gives Houston its second of the season against a 2023 NCAA Tournament team.
Key Innings
1st | Houston wasted no time in establishing a presence in the game. Leading off for Houston, junior Lair Beautae sent a 2-2 pitch over the left-center field fence to put Houston up 1-0. Graduate Kennedy Thomas doubled in the next at-bat, then Rollin crushed her first homer of the game to right-center. Two batters later, junior Turiya Coleman kept the bats hot with her fifth home run of the year to put the Cougars up by four.
4th | After Texas used five runs in the third and a pair of runs in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead, the Cougars erupted for eight runs in the home half of the inning. Four batters into the frame, Houston had loaded the bases via a walk and two hit-by-pitches. Senior Amanda Carden reached on an error to drive home a run and keep the bases full. Beautae drove home her second run of the game with a single that plated Ja'Naiya Thomas, followed by Kennedy Thomas reaching on another Longhorn error that allowed sophomore Mandy Esman and Carden to score.
Then Rollin cleared the bases with a three-run blast to left-center for her 44th-career home run to put the Cougars up 11-7. Following a Texas pitching change, Smith helped her own cause in the circle by singling through the left side to plate Cantu.
7th | While Texas again closed the gap with three runs in the sixth, Lehman slammed the door on any comeback from the Longhorns in the final frame. Lehman spun Houston's lone strikeout of the game to seal her fourth career save and clinch the Cougars' first Big 12 Conference win.
UP NEXT
The Cougars continue the series against the Longhorns at noon, Saturday, before closing the set with a noon, Sunday, matchup.
Both games will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Tickets for both games have sold out.
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 −
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Shelby (9-2)
L: Czech, Estelle (3-2)
S: Lehman, Paris (2)
Batting:
2B: Scott, Mia 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 1 ; Atwood, Reese 1 ; Dayton, Bella 1
HR: Henry, Kayden 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1
RBI: Henry, Kayden 3 ; Scott, Mia 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 3 ; Atwood, Reese 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 2
SF: Washington, Alyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Henry, Kayden 2 ; Scott, Mia 2 ; Mitchell, Joley 2 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Dayton, Bella 3
SB: Henry, Kayden 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 1
HBP: Atwood, Reese 1
Batting:
2B: Thomas, Kennedy 1
HR: Beautae, Lair 1 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 2 ; Coleman, Turiya 1
RBI: Beautae, Lair 2 ; Thomas, Kennedy 1 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 5 ; Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Smith, Shelby 1 ; Carden, Amanda 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Beautae, Lair 2 ; Thomas, Kennedy 2 ; Rollin, Jazmyn 2 ; Cantu, Bree 1 ; Coleman, Turiya 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1 ; Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1 ; Esman, Mandy 1 ; Carden, Amanda 1
SB: Thomas, Kennedy 1
HBP: Thomas, Ja'Naiya 1 ; Esman, Mandy 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
5
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballHIGHLIGHTS: Houston 5, Utah 2
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HIGHLIGHTS: Houston 10, Lamar 6
Wednesday, March 19
Cinematic Recap vs. Iowa State
Tuesday, March 11