PREVIEW: Softball Hosts Midweek Before Starting Road Slate

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team caps a season-opening 11-game homestand with a tilt against Lamar at 6 p.m., Wednesday, before hitting the road to start its away schedule with trips to the Cowgirl Classic and Ragin' Cajun Invitational II this weekend.

vs. Lamar
Date \| Time				Wednesday, Feb. 19 \| 6 p.m. \| ESPN+ \| Live Stats
Location				Cougar Softball Stadium \| Houston
Game Notes				Houston

Cowgirl Classic
Date \| Time				Friday, Feb. 21 1 p.m. vs. Kansas City \| Live Stats 4 p.m. at McNeese \| ESPN+ \| Live Stats
Location				Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond \| Lake Charles, La.
Game Notes				Houston

Ragin' Cajun Invitational II
Date \| Time				Saturday, Feb. 22 1 p.m. at Louisiana \| ESPN+ \| Live Stats 6 p.m. vs. Kansas City \| Live Stats Sunday, Feb. 23 1 p.m. at Louisiana \| ESPN+ \| Live Stats 3:30 p.m. at Louisiana \| ESPN+ \| Live Stats
Location				Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park \| Lafayette, La.
Game Notes				Houston

SERIES vs LAMAR

Overall: 13-5
Last Houston Win: 15-7, April 16, 2024
Last Lamar Win: 6-5 (8 inn.), Feb. 25, 2022
In Houston: 9-3
Last five: 3-2
Last 10: 6-4
Under Vesely: 6-4
Houston Streak: W2

SERIES vs KANSAS CITY

Overall: 0-1
Last Houston Win: N/A
Last Kansas City Win: 9-3, March 12, 2021
At Neutral Sites: 0-1
Last five: 0-1
Last 10: 0-1
Under Vesely: 0-1
Houston Streak: L1

SERIES vs McNEESE

Overall: 15-13
Last Houston Win: 9-5, March 6, 2024
Last McNeese Win: 6-5 (13 inn.), Feb. 28, 2024
In Lake Charles: 5-4
Last five: 1-4
Last 10: 4-6
Under Vesely: 4-8
Houston Streak: W1

SERIES vs LOUISIANA

Overall: 7-19
Last Houston Win: 1-0, May 18, 2018
Last Louisiana Win: 5-1, April 27, 2022
In Lafayette: 0-12
Last five: 1-4
Last 10: 3-7
Under Vesely: 1-3
Houston Streak: L3

HEAD COACH KRISTIN VESELY
Overall record: 219-195-1 (9th season)
At Houston: same

FIRST PITCH

Houston finished the Easton Classic II with a 3-2 record, securing one win against each of the three visiting teams.
Freshmen are well represented in the starting lineup for this year's squad. Out of 100 positional start this season, first-years have earned 44 of them while underclassmen as a whole have snagged 88 of the team's 100 starts. It is believed to be both one of the most freshmen heavy lineups and underclassmen heavy lineups.
Houston has been drawing walks at a prolific rate this season. Picking up 75 bases on balls through the first 10 games, the Cougars lead the nation in walks drawn, sitting with 15 walks more than the next team up (South Carolina with 60).
Houston used a 5-3-5 triple play to clinch a 4-3 win against Pitt on Feb. 15. It was the team's second triple play in program history and its first since April 7, 2007, against UTEP. The Cougars are one of three NCAA Division I teams to turn a triple play this season, joining Alcorn and Campbell who both also completed the feat in the second weekend of the season.
Freshman Brooke Wells played for the US Women's Junior National Team in the WBSC World Cup Group Stage last August. She helped lead the team to a 6-0 finish while herself posting nine RBIs with 10 runs scored, also collecting a .467 batting average with five extra-base hits, including a grand slam. She was named to both D1Softball's and Softball America's Freshman Watch Lists.
Cougar Softball Stadium features multiple upgrades for the 2025 season, including an expanded concessions menu, new safety netting and a new sound system.
Houston filled the third assistant coach role permitted by the NCAA last summer, hiring Barrett Barnes to complete the coaching staff. The Cougars' staff of Head Coach Kristin Vesely and assistant coaches Nadia Taylor, Hope Trautwein and Barnes are the only staff in the Big 12 who all have played either softball or baseball professionally.
Sixteen of Houston's 21 players hail from the Lone Star State, including seven from the Houston-metro area.
Vesely has defeated a ranked team in every season as head coach of Houston, including knocking-off top-ranked Texas last season for the Cougars' first win against a #1 opponent in program history.

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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