PREVIEW: Softball Starts Season with Easton Classic

HOUSTON – University of Houston Softball throws the first pitch in its 2025 campaign on Friday to start the Easton Classic. After beginning the year facing off against St. John's (NY) at 4 p.m., Friday, the Cougars battle both New Mexico (6:30 p.m., Friday; 4 p.m., Saturday) and ULM (6:30 p.m., Saturday; 12:30 p.m., Sunday) twice to conclude opening weekend.

EASTON CLASSIC
Teams				Houston \| St. John's (N.Y.) \| New Mexico \| ULM
Date \| Time				Friday, Feb. 7 4 p.m. – Houston vs. St. John's (N.Y). 6:30 p.m. – Houston vs. New Mexico Saturday, Feb. 8 4 p.m. – Houston vs. New Mexico 6:30 p.m. – Houston vs. ULM Sunday, Feb. 9 10 a.m. – St. John's vs. New Mexico 12:30 p.m. – Houston vs. ULM
Location				Cougar Softball Stadium \| Houston
Live Stats				UHStats.com
Live Stream				YouTube
Game Notes				Houston

SERIES vs ST. JOHN'S

Overall: First Meeting

SERIES vs NEW MEXICO

Overall: 0-2
First Meeting: L, 1-2, H, Feb. 19, 2015
Last Meeting: L, 1-7, N, March 3, 2023
In Houston: 0-1
Last five: 0-2
Last 10: 0-2
Under Vesely: 0-1
Houston Streak: L2

SERIES vs ULM

Overall: 6-1
First Meeting: L, 2-3 (8), N, Feb. 10, 2001
Last Meeting: W, 4-0, H, Feb. 17, 2019
Last Houston Win: W, 4-0, H, Feb. 17, 2019
In Houston: 4-0
Last five: 5-0
Last 10: 6-1
Under Vesely: 1-0
Houston Streak: W6

HEAD COACH KRISTIN VESELY
Overall record: 211-193-1 (8th season)
At Houston: same

FIRST PITCH

This marks the seventh consecutive season Houston has opened its campaign at home. The Cougars are 6-1 in home openers and are 19-9 on opening weekend in that timeframe.
This weekend marks the debut of the 2024 signing class which was ranked at #30 by Extra Inning Softball. The class features nine freshmen, including former USA Softball U-18 Women's National Team member Brooke Wells.
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.
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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