Friday, April 11
Lubbock, Texas
6 p.m.
University of Houston
20-17, 3-11
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Texas Tech
32-9, 12-1
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Houston
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Texas Tech
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Cougars Come up Short at #14/#14 Texas Tech
4/11/2025 9:16:00 PM | Softball
Redmond homers, defense shines in series-opening loss
LUBBOCK, Texas – Despite multiple diving grabs and a homer off the bat of freshman Ariel Redmond, the University of Houston Softball team dropped the series-opener to #14/#14 Texas Tech at Rocky Johnson Field on Friday night.
Redshirt junior Paris Lehman (2-4) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one for Houston (20-17, 3-11 Big 12). NiJaree Canady (16-4) claimed the victory, tossing a complete-game while ceding two runs on five hits.
Player Highlights
Notables
Key Innings
2nd | Texas Tech struck first in the bottom of the second. After a leadoff walk put a Red Raider on base, Canady hit her fifth homer of the season to put Texas Tech up 2-0 after two.
4th | Houston answered in the fourth. After an infield single allowed sophomore Makenna Mitchell to reach, Esman doubled to left field to drive Mitchell home, shrinking the deficit to one.
The Red Raiders extended its advantage back to two in the home half as Canady led off the bottom of the inning with her second homer of the game.
7th | The Cougars nearly tied the game in the top of the seventh as freshman Ariel Redmond hit her third homer of the season to left to make the score 3-2. The comeback came up short, however, as a flyout in the next at-bat ended the game, giving Texas Tech a one-run win.
UP NEXT
Houston continues the series at Texas Tech with a 4 p.m., Saturday, meeting against the Red Raiders. The teams then wrap up the weekend at noon, Sunday. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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 −
Redshirt junior Paris Lehman (2-4) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out one for Houston (20-17, 3-11 Big 12). NiJaree Canady (16-4) claimed the victory, tossing a complete-game while ceding two runs on five hits.
Player Highlights
- Mandy Esman: 2-2, 2B, RBI, HBP
- Ariel Redmond: 1-2, HR, RBI, R, SH
- Makenna Mitchell: 1-3, R
- Brooke Wells: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Notables
- Sophomore Jordee Wilkins reached base in her 17th consecutive game, Houston's longest streak since Rock Benavides also reached in 17 straight in 2022.
- Wilkins hit her 13th double of the season, tying her for sixth on Houston's single-season list.
- Freshman Maddie Hartley drew her 30th walk of the season.
- Entering the day ranking second in the Big 12 and 34th nationally by averaging 6.48 runs scored per game, Texas Tech was limited to just three by Houston's pitching staff.
- Freshman Brooke Wells recorded her fourth scoreless and third hitless appearance in the circle this season.
- Junior Mandy Esman recorded her sixth multi-hit game in her 18th start of the season. She also brought her season total to 20 hits.
Key Innings
2nd | Texas Tech struck first in the bottom of the second. After a leadoff walk put a Red Raider on base, Canady hit her fifth homer of the season to put Texas Tech up 2-0 after two.
4th | Houston answered in the fourth. After an infield single allowed sophomore Makenna Mitchell to reach, Esman doubled to left field to drive Mitchell home, shrinking the deficit to one.
The Red Raiders extended its advantage back to two in the home half as Canady led off the bottom of the inning with her second homer of the game.
7th | The Cougars nearly tied the game in the top of the seventh as freshman Ariel Redmond hit her third homer of the season to left to make the score 3-2. The comeback came up short, however, as a flyout in the next at-bat ended the game, giving Texas Tech a one-run win.
UP NEXT
Houston continues the series at Texas Tech with a 4 p.m., Saturday, meeting against the Red Raiders. The teams then wrap up the weekend at noon, Sunday. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
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: NiJaree Canady (16-4)
L: Lehman, Paris (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Wilkins, Jordee 1 ; Esman, Mandy 1
HR: Redmond, Ariel 1
RBI: Esman, Mandy 1 ; Redmond, Ariel 1
SH: Redmond, Ariel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Redmond, Ariel 1
SB: Esman, Mandy 1
HBP: Esman, Mandy 1
Batting:
HR: NiJaree Canady 2
RBI: NiJaree Canady 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Alana Johnson 1 ; NiJaree Canady 2
HBP: Lauren Allred 1 ; Victoria Valdez 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P/INF
/ SoftballOF
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