Cougars Split Day One at Cajun AC Louisiana Clash

Friday, February 20

Lake Charles, La.

1 PM

University of Houston

9-1

Missouri

4-8

Houston

Missouri

Photo by: Kirk Meche

2/20/2026 9:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Houston secures first ever victory over Missouri; falls to late surge at McNeese

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of Houston Softball team split its first day of action at the Cajun AC Louisiana Clash, first securing a 4-3 comeback victory over Missouri before falling late 7-3 against McNeese at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond on Friday.

The Cougars (9-2) earned their first ever win against the Tigers (4-8), having previously lost all four head-to-head meetings.

Game 1 (4-3 W vs Missouri)

Player Highlights

Makenna Mitchell: 1-4, HR, RBI, R
Mandy Esman: 2-3, HR, 3 RBI, R, 3B
Nevaeh Brown: 7.0 IP, 6 K, 3 R

Game Highlights

Junior Makenna Mitchell put an end to a one-hit shutout in the top of the sixth inning, blasting a solo shot to center and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Following her first hit of the season via triple in the top of the second, senior Mandy Esman produced her biggest swing of the season with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth to give Houston a 4-2 lead late.
Sophomore Nevaeh Brown improved to 4-0 this season after pitching a complete game, tossing her second-consecutive game with five or more strikeouts (6) to mark her fourth such outing this season.
Freshman Kaitlynn Torres made her collegiate debut, pinch hitting in place of fellow freshman Leilani Garcia to lead off the top of the fifth.

Key Innings
6^th | Facing a one-hit shutout entering the sixth, Houston sparked momentum right off the bat of Mitchell's third home run of the season, a solo shot to center to cut Houston's deficit to 2-1. Freshman RyLee Gardner's single helped extend the Cougars' rhythm at the plate, reaching base before sophomore Isabel Cintron reached first via fielder's choice, seeing Gardner out at second. Freshman Shelby Taylor entered the game to pinch-run in place of Cintron before a single courtesy of sophomore Madox Mitchael to put two on. With runners on first and second, Esman double dipped for her second hit of the day and the season, belting a three-run homer to center to give Houston the lead 4-2 after five scoreless frames.

Game 2 (7-3 L vs McNeese)

Player Highlights

Makenna Mitchell: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Maddie Hartley: 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 R

Game Highlights

Mitchell wasted no time getting going as she cracked her second homer of the day, tallying a two-run trip around the bases to put Houston on the board first at the top of the first.
Leading off the top of the third, Hartley added to her team-leading six homers this season with another solo shot to deep center, extending the Cougars' lead to 3-0.
Sophomore Savanna Luther made her first collegiate start, featuring at catcher while batting seventh in the order.

Key Innings
1^st | Houston got active early at the plate starting with a leadoff single to right from sophomore Ariel Redmond. After Hartley reached on a fielder's choice with Redmond out at second, Mitchell cranked her second homer of the day and fourth of the year to center, giving Houston a 2-0 lead 17 pitches into the game.

3^rd | Hartley continued her hot start to the season, producing a solo belter to deep center, tallying her seventh homer of the season for a Cougar 3-0 lead.

UP NEXT
The Cougars will return for day two at the Cajun AC Louisiana Clash for a second doubleheader against McNeese (11 a.m.) and Missouri (1:30 p.m.) at Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond. Saturday's matchup against McNeese will be streamed on ESPN+.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
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