Cougars Drop Road Test to Texas A&M

Thursday, February 26

College Station, Texas

6 PM

University of Houston

11-4

#15 Texas A&M

11-6

Houston

Texas A&M

Photo by: Juan DeLeon

2/26/2026 9:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Houston held to two hits in first ranked matchup of the season; fall 8-1 to Aggies

COLLEGE STATION, Texas. – The University of Houston Softball team fell in its first ranked matchup of the season, dropping 8-1 to No. 15 Texas A&M at Davis Diamond on Thursday.

The Cougars (11-4) faced an uphill battle after Texas A&M (11-6) batted in multiple runs in the first two innings. Houston's lone run of the game came at the top of the second following a sac fly to right from freshman Leilani Garcia to score freshman RyLee Gardner from third.

Player Highlights

Game Highlights

Houston was held to no home runs for only the third time this season, falling to 1-2 in such games.
The Cougars now fall to 0-3 in games when scoring two runs or less.
Houston dropped its first Thursday game of the year, dropping to 2-1 on the season.
Sophomore Maddie Hartley belted a double off the wall in deep right center at the top of the third, earning her 15^th extra-base hit and sixth double of the season.
Redshirt-senior Paris Lehman tossed 4.0 IP+ in consecutive appearances (4.0 vs Texas A&M, 4.1 vs Missouri) for the first time since 2024.
Freshman Ronnie Esparza returned to action for the Cougars for the first time in eight games, entering the game in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter for senior Mandy Esman.

Key Innings
2^nd | Freshman RyLee Gardner led off the top of the second with the Cougars' first base-hit of the night as she singled to right. After loading the bases with sophomores Madox Mitchael being hit by pitch and Isabel Cintron walked on a full count, freshman Leilani Garcia supplied Houston's lone score of the evening with a sac fly to right, scoring Gardner from third.

UP NEXT
The Cougars head to the state capital for three days at the Longhorn Invitational, where they will open action with a Friday doubleheader against St. Bonaventure (3:30 p.m.) and No. 3 Texas (6 p.m.) at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin. The game against Texas will be streamed on SEC Network+.

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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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