Houston tops HCU in Season Opening Victory

Thursday, February 5

Houston, Texas

4 p.m.

University of Houston

1-0

Houston Christian

0-1

Houston Christian

Houston

2/5/2026 8:49:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Cougars collect first win in Schoonmaker era; tally three homers and three doubles against Huskies

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team opened its 2026 campaign with an 8-1 victory over cross-town foes Houston Christian at the Cougar Softball Stadium Thursday.

The victory marks the first under first-year head coach Chrissy Schoonmaker. The Cougars (1-0) now lead the all-time series against HCU (0-1) at 12-2 as winners of the last four meetings.

Player Highlights

Maddie Hartley: 3-3, HR, RBI, R, 2 2B
Makenna Mitchell: 2-3, HR, 2RBI, 2R, BB, 2SB
Madox Mitchael: 1-3, HR, RBI, R

Game Highlights

Houston set the tone at the plate offensively, tallying 10 hits, three doubles and three home runs through six frames.
Seven Cougars recorded hits as junior Makenna Mitchell cracked the first home run of the season in the third inning. Sophomores Madox Mitchael and Maddie Hartley both followed up with solo shots of their own in the fourth and fifth innings to give Houston a 6-0 lead.
Five players made their Houston debuts with both transfers in senior Kylei Griffin and sophomore London Park making opening day starts at right field and pitcher, respectively. Freshmen Leilani Garcia and Ronnie Esparza both also made their collegiate debuts in starts at short stop and first base while RyLee Gardner entered the game for her Cougar debut.
Park pitched 6.0 innings in her first outing as a Cougar, spinning two Ks with no walks while Griffin when 1-for-2 with an RBI double in the second to bring in Houston's first run of the season.
Garcia and Esparza both found their first career hits on the day with a triple and single, respectively.

Key Innings
2nd | Following a scoreless first inning, the Cougars sparked momentum offensively thanks to an eight-pitch at bat from Hartley, fighting off a 0-2 count with five foul balls before producing a double to right field. Jordee Wilkins entered the game to pinch run for Hartley, where she was thrown out at home following a single to right field from Esparza. In her first at bat as a Cougar, Griffin doubled right center off the wall to bring Esparza home from second and tally Houston's first run of the season.

3rd | After a first pitch single off a bunt by sophomore Ariel Redmond, Mitchell found herself down 0-2 on the count before cracking a moonshot to deep left field, extending Houston's lead to 3-0 in the third. Garcia followed up by earning her first career hit on a triple to left field. Senior Mandy Esman then flied out to left center to bring Garcia home, tallying another run to go up 4-0 for a three-run third inning.

UP NEXT
The Cougars continue with a doubleheader on the second day of opening weekend at the Houston Tournament, where they face HCU once again at 2 p.m., Friday, before taking on Fairfield at 5 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Stadium. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
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STAY CONNECTED
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