University of Houston Athletics
Saturday, February 7
Houston, Texas
2 p.m.
University of Houston
4-0
9
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Fairfield
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5
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H
E
Fairfield
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Houston
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Softball Earns 800th Win in Program History
2/7/2026 7:02:00 PM | Softball
Cougars improve to 4-0, secure run rule walk-off victory over Fairfield
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team earned its 800th win in program history after a 9-1 run rule walk-off victory over Fairfield at the Cougar Softball Stadium on Saturday.
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The Cougars (4-0) go perfect on opening weekend, outscoring opponents 27-4. Houston have now won 10 consecutive games as well as 13 of its last 14 games on opening weekend dating back to the 2024 season. The Cougars now lead the Stags 2-0 all-time after both programs met for the first time on Friday.
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Player Highlights
Game Highlights
Key Innings
1st | The Cougar bats were hot from the start, with a Redmond double setting her up to score on a Mitchell sac fly to right field. Following a senior Kylei Griffin single, Hartley blasted her second home run of the season to give Houston a 3-0 lead. Freshman Ronnie Esparza's four ball walk set up a second two-run homer by Garcia, marking her first collegiate home run to extend the lead to 5-0.
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4th | After two scoreless frames, Redmond took matters into her own hands with her first homer of the season, scoring junior Bethany Aguilar to give Houston an 8-1 lead. Two pitches later, Mitchael cracked a solo shot to cap off a 3-run fourth inning while marking her second homer of the season.
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UP NEXT
The Cougars will remain home for a second weekend when they host the Houston Invitational. Houston will open action against Pittsburgh on Thursday, February 12th at 6 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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SUPPORT YOUR COOGSÂ
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 −
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The Cougars (4-0) go perfect on opening weekend, outscoring opponents 27-4. Houston have now won 10 consecutive games as well as 13 of its last 14 games on opening weekend dating back to the 2024 season. The Cougars now lead the Stags 2-0 all-time after both programs met for the first time on Friday.
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Player Highlights
- Ariel Redmond: 2-3, HR, 2RBI, 2R, 2B
- Leilani Garcia: 1-1, HR, 2RBI, BB
- Maddie Hartley: 2-3, HR, 2RBI, R
- Madox Mitchael: 1-2, HR, RBI, R
Game Highlights
- The Cougars go undefeated on home weekend, producing a perfect start under first-year head coach Chrissy Schoonmaker while securing the program's 800th victory.
- Houston came out firing offensively, producing a 5-run first inning on four hits.
- Sophomore Ariel Redmond had herself a day offensively and defensively, producing a leadoff double before speeding home on junior Makenna Mitchell's pop fly to open the scoring for the Cougars. Redmond also gunned down two runners heading to home plate in back-to-back innings.
- Sophomore Maddie Hartley followed up with a 2-run home run, her second of the season before freshman Leilani Garcia tallied her first collegiate home run, scoring two to give Houston a 5-0 lead.
- The Cougars tacked on two more home runs in the fourth courtesy of Redmond's first of the season and sophomore Madox Mitchael's second of the year.
- Garcia's sac bunt with runners on first and second forced a Fairfield error in the infield, bringing junior Jordee Wilkins home to secure the run rule walk-off victory.
Key Innings
1st | The Cougar bats were hot from the start, with a Redmond double setting her up to score on a Mitchell sac fly to right field. Following a senior Kylei Griffin single, Hartley blasted her second home run of the season to give Houston a 3-0 lead. Freshman Ronnie Esparza's four ball walk set up a second two-run homer by Garcia, marking her first collegiate home run to extend the lead to 5-0.
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4th | After two scoreless frames, Redmond took matters into her own hands with her first homer of the season, scoring junior Bethany Aguilar to give Houston an 8-1 lead. Two pitches later, Mitchael cracked a solo shot to cap off a 3-run fourth inning while marking her second homer of the season.
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UP NEXT
The Cougars will remain home for a second weekend when they host the Houston Invitational. Houston will open action against Pittsburgh on Thursday, February 12th at 6 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Â
SUPPORT YOUR COOGSÂ
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: Bodeux, Nicole (1-0)
L: Weinberg, Alyssa (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Kochakian, Cara 1
RBI: McGonigle, Quinn 1
SH: Mull, SJ 1
SF: McGonigle, Quinn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Whieldon, Delaney 1
Batting:
2B: Redmond, Ariel 1
HR: Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Redmond, Ariel 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 1 ; Garcia, Leilani 1
RBI: Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Redmond, Ariel 2 ; Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 2 ; Garcia, Leilani 2
SH: Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Cintron, Isabel 1 ; Garcia, Leilani 1
SF: Mitchell, Makenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1 ; Redmond, Ariel 2 ; Esparza, Ronnie 1 ; Aguilar, Bethany 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 1 ; Griffin, Kylei 1 ; Garcia, Leilani 1
SB: Taylor, Shelby 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
rf/PH
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
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