Cougars Comeback to Walk-Off Kansas in Extra Innings

Friday, March 13

Houston, Texas

6 PM

University of Houston

17-10, 1-3

Kansas

18-8, 0-1

Kansas

Houston

Photo by: ©Juan DeLeon Creative

Cougars Comeback to Walk-Off Kansas in Extra Innings

3/14/2026 1:17:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Houston rides four-run seventh inning to tie game; earn walk-off victory in series opener over Jayhawks

HOUSTON – After trailing 9-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the University of Houston Softball team secured a come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat Kansas, 10-9, at Cougar Softball Stadium on Friday.

The Cougars (17-10) earned their first Big 12 win of the season, going back-and-forth with the Jayhawks (18-8) after trading the lead four times through eight innings. Houston produced a four-run frame in the bottom of the seventh after trailing by four with one out before securing the victory via walk with bases loaded.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
Makenna Mitchell: 2-4, HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, BB
Maddie Hartley: 2-3, 2 RBI, R, 3 BB
Isabel Cintron: 3-5, 2 R
Mandy Esman: 2-5, 2 R
Ariel Redmond: 2-6, 2 R
Madox Mitchael: 2-4, BB

NOTABLES

Houston snapped a five-game losing skid against Kansas while earning its first victory over the Jayhawks as conference foes, improving to 3-5 all-time.
The Cougars earned their second victory of the season when trailing after six innings, most recently walking-off Michigan (Feb. 14) at home after trailing by five in the seventh.
Houston recorded 15 hits on the day, marking the program's first 15+ hit performance since last season against UL-Monroe (17).
Junior Makenna Mitchell produced a stellar performance with two hits while plating a career-high six RBIs as well as her 10^th homer of the season, good for a new season-high.
Sophomore Isabel Cintron's three hits on the day set a new career-high, beating her previous best of two hits. The performance also marked her first multi-hit game of the season.
With two hits each on the day, sophomore Madox Mitchael and Ariel Redmond both recorded their 50th career hits.
With two hits on the day, Esman produced her 23rd career multi-hit outing.

After notching a pop single to shallow left in the bottom of the fourth, freshman Shelby Taylor extended her hit streak to four games while tallying her 11th hit in the last 10 games.

KEY INNINGS
1^st | With two outs in the bottom of the first, Mitchell took a hit by pitch on a 3-0 count. Following back-to-back walks with freshman Ronnie Esparza up to bat, a Kansas wild pitch opened the door for Mitchell to reach home and supply the first run of the game for the Cougars.

5^th | Trailing 3-2 with two outs and bases loaded, the Cougars sparked momentum offensively with plate discipline and a hard-fought battle to extend every at bat. A passed ball with sophomore Maddie Hartley at the plate shifted runners one base to score Cintron and level the game at 3-3. Following a walk, Mitchell produced one of the biggest swings of the day as she singled to left, scoring two and giving Houston a 5-3 lead.

7^th | With runners on first and second, Hartley's single to left center sparked a jolt of energy as the Cougars cut the deficit to three. Four pitches later, Mitchell connected for her 11th homer of the season, sending a three-run blast to center field and level the scoreboard at 9-9 to force extra innings.

8^th | After two singles and two outs to open the bottom of the eighth, Hartley was intentionally walked to bring Mitchell to bat for a chance to secure victory for the Cougars. A four-pitch walk on Mitchell sealed the deal for the evening, scoring Cintron while securing the Cougars' first conference victory of the season.

UP NEXT
Houston continues with game two of the series against Kansas with first pitch set for 3 p.m., Saturday. All 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.

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