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University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
17-12, 1-5
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Kansas
20-8, 2-1
Cougars Fall in Series Finale to Kansas
3/15/2026 7:44:00 PM | Softball
Houston record first grand slam of the season; late comeback bid falls short against Jayhawks
The Cougars (17-12, 1-5 Big 12) scored seven runs in the final two frames in a late comeback bid fueled by the team's first grand slam of the season courtesy of freshman Savanna Luther. Kansas (20-8, 2-1 Big 12) matched the runs with seven in the final two frames including six in the sixth inning.
PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
● Maddie Hartley: 1-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
● Savannah Luther: 1-1, HR GS, 4 RBI, R
● Madox Mitchael: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2B, R
● Ariel Redmond: 2-4, R
● Makenna Mitchell: 1-2, 2B, 3 R, 2 BB
NOTABLES
● Sophomore Ariel Redmond's single in the fourth inning extended her hitting streak to five games, tallying six total hits in that stretch.
● Sophomore Maddie Hartley made her second pitching appearance of the season while also tossing her first strikeout of the year.
● Senior Gabby Rawls tallied her first RBI of the season, contributing to the Cougars four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth.
● Freshman Savanna Luther clubbed her first collegiate hit for a grand slam to center field, marking her first RBI and the team's first grand slam of the season.
KEY INNINGS
6th | Trailing 10-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Hartley sparked momentum for the Cougars with a solo home run to center for her 12th of the year. With two outs, sophomore Madox Mitchael cracked a double down the left field line, scoring junior Makenna Mitchell from second to add another Cougar run. Two pitches later, senior Gabby Rawls tallied a single down center field to score Mitchael, earning her first RBI of the season and capping off a three-run sixth inning for Houston.
7th | With the bases loaded and two outs, Luther supplied her biggest hit as a Cougar with a grand slam on an 0-2 count, cutting the Houston deficit to 11-8. The play marked the first hit, RBI and home run of her career.
UP NEXT
Houston is set to continue its homestand with midweek action against Texas State and Kentucky. The Cougars face the Bobcats at 6 p.m., Tuesday before a bout with the Wildcats, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, at Cougar Softball Stadium.
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.
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: Partridge, Lila (3-2)
L: Brown, Nevaeh (8-4)
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Batting:
2B: Stafford, Kadence 1 ; Pitts, Tehya 1
HR: Cripe, Hailey 1 ; Linduff, Aynslee 1 ; Bagshaw, Campbell 1 ; Flanagan, September 1
RBI: Cripe, Hailey 2 ; Limbaugh, Presley 1 ; Linduff, Aynslee 4 ; Bagshaw, Campbell 2 ; Flanagan, September 1 ; Pitts, Tehya 1
SH: Cripe, Hailey 1 ; Stafford, Kadence 1
SF: Bagshaw, Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cripe, Hailey 2 ; Limbaugh, Presley 1 ; Soles, Anna 1 ; Hays, Madi 1 ; Linduff, Aynslee 1 ; Stafford, Kadence 1 ; Bagshaw, Campbell 1 ; Flanagan, September 1 ; Weber, Bailey 1 ; Pitts, Tehya 1
SB: Cripe, Hailey 1
CS: Limbaugh, Presley 1 ; Stafford, Kadence 1
HBP: Cripe, Hailey 1
Batting:
2B: Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 1
HR: Luther, Savanna 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 1
RBI: Luther, Savanna 4 ; Hartley, Maddie 1 ; Rawls, Gabby 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 2
SH: Gardner, RyLee 1
SF: Mitchael, Madox 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Luther, Savanna 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 2 ; Mitchell, Makenna 3 ; Redmond, Ariel 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 1
