Sports

Houston begins season 3-1

The Cougars’ 2009 season got off to a stormy start, but things ended brightly as they capped the Cathedral City Kickoff in Cathedral City, Calif. with a 12-4 win over Oregon State on Sunday.

On Friday, the Cougars (3-1) opened the tournament with a 10-2 loss to USA Today No. 17 California, but rebounded to defeat California-Riverside 5-0. Houston, ranked No. 13 in the nation, was victorious against James Madison, 10-3, on Saturday after a third-inning rain delay that lasted two hours and 16 minutes.

The Cougars’ second game on Saturday against Fresno State was cancelled due to the threat of rain.

Against Oregon State (2-2), the Cougars started quickly when senior infielder Jessica Valis reached on a single and scored off sophomore first baseman Jennifer Klinkert’s single to left field. Klinkert reached second on senior infielder Haley Valis’s single and scored when the next batter, senior infielder Christa Raley, singled.

Haley Valis advanced to third on the throw and scored the Cougars’ third run of the inning when she was brought home by sophomore outfielder Casey Willow.

Beavers sophomore outfielder Erin Guzy scored Oregon State’s only run in the first on sophomore catcher Ashley Roderfield’s double.

Houston continued to build its lead with runs by senior outfielder Katie Bush and Jessica Valis in the second, putting the score at 5-1. The Cougars extended their lead to 9-1 after scoring four times in the fourth inning.

The Beavers earned three runs in the fifth inning to try to stage a comeback, but Houston held them off with a run from Jessica Valis in the fifth, a solo home run from Raley in the sixth and a run from Bush in the seventh.’ Sophomore pitcher Amanda Crabtree (2-1) gave up five hits and four runs (one earned) in seven innings.’

In Saturday’s win against James Madison, the Cougars scored five runs in the first inning to set the tone. They added five more runs in the next three innings to take a 10-0 lead into the fifth.

James Madison scored all three of its runs in the top of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars held on to take the victory. Sophomore pitcher Baillie Lott earned her first win of the season, allowing five hits and striking out six batters.

Both teams remained scoreless until the fourth inning in the tournament’s first game, but California scored nine runs in the next two innings to take a commanding lead.

Houston responded with a homer from Gregson in the fifth and a run from Raley in the sixth to cut its deficit to 9-2, but it was too little too late as California held on for a 10-2 win.

Crabtree gave up 10 hits and 10 runs (eight earned) in seven innings against the Golden Bears.’

In the Cougars’ first win of the season against UC-Riverside, they earned two of their five runs in the second inning when Jessica Valis singled to score Raley and Haley Valis.

Klinkert followed with a double to bring home Jessica Valis and Bush, who bunted to get on base. Houston continued to pull away as senior catcher Elaina Nordstrom singled to score Raley in the fourth.

In the shutout, Crabtree allowed two hits and struck out eight batters.

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