The last time the Cougar softball team was shut out, it cost Houston a trip to the College World Series.
The consequences weren’t quite as far reaching this time, but Houston’s 2-0 loss to Texas State on Sunday put the team at 1-2 in the Marriott Houston Classic and 4-3 on the season.
‘They just legitimately were better than us,’ outfielder Laurie Wagner said. ‘We had a long weekend, which isn’t an excuse, but we just weren’t ready to play.’
The Cougars dropped a 5-3 decision to Oklahoma on Saturday before beating North Carolina State 9-3 to get their only win of the weekend, but UH wasn’t able to carry that momentum into the game against the Bobcats.
Houston earned just two hits against Texas State pitcher Chandler Hall, who struck out seven Cougars in seven innings.
Texas State was able to get seven hits off Houston pitchers Baillie Lott (1-2) and Amanda Crabtree (3-1), who combined for just one strikeout. However, UH head coach Kyla Holas said lost offensive opportunities cost the Cougars the game.
‘Today was about offense, not pitching,’ she said. ‘We knew from day one that we had a young pitching staff and that they were going to take some time in the system with us. That it’s our job offensively.’
The Cougars didn’t get into scoring position until the fourth inning when outfielder Katie Bush, who reached on a walk, advanced to third off catcher Melissa Gregson’s single. Bush was thrown out at home on the next play.
Houston had another chance to put points on the board when outfielder Katy Beth Sherman, who pinch-ran for Elaina Nordstrom, stole second in the sixth. However, she was caught stealing third, ending the inning and the Cougars’ chance at a comeback.
‘You can score just as easily from second as from third,’ Holas said. ‘That was definitely a mistake that caught us and hurt us at that point.’
Texas State scored its first run in the second inning and solidified its lead with another in the bottom of the sixth.
Houston returns to action when it faces Baylor in a doubleheader at Cougar Softball Stadium on Wednesday. The first pitch for Game One is scheduled for 3 p.m.’
