The reigning Conference USA-champion Cougars begin the season ranked in the top 25 in both the USA Today (No. 20), and ESPN.com (No. 22) polls.

The Cougars are coming off one of their best seasons in program history as they advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals and fell just one game short of the College World Series.

The Cougars were led by their strong pitching staff, which posted the best team ERA in the nation (1.35). Amanda Crabtree, who led the nation in strikeouts per game, and Donna Bourgeois, C-USA Newcomer of the Year, were the aces of that staff.

Even with both Crabtree and Bourgeois not returning this season, head coach Kyla Holas is confident that the Cougars won’t skip a beat from last season’s success.

“We have been working with our young pitchers in the bullpen and have been teaching them as much as we can to get them ready,” Holas said.

“I do think you will see a better staff at the end of the year than you will at the beginning.”

The pitchers expected to fill the empty spots in the rotation left by Bourgeois and Crabtree are sophomores Diedre Outon and Bailey Watts.

In 60 2/3 innings as a freshman, Outon posted a 6-3 record with a 1.73 ERA while striking out 40 batters.

Watts did not pitch last season, but as a freshman in 2010, she led UH with 14 wins and a 2.85 ERA while striking out nearly a batter-per-inning (164 1/3 IP/163 SO).

Because of the lack of senior leadership on the pitching staff this season, the Cougars will have to rely more heavily on their offense, which is led by C-USA Player of the Year Melissa Gregson.

Gregson, a senior from Rancho Cucamonga, California, led the conference in home runs (16) and total bases (108) last season and is expected to duplicate those numbers this year as she was voted the Preseason C-USA Player of the Year.

Need for speed

Holas has stressed all offseason that speed and conditioning would be the key to a successful season.

“For us, speed was an issue so we worked really hard to become a much faster team so that we can hopefully steal some bases so we don’t have to rely on our hitters as much,” she said.

The Cougars are hoping to build upon last year’s success and make it even further into the postseason.

“Falling that one-game short hurt a lot and none of us ever want to have that feeling again,” Gregson said.

Gregson believes that they can take the next step to reach the College World Series.

“We have a talented team with talented players,” she said.

“We just need to work together and communicate and everything will be fine.”

The Cougars open the season as the hosts of the Hilton Houston Plaza Classic at Cougar Softball Stadium.

Their first opponent is North Texas at 3 p.m. on Friday, followed by Texas A&M Corpus Christi at 5 p.m.

Senior left fielder Melissa Gregson, the 2011 Conference USA Player of the Year, has been pegged with the same distinction this preseason.

“It’s an honor to be recognized again and still be seen as one of the top players in our league,” Gregson said. “I’m honored, but I also know that we have 56 games to play and we still have a long season ahead.”

Head coach Kyla Holas attributes much of Gregson’s success to her work ethic.

“Anytime you can have a kid who can work like that and is coachable, I think that you’re going to have someone who will have lots of success,” Holas said.

Gregson admittedly isn’t the typical rah-rah leader, but instead prefers to lead by example, setting the tone through her actions.

“Being a senior and a captain, I think that I have a huge leadership role in helping make sure that everybody knows their position, or specific things in hitting,” Gregson said. “But I also know if someone is struggling I can talk to them.

“On the field I know that I have to step up when times get difficult and make sure everybody is making adjustments.”

Gregson said she is not feeling any pressure from being named the best player in C-USA — at least not yet.

“I’ve been making sure that I’ve been checking myself in mentally and not let the things off the field get to me when I’m on the field,” Gregson said. “I’m just going to try and do what’s best for the team”

Last season Gregson was one of the team’s most potent offensive threats. She led the team in home runs (16) and RBI (47) and was among the team leaders in several categories.

Gregson is joined on the preseason all-conference squad by teammate Holly Anderson. Anderson led the Cougars in batting average (.339) and led both the team and the conference in runs scored (41).

UH was voted No. 20 by USA Today and No. 22 by ESPN.

The Cougars last opened a season ranked in 2009 when they began the season as No. 13/18.

The ranking comes after advancing to the NCAA Super Regional and winning a share of the Conference USA regular season title finishing 44-18 last season.

The Cougars have lost their two pitchers with the most impact, Amanda Crabtree (21-9, 0.96 ERA, 196 ⅔ IP, 334 SO) and Donna Borgeois (17-6, 1.67 ERA), but return with sophomore pitcher Diedre Outon (6-3, 1.73 ERA) and six regular position players, including Conference USA Player of the Year Melissa Gregson (.334, 16 HR, 47 RBI).

Last season, the Cougars went 17-8 against ranked teams.

This season’s schedule features games against five ranked teams: No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 16 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Texas, No. 20 Nebraska and No. 24 Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Cougars open their spring schedule against North Texas at 3 p.m. on Feb. 12 at Cougar Softball Stadium.

In the 2011 season, Katy Beth Sherman was the Cougars’ offensive catalyst in the leadoff position. Sherman started all but one game for the Cougars in their grueling 60-game season.

File Photo/The Daily Cougar

Even the commercials on ESPN for the Women’s College World Series are difficult to watch for Katy Beth Sherman. She said that they make her emotional and she has not watched one game of the World Series — but that isn’t a bad thing.

“It shows how much it means to me and made me every bit of who I am,” Sherman said. “I love those four years and I love being a part of the Cougar softball program.”

While the Cougars were in the midst of a run to the Conference USA regular-season title in late April, Sherman said her goal coming into the year was to make a return to the postseason.

“This team has gone through ups and downs throughout my career,” Sherman said. “We came in so strong my freshman year and that’s exactly how I wanted to finish.

“To leave that legacy for the rest of the team and go out being a leader and show everyone how Houston softball can compete and be nationally recognized for the talent that we have.”

Setting the bar higher

UH came within a run of advancing to the WCWS, but fell 6-5 to Oklahoma State in the Super Regionals after pushing the Cowgirls to a third game.

It was one of the Cougars’ most successful seasons in the program’s 11-year history under head coach Kyla Holas.

Not only did UH advance to the Super Regionals and earn a share of the C-USA regular season title, but it also featured several players who were recognized by the conference.

The C-USA Player of the Year, junior catcher Melissa Gregson (.314, 16 HR, 1.013 OPS), the C-USA Newcomer of the Year, senior pitcher Donna Bourgeois (17-6, 1.67 ERA) and the conference’s most dominant pitcher and NCAA strikeout leader Amanda Crabtree (21 W, 0.96 ERA, 336 K, 192.2 IP).

Success starts at the top

Sherman played an integral role in that success. She had the best season of her career, finishing in the top 10 in C-USA in batting average (.333), runs (35), hits (55) and triples (four) and sparking the Cougars’ lineup out of the leadoff spot.

“It’s definitely some pressure, but it’s exciting for me because that’s where I want to be,” Sherman said of hitting at the top of the lineup.

“I want to be that leader in that position where I can start things off. It’s really important coming out and at least having some fire and focus. To have everybody see that example, and try to get the best at bat in that I can and lead the team throughout the game.”

In her first two seasons at UH, Sherman learned the importance of setting an example for her teammates from former UH outfielder Katie Bush, who also hit at the top of the lineup.

“She was a great example for me on of how to get things done on a day-to-day basis,” Sherman said. “She taught me how to go through things as hard as you can and not going through the motions.

“Even though you’re going to struggle, there’s always a way to bounce back.”

Leader in the classroom

Sherman’s fire and leadership extend beyond the field, though, as she has excelled in academics while attending the University.

“She empowers her teammates, being the team leader that she is — not only athletically, but also academically,” academic adviser Lori Selzer said.

“She empowers them in the same way and really supports them in their academic endeavors. That translates to the field when they’re out there as well. Not only in terms of the academics, but with her energy and enthusiasm as well.”

Sherman was named to the C-USA All-Academic Team twice the last two seasons and has twice been named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

She finished her undergraduate degree in corporate communications in May 2010 after coming to UH from Waller High School with a semester’s worth of college credit. She is currently working on her master’s degree in human resource development.

“It was a good decision for me,” Sherman said. “Now I have about a year left and I’m glad that I did it.

“It was smart for me and it’s really going to help me as soon as I start my career.”

This week, Sherman started to get a taste of what life is like after softball, as she started a graduate co-op position at the NASA Johnson Space Center.

“It was a pretty good first day,” Sherman said.

“It was a little intimidating being at NASA, but they took me out to lunch.”

Senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree was sorely missed in both games — she never stepped on the field, and senior Donna Bourgeois and freshman Diedre Outon had to pick up the slack.

“I think that any time you don’t have the strikeout leader in the country on the mound, you’re going to have a tougher job than if you did,” head coach Kyla Holas said.

“When you get to this point in the season and you have to go to an away game on a Saturday, you’re going to see a lot of offense, and pitching had to go through a lot of rounds.”

Bourgeois didn’t give the Cowgirls any room for a sweep, as she went the distance in game two.

“I’ve worked my entire life for this day,” Bourgeois said. “I think I had enough in the tank to get it done. But at the same time, I trust my coach’s decision and I trust every single one of my teammates. This is the place where I want to be. This is it.”

The Cowgirls scored quickly, racking up three runs in the first inning. The Cougars struck back with two runs in the same inning. and a home run from junior Jennifer Klinkert in the third brought two more runs in, putting UH in the lead 4-3. But the Cowgirls would eventually reclaim the advantage.

“I was really just trying to do something for my team,” Klinkert said. “I knew she was throwing drops, I was just trying to see a good pitch and put a good bat on the ball.”

It was the first time since 2008 that the Cougars made the Super Regionals. Prior to elimination, UH was the only school from a non-BCS conference remaining in the tournament.

With the loss the Cougars (43-17) must win game two tomorrow to force a series-deciding third game.

“It comes down to timely hitting; 10 hits should put more runs on the board – hopefully tomorrow that’s going to be the difference,” head coach Kyla Holas said. “What we worked on all week, is getting that one-out, two-out hit. For us we’re a little frustrated right now, but we’re confident in the fact that we know what we need to adjust. Any time you can have a plan you’re going to be in a little better mindset the next day.”

The Cougars were behind from the bottom of the first inning, and it stayed that way for the game’s entirety. Senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree gave up a run to Maria Gearhart on a two-out double in the bottom of the first. Crabtree gave up two hits and one earned run and was pulled in the bottom of the third inning, as a precautionary measure — Crabtree has been dealing with a minor wrist injury since March.

Freshman Diedre Outon pitched the rest of the game, allowing four hits and two runs.

“It was just something that we wanted to be careful about,” Crabtree said. “Diedre’s done a great job all year, so that was a good option to go to. They had gotten a run off of me, so it wasn’t a bad option to switch it up and throw something different at them.”

Leaving runners in scoring position was the key problem for the Cougars. Two separate times two runners were left stranded on base, with the tying run at bat but UH could not execute from behind the plate. But the Cougars’ confidence has not been shaken – Holas said the offense is capable of delivering an equalizer tomorrow with a more focused approach.

The series resumes at 1:35 p.m. tomorrow. If the Cougars win and force a third game it will begin at approximately 4:05 p.m. It will be televised on ESPNU and ESPN3.com.

The Golden Eagles (17-38, 4-20 C-USA) responded with two runs of their own off of starter Donna Bourgeois (16-6, 1.68 ERA), but were shut down when Amanda Crabtree came in and struck out the first two batters she faced.

Crabtree (18-7, 0.91 ERA) was dominant in relief, striking out seven of the nine batters that she faced in 2 2/3 innings to earn her second save of the season.

In addition to earning the victory for 4 1/3 innings of work, Bourgeois also picked up the C-USA Newcomer of the Year award before the game. Bourgeois, who transferred from Louisiana-Lafayette, finished in the top ten in C-USA in ERA, batting average against (.197), innings (141.1), strikeouts (126) and wins. It was the first time a UH player had won the award.

Bourgeois was not the only Cougar who gained C-USA recognition. Melissa Gregson earned C-USA Player of the Year for her productive season. Gregson led the conference in home runs (16), total bases (101) and tied for the lead in RBI (43).

The Cougars will be in action again at 3:30 p.m. today to take on host East Carolina (37-20, 14-10) in Greenville, N.C. In their most recent matchup two weeks ago, UH swept the Pirates, outscoring them 14-3 over the three games. The game can be followed online through Game Tracker at www.uhcougars.com.

Q: How did the two of you start playing softball?

Haley: We played tee ball when we were young because basketball, dance and all those other sports didn’t work out.

Q: Is softball a family tradition?

Diedre: It doesn’t really run in the family. We actually don’t know how we got here.

Q: How have you adjusted to moving from a small town like Pflugerville to a big city like Houston?

Diedre: We haven’t really been around the area so I guess we haven’t really adjusted yet. Since it’s our first year we didn’t really know where to go, I still only know three streets around here. During the summer and next fall we’ll be able to explore more.

Haley: We don’t really get the chance to go explore Houston so it’s kind of a small city to us.

Q: Diedre, you’re a pitcher and an outfielder; which do you prefer and why?

Diedre: I like pitching better because you can control the situation and if you do badly it’s on you, and if you do well it feels great.

Q: Diedre, as a pitcher you have two experienced senior pitchers in Donna Bourgeois and Amanda Crabtree. What have you been able to learn from them?

Diedre: Their mental game, which is something I don’t have yet. I learn from them, see what they do out there, and how much work it takes to get to where they are at now. I hope to get to where they are at in a few years or maybe sooner.

Q: Haley, as a freshman you’ve caught three no-hitters this season, what does that feel like and what kind of relationship do you have with the pitchers?

Haley: I have a pretty good relationship with all of them. It helps because we all trust each other with the job that we have to do for each other. It’s great to be such a help to pitchers that are so dominant.

Q: What’s the advantage of getting to know a pitcher’s tendencies, strengths and weaknesses?

Haley: It’s easier to keep up with them, and if I see them go out of their composure I can get them back in by calling a timeout and talking to them through it by giving them reassurance.

Q: After high school was there any chance of you two going to different colleges?

Diedre: We didn’t have to go to the same college but it just sort of worked out that way. But we are glad we’re at the same school together.

Haley: The three schools we went down to wanted both of us, so it worked out. Plus it would have been weird going to different places, because we’ve never been away from each other.

The Cougars are tied for second in conference standings with the Pirates (34-16, C-USA 14-7) right behind them.

“You have to win these last six ball games so there is no ifs, ands or buts,” head coach Kyla Holas said.

The game will mark the first time UH plays at ECU’s newstadium, which will host the C-USA championships in May.

“This is a brand new field for us so it’s nice to be able to play there in regular season so we get a chance to know what that’s going to play like in the end,” Holas said. “Hopefully that can give us an advantage if we adapt to the new surroundings.”

The UH bats will have to answer to ECU senior pitcher Toni Paisley and her 1.05 ERA. Paisley leads C-USA with 26 wins and 311 strikeouts.

The Cougars first shot against the Pirates is Saturday’s doubleheader starting at noon.

They finish up the series Sunday morning, before returning home to get ready for a three-game series against UCF.

Senior pitcher Donna Bourgeois and the Cougars will play the last pair of non-conference games today.

Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar

The Cougars will look to build on their victory over No. 19 Texas A&M Wednesday when they take on Texas State today.

The task may be easier said than done as the Bobcats are currently on an 10-game winning streak.

“We just have to do what we know how to do and we’ll be able to take care of business with Texas State as well,” senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree said.

“Right now we are playing teams that we should beat, so basically we just need to take care of business by doing all the little things right,because every single one of these games we can win and need to win.”

Crabtree sat out of Wednesday’s game for an undisclosed injury.

She said it was only a minor tweak and a decision was made to give her some rest to be ready for the conference championships.

Freshman Diedre Outon will be looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s rough outing.

“I need to come out with no nerves and prove to everyone that I can come back and not let that game affect how I do in the next game that I play,” Outon said. “I just have to have a better head next time and not let the hits rattle me, and just shake it off.”

As the conference championship draws near, senior outfielder Katy Beth Sherman said it is all about perservering and playing through difficult situations late in the season.

“We got to scrap and do anything we can, bunt, take every walk we can, steal bases,” Sherman said. “We have to take every little bit we can until something falls into place and until we can come through in that one big opportunity.”

Friday’s twin bill is set for a 5 p.m.start at Bobcat Field in San Marcos.

Wednesday was a feel-good night for the Cougars as they rallied back from an early deficit against No. 19 Texas A&M to win 4-3 in the fifth annual Striking Out Breast Cancer Game.

Cougar Softball Stadium was packed with 500 people past capacity, for a record total of 1,672. Half of the proceeds from ticket sales go toward the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Houston affiliate.

The Cougars (32-14, 13-5 C-USA) fell behind early in the first inning 2-0 when A&M second baseman Melissa Dumezich hit a home run off freshman pitcher Diedre Outon.

Outon was a last-minute replacement for senior Amanda Crabtree, who sat out with an undisclosed injury. The freshman only lasted half an inning, giving up two hits and two earned runs.

“We decided to go with Diedre thinking they hadn’t prepared for that and defensively wanted to save Donna in case there was trouble,” head coach Kyla Holas said.

“Unfortunately she didn’t get out of the first inning. But as a freshman you need that experience and now she’s got it, and knows what to learn.”

Senior Donna Bourgeois took over with one out in the top of the first, eventually picking up her 12th win of the season. She allowed six hits and one earned run during six innings pitched, while pitching four scoreless innings.

Holas said Bourgeois did a great job and was proud of her, acknowledging that she came in a crucial moment and pitched like a senior should.

“That’s my job, that’s what I’m here to do,” Bourgeois said. “That’s what we work every day for and if you’re not ready when you come in, then why come in at all. You have to be ready at all times.”

In the bottom of the third, the Houston offense awoke with three hits and four runs.

Catcher Haley Outon hit a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Katy Beth Sherman single moved Outon to third who would later come home after A&M catcher Nicole Morgan threw to first base trying to get Sherman out at first.

The error produced the Cougars’ first run.

Junior comes through in the clutch

First baseman Melissa Gregson stepped up to the plate and delivered a home run right down center field driving in three runs and giving the Cougars their first lead 4-2.

“The first-at bat, I swung on the first pitch and it felt good,” Gregson said. “Next at-bat I knew that she was thinking outside more, so I just saw and it was plate level and went after it and it felt good.”

The win is the Cougars sixth against a ranked opponent in either the coaches poll or USA Softball and puts their mark against ranked teams at 6-2.

UH will head to San Marcos this weekend for a doubleheader against the Bobcats. The first game is slated for a 5 p.m. start at Bobcat Field.

For the fifth straight year the Cougars will wear pink jerseys and helmets, as they host the annual “Striking Out Breast Cancer Game” Wednesday against Texas A&M at Cougar Softball Stadium.

The Aggies were the Cougars opponent in the inaugural game in 2007.

Head coach Kyla Holas said each year the game seems to take a life of its own.

“Sometimes I think it gets bigger and bigger and we have to constantly try and keep up with it,” Holas said.

“But for us, it’s one of those things we get a date to be reminded that sometimes we play for a reason above winning and losing. Sometimes there’s a lot more at stake.”

The event originated when former player Elena Nordstrom was recruited.

“During the recruitment process, her mom was going through a double vasectomy, treatment and chemotherapy and it was on our minds when we recruited her,” Holas said.

“When we had the opportunity to do it we thought it was a great idea to honor her and everyone else who goes through this.”

Playing for more than a win

Senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree will be the starter. She said emotions will be high for the special occasion.

“It’s an awesome cause and I think all the girls get real excited for it,” Crabtree said. “There is a lot hype that goes with the game especially with playing Texas A&M. It’s just such a fun game because you know you’re playing in it for a good reason.”

Part of the fun factor for the players is having the chance to play in pink attire.

“Of course all of us girls don’t mind wearing pink, especially if it’s for a good cause,” senior outfielder Katy Beth Sherman said.

“It reminds us during the game what its really about. Yes, it’s us competing, but when it comes down to it, the point of the game is the fight for the cure and how we’re able to contribute to the foundation.”

The game will feature a silent auction that opens at 5 p.m. with the proceeds, along with profits from half of the tickets sold, going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in Houston.

The auction will feature the pink jerseys and helmets worn by the players, Astros tickets, a Coach purse and an autographed jersey from former US National softball player Jenni Finch. The first 250 fans will also receive a free pink t-shirt.

The game is slated for a 6:30 p.m. start at Cougar Softball Stadium.

The Cougars (29-13, 11-4 Conference USA) started strong with an 8-0 run-rule win over the Bears (32-8). However, they could not stave off the Bears in the rubber match.

“The first game I felt like it was a whole team effort,” sophomore third baseman Holly Anderson said. “Everyone contributed; even the people on the bench were loud, and it got us the momentum that was ours to take.

“In the second game, I feel like that even though we dug ourselves a hole, we all worked together to come back. It just kind of slipped away from us.”

UH took the first lead of the game when first baseman Stesha Brazil scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. The Bears responded with a three-run third inning, and senior pitcher Donna Bourgeois was replaced with freshman Diedre Outon. Outon inherited runners on first and third base, but escaped unscathed with a groundout to first.

Demoralized by the sudden 3-1 deficit, UH remained scoreless until the sixth inning when designated player Reina Gaber hit a home run to center field to get the Cougars within one. A triple from Katy Beth Sherman and a single from Ashleigh Jones put the Cougars back on top 4-3.

Baylor forced extra innings in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball. The Bears earned the winning two-run home run in the eighth, shutting down the UH offense in the eighth.

In game one, two offensive outbursts were responsible for the Cougars commanding an eight-run win. Four-run outputs in the second and fifth innings was all the Cougars needed for the mercy-rule win. That was paired with Amanda Crabtree’s five scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts.

Though the Cougars are disappointed with the split, they are confident heading into their conference series with Tulsa.

“We’re so confident right now that it doesn’t matter how bad we are,” Anderson said. “As long as we pull together as a team.”

UH continues conference play Saturday with a three-game series against Tulsa (32-9, 13-2). The series opens with a double-header at 1 p.m. Saturday in Cougar Softball Stadium.

Senior pitcher Donna Bourgeois earned her 10th win of the season over the HBU Huskies Tuesday at Cougar Field. She struck out nine batters, and allowed one walk.

Jack Wehman/The Daily Cougar

The Cougars impatiently swung at pitches through the first four innings, grounding or striking out and stranding runners on base.

A golden opportunity presented itself in the bottom of the fifth inning when the bases were loaded. Third baseman Holly Anderson was diligent with her at-bat and drilled a double to center field, bringing in the Cougars’ first three runs.

UH would go on to shut out Houston Baptist 6-0 Tuesday at Cougar Field to win its seventh straight contest. The Cougars are now winners of nine of their last 10 games.

Senior pitcher Donna Bourgeois (10-6) was the starter, and earned the win, throwing for five scoreless innings. She faced 21 batters and struck out nine of them, along with allowing four hits and one base on balls.

Bourgeois encountered a high-pressure situation in the top of the third inning. After striking out HBU pitcher Jammie Weidert, the scoreless tie was in jeopardy of being broken in the Huskies’ favor.

Third baseman Holly Webb drew a walk, and left fielder Rebecca Rademacher reached first base on an error, advancing Webb to second. Daniella Rodarte hit a sacrifice bunt for the second out, putting Webb on third and Rademacher on second.

Shortstop Mollye Mlcak approached the plate with two outs on the board, and a chance to give the Huskies the lead. Bourgeois struck her out, getting out of the jam and averting the potential crisis.

Bourgeois took a seat in the top of the sixth inning, and was relieved by senior Amanda Crabtree.

In two innings of work, Crabtree struck out five and earned her first save of the season.

The Cougars added onto their advantage in the bottom of the sixth frame when catcher Melissa Gregson singled to left field. Next up was shortstop Brooke Lathan. She added some insurance runs, blasting a two-run home run, her eighth of the season.

The Cougars (25-13, 8-4 Conference USA) scored a sixth run, one shy of run-ruling the Huskies. Second baseman Jennifer Klinkert scored an unearned run from an error.

UH will resume conference play this weekend when it faces UTEP for a three-game set starting with a double-header at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Yogi Berra once said baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half physical. It seems the same could be said for baseball’s sister sport of softball, as Senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree adopted the mantra and is having her best season yet.

Crabtree has 12 wins, six losses and a 1.14 ERA. She has also recorded 211 strikeouts and three no-hitters. Monday, Crabtree was awarded with her third Conference USA Pitcher of the Week award for her stellar weekend performance at Southern Miss. She allowed no runs in 11.1 innings of play, and walked just three batters.

She credits her success to her new mental edge.

“In the past three years my mentality has been the thing that has held me back,” Crabtree said.

“They worked with me and worked with me and this year everything started to click. Honestly, it has been the missing puzzle piece.”

This season, the softball team has been working with sports psychologist Brian Cain to gain a better understanding of the mental aspects of the game.

“One of the main things he talks about is having a routine,” Crabtree said. “If you watch me pitch you can see that I kind of do the same thing over, and over, and over. I just hope every game is a consistent outing.”

Crabtree’s hard work has paid off. In February, Crabtree pitched her first and second no-hitters of her college career and earned back-to-back C-USA and USA Pitcher of the Week honors, as well as being named to the QTI Powers Invitational All-Tournament team.

Freshman Haley Outon was the catcher for Crabtree’s no-hitters and said Crabtree’s ability to follow her routine makes her a leader.

“She really knows how to get out of any mental block she may have,” Outon said. “She’s good at picking herself up.

“We kind of all look at her as the ‘momma’ of the team and follow her. It’s great because when she does well we all do well.”

Crabtree transferred from Oklahoma State in 2008, and head coach Kyla Holas said she sees a different pitcher than the one who first set foot at UH.

“She’s more of a pitcher now instead of a thrower,” Holas said. “I think she sometimes lets some mental mistakes control her, but she has worked hard to step that up. She can throw anything at anytime and make it count with the physical fundamentals she puts in her pitches.”

Crabtree grew up playing a variety of sports besides baseball, including swimming and volleyball. Though she ultimately settled with softball, her experiences in other sports have aided her success.

“Swimming has very intense training so it prepared me for some of the things that you go through the older you get,” Crabtree said. “I think that everything I’ve gone through in my past has helped get to where I am today in softball.”

Crabtree is an elementary education major and said once her college playing days are over she will give softball lessons, in large part to stay in touch with the game.

The Cougars were originally supposed to play a double-header against Texas State on Wednesday but it was rescheduled to April 22 at the Bobcats’ request, leaving UH with six days between games.

That bodes well for the Cougars, as they will send Amanda Crabtree (11-6) to the mound fresh off of her electric performance that broke a school record with her 17 strikeouts against Memphis.

Head coach Kyla Holas will send a Cougar offense looking to light up The Golden Eagles’ pitchers, who are lead by Beth Dietrich (5-8).

“They’re very clear on how important conference is,” Holas said.

“Every series we’re ready to go and excited to get on the field.

The Golden Eagles have won only one of their last five games, but Holas’ team isn’t looking past them, and will not be discounting their recent performances.

“Southern Miss is one of those really scrappy teams,” he said.

“They try to bring a lot of offense, so we’re going to have to have a good performance on the mound and we’re going to have to play some good defense behind it and stay focused at the plate and put a lot of balls in play.”

After winning the series against Memphis but losing the third game in a pitchers’ duel 2-0, Holas is confident the bats will come alive as long as the Cougars stick to the basics.

“Right now we’re working on putting the ball in play and limiting our strikeouts so that teams have to field 21 outs.”

The road-weary Cougars will finish a month of March that saw them play only three of 17 scheduled games at Cougar Softball Stadium.

After their second-best start in program history (15-6), they’ve won five of their last 14 games.

After the series with Southern Miss, UH will come back to Houston for some home cooking and a series against Marshall.

The Cougars will need to have a short memory after falling 4-1 to Texas on Thursday.

Head coach Kyla Holas said that the team has been emphasizing the progression of defense and pitching throughout the week in practice.

“Pitching and defense are something we’ve worked really hard on,” Holas said. “You’re starting to see it show up in strikeouts and less errors per game.”

Senior Katy Beth Sherman, who is currently leading the team with a .333 batting average, said she is looking at this series as an opportunity to bring the team together and learn from each other.

The non-conference schedule gave UH some much-needed experience that it hopes to use during C-USA play.

“We’ve gone through our ups and downs,” Sherman said. “We learned so much from each other, which will make us a stronger team.”

Last season UAB swept the Cougars in a three-game series at UAB.

Currently the Cougars (16-6) are 8-1 at home.

UH will play a double-header on Saturday with the first game starting at 1 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m. The series concludes at noon on Sunday.

Bourgeois transferred to UH from Louisiana-Lafayette after three stellar seasons with the Ragin’ Cajuns. After being released from her scholarship at Louisiana-Lafayette, she decided to attend UH for a better choice in academic options, while still being able to participate in softball.

“They have a great program here,” Bourgeois said. “They’re competitive on a national level, and they have a great coaching staff and group of girls.”

Bourgeois is also a two-time Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Year and is among the 50 players selected to this year’s USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year watch list. She also comes with a 69-24 career record and a 1.37 career ERA.

“I don’t identify myself with any of the awards,” she said. “More than anything, it’s just about being able to come out everyday and do what I love.

Instant leadership

Bourgeois has been in post-season play in each of her three seasons and has advanced to a Women’s College World Series.

Even though she is in her first year with the team, Bourgeois’ resume and experience make her a leader.

“She has a really good mental approach to the game,” head coach Kyla Holas said. “She tends to follow up an error with a strikeout.

“She’s that kid in the clutch that can really make a difference.”

After losing her Cougar debut, Bourgeois won her next outing and recorded two saves in as many opportunities.

“You have to lose in order to gain some knowledge about how you’re going to win in the long run,” Bourgeois said. “I just have to bring my best on a daily basis.”

Bourgeois — from Lafayette, Louis. — attended Teurlings Catholic High School where she had a prestigious career that included pitching a no-hitter in a state championship game.

Bourgeois is a pre-med neuropsychology major and plans on attending medical school after she graduates.

Eight games into the season, Bourgeois is confident about what the team can accomplish during remainder of the season.

“I feel good about this season,” she said. “Every game we have made adjustments and we have progressed.

“The season is only going to get better.”

Bourgeois and the Cougars will look to continue their winning ways, as they take on the Sam Houston State Bearkats (8-1) at 4 p.m. today in Huntsville for a double-header.