UH softball picks up Wednesday when the Cougars face Texas in a double-header after suffering their first losses of the season to Texas A’M.
The ESPN.com/USA Softball No. 15 ranked Cougars, who are now 14-2 on the season, take on the Longhorns after falling 2-0 and 8-7 to the No. 2 Aggies.
"Our mentality now is to make the next opponent we play pay for the loss and the mistakes that cost us in the game," head coach Kyla Holas said.
The Longhorns finished third in the Texas Classic tournament Sunday in Austin. Longhorn senior Meagan Denny threw her third shut out of the season to beat the University of Utah 2-0.
"Texas brings great pitching. That’s what they have always been known for," Holas said. "They’re going to have some good kids on the mound, and we’re going to have to have some great performances at the plate."
Three home runsin Game 2 against the Aggies, one each from freshman infielder Jennifer Klinkert, senior catcher Elaina Nordstrom and junior infielder Haley Valis, in Game 2 against the Aggies were not strong enough performances to put the Cougars ahead.
"What they’ve been challenged to do is to step up now that they know what it’s going to take to play at the top level," Holas said.
Mistakes that cost the games against the Aggies have been happening all season, but haven’t been as detrimental, she said.
Senior pitcher Angel Shamblin pitched seven innings of Game 1 against the Aggies, striking out only three batters and giving up four hits and one earned run. Fellow senior pitcher Barbie Love walked a batter in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded to end the game 8-7.
"We’ve got to step up, having two seniors on the mound," Holas said.
With pitching and defense being the main focus after the losses, Holas looks for her team to make the necessary adjustments heading into its games with the Longhorns.
"If we can give the pitching performances we know our pitchers are capable of, then we should walk away with two wins from these games," Holas said.
The games against Texas will also be the second annual "Striking Out Breast Cancer Awareness Games." The Cougars will be wearing pink jerseys for the occasion and will also hold a silent auction during the game.
Some of the items up for auction are a mini-helmet autographed by former UH quarterback Kevin Kolb, a Houston Texans jersey autographed by defensive end Mario Williams, a baseball autographed by Houston Astros outfielder Hunter Pence, the opportunity to be a batboy at a UH baseball game and many other sports-related items.
Game 1 against the Longhorns starts at 5 p.m. followed by Game 2 at 7 p.m. at Cougar Softball Stadium.
