TULSA, Okla. – Cougar softball went 2-1 in a three-game series against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday and Sunday, bringing their Conference USA record to 15-2.
During Game 3 on Sunday, junior shortstop Jessica Valis tripled in the top of the third inning, placing her in first place for UH career triples with 12.
The Cougars went up 1-0 in the top of the fourth with a home run from senior outfielder Laurie Wagner, but Tulsa tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when senior pitcher Angel Shamblin hit Tulsa junior infielder Kailey Yarmer with the bases loaded after intentionally walking Golden Hurricane’s senior infielder Sara Dyer.
Houston rallied in the top of the sixth with a two-run double from Valis, who later scored with junior infielder Christa Raley on a throwing error by Tulsa sophomore catcher Christian Timmons. Junior catcher Elaina Nordstrom then hit a two-run homerun to bring the score to 8-1.
In the top of the seventh, freshman pitcher Baillie Lott opened the inning with a home run, and Nordstrom hit a two-run double, bringing the final score to 11-1.
Shamblin pitched all seven innings, giving up seven hits and one run while striking out five.
The Cougars suffered a loss in Game 2 against Tulsa on Saturday, giving Houston its second C-USA loss of the season.
Tulsa scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Dyer scored on a wild pitch from senior pitcher Barbie Love.
Although Houston had runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings, it was unable to produce any runs, and the game ended at 1-0.
Love pitched the entire game, striking out three and giving up one run and three hits.
In Game 1, junior infielder Haley Valis put the first run on the board for the Cougars with a home run in the top of the third inning.
Tulsa answered back in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on a throwing error from Wagner.
The Cougars pulled ahead in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run from Raley, bringing the game to 3-2.
Freshman outfielder Katie Beth Sherman, who was pinch running for Nordstrom, and Wagner scored on throwing errors in the top of the fifth inning, bringing the score to 5-2.
The Cougars solidified their win in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs. An RBI single from Nordstrom, a three-run double from senior outfielder Amanda Grote and an RBI double from Shamblin put the game out of reach for the Golden Hurricane, leaving the final score 10-2.
Shamblin pitched all six innings, giving up two runs and two hits while striking out seven.
