Softball Completes Undefeated Weekend at Marriott Houston Hobby Invitational
Feb. 19, 2006
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Houston Box Score (PDF)
HOUSTON - Laura Durham went 2-for-4 with a home run and 4 RBIs as the University of Houston softball stretched its winning streak to ten games with a 12-2 rout of Texas A&M Corpus-Christi Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Marriott Houston Hobby Invitational at the Cougar Softball Stadium. "Offense is not something this team is going to struggle with," Durham said. "We have a variety of hitters one through nine and beyond that can get things done at the plate." The 12 runs on 15 hits were both season highs for the Cougars. Angel Shamblin fired a complete game in the circle, while going 3-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBIs and two runs scored. "One of things we wanted to be was 10-1 at the end of this weekend," head coach Kyla Holas. "A big part of our undefeated weekend was our pitching." Not only did the Houston pitching staff go 5-0 this weekend with a 1.60 ERA, the staff struck out 40 batters in 35 innings of work holding opponents to a .211 batting average for the weekend. "Pitching is where our strength should be," Holas said. "We've got to keep relying on them and they have to keep putting up those types of numbers with a big week ahead for us." The Cougars found themselves down 1-0 after one inning of play but responded right away as Christa Raley started the second inning with a double. She moved to third base on a Shamblin sacrifice bunt and scored on a Durham ground ball to even the score at 1-1.
Houston took a 3-1 advantage in the fourth inning on a two-run blast by Durham and never looked back. Later in the frame, Jessica Valis added a RBI-single to make it 4-1. The Cougars busted the game opening adding a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Shamblin knocked a two-run double in the fifth, while Nordstrom tacked on a sacrifice fly stretching the advantage to 8-1. Jaime Adams, Katie Bush, and Durham platted runs in the seventh for the 12-2 final margin. Houston heads on the road for the first time this season when it takes on No. 9 Texas A&M for a Wednesday doubleheader. The Cougars swept a doubleheader in 2004 in College Station that gave Holas her 99th is set for and 100th career victories. "This is how we want to be playing heading into a tough week ahead," Holas said. "We'll tie up some things on defense and be ready to go against a Top 10 opponent." First pitch is slated for 5pm at the Aggie Softball Complex. Live stats will available via Gametracker on UHCougars.com
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