Softball Slays No. 25 BYU
Feb. 23, 2006
No. 25 BYU at Houston Box Score (PDF)
HOUSTON - Candi Kloecker fired her third complete game shutout of the season lifting the University of Houston softball team to a 4-0 victory over No. 25 BYU Thursday to open the Crowne Plaza Classic at the Cougar Softball Stadium. The Cougars (11-3) got back on the winning track after dropping a doubleheader to No. 8 Texas A&M last night riding the arm of Kloecker, who allowed only three hits and stuck out four batters en route to her fifth victory of the season "Our team did a wonderful job of putting last night's games behind them," head coach Kyla Holas said. "They're a confident bunch and I'm proud of the way they bounced back tonight. They know what they are capable of and showed it out there on the field tonight." Kloecker kept BYU (8-3) guessing all evening changing her speeds and gave up only four fly ball outs. It was also the second ranked opponent that the Blinn College transfer has defeated in the circle this season. "I knew coming in that BYU was a very aggressive and powerful team at the plate," Kloecker said. "Those are the types of teams that I like to face the most. Getting ahead is the count is most important because that allows me to control the at-bat and throw the pitch that I want to throw to the batter." Houston scored all four runs in the third inning. Jessica Valis opened the frame with a single and stolen base. Elaina Nordstrom drew a walk and Christa Raley added a single to load the bases.
Angel Shamblin platted the first run on a fielder's choice, while Brandi Clark added a RBI-single pushed the Cougar advantage to 2-0. With runners on second and third, Laurie Wagner, who made an error in game one last night against Texas A&M, cleared the bases cranking a two-run double down the left field line extending the UH lead to 4-0. "My teammates really encouraged me after the error against Texas A&M last night," Wagner said. "It was good to get back out there on the field and not have any time to think about it. You just have to step back out there and do your thing again. That's how the game is played." That would be all the support that Kloecker needed giving up only one BYU hit the rest of the way. Houston continues action in the Crowne Plaza Classic Friday against Texas State and Rhode Island. First pitch is slated for approximately 5pm against the Bobcats with the game against Rhode Island to follow. "This is another big weekend ahead of us," Kloecker said. "Just like last weekend, we have to play our game like we know we can and take care of business on the field." The Cougars finish the tournament Saturday evening with games scheduled against Iowa State and Wichita State. UH students get into to tournament action for free all weekend by showing their Cougar 1 Card at the gate. "There is some tough competition in there for us in every game this weekend so we'll have to stay focused and take it one out at a time," Holas said. "Our goal is to keep playing good ball and come away with another undefeated weekend."
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