Softball Notches Series Sweep over UCF
April 22, 2007
UCF at Houston Box Score (PDF)
HOUSTON - Jessica Valis fueled the University of Houston softball team with a 2-for-3 performance with two runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases in a 7-0 win over UCF Sunday afternoon in the Conference USA weekend series finale at the Cougar Softball Stadium. Before the game, the Shiner native was presented with her National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) honor by UH strength coach Dale Jones. "Jessica is a difference maker in our program," head coach Kyla Holas said. "She showed today what we've felt all season long about her being a valid Conference USA Player of the Year candidate. She is the one that our opponents are most worried about. She's works so hard on and off the field." Houston (35-14, 16-2 C-USA) set a new program mark by recording its 16th C- USA victory. The Cougars tallied 15 wins in both 2003 and 2006. Angel Shamblin tossed a five-hit shutout to improve to 23-6 on the season. The Florida native sat down 11 UCF hitters via the strikeout against one walk. Shamblin closes to within 28 strikeouts of tying Jenny Johnson (2001-04) for the top spot on the program's career strikeout list. "This afternoon was the strongest that I've felt in a while," Shamblin said. "My pitches were sharper. I knew that I had to make adjustments from last game to keep them off balanced at the plate."
"Angel's performances on Sundays have been spectacular," Holas said. "That's what separates her and has made the most difference in her game this season. She continues to get better as the weekend goes along." Jessica Valis kick started the Houston offense in the first inning by reaching on a throwing error by UCF shortstop Amber Lamb. The ball went into the dugout and allowed Valis to move to second base. After stealing third base, Valis came around to score as UCF catcher Lindsay Dean threw the ball into left field. Laura Durham made a critical defense play from her left field post in the fourth inning to keep the score 1-0. She fired a one-hop bullet to the plate to gun down Cici Alvarez, who attempted to score from second base on an Allison Kime single. The Cougars used that momentum and struck again with three runs in the home half of the frame. Another Lamb throwing error extended the frame by an extra out, allowing Courtney Spittler to plate Laura Durham with a RBI-single perfectly place up-the-middle. Jessica Valis made it 4-0, belting a two-run triple down the right field line. Houston tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning. An Amanda Grote double scored Haley Valis, who reached on a leadoff walk. After UCF (32-21, 8-10 C-USA) decided to intentionally walk Jessica Valis, Katie Bush brought two runs home on a RBI-single for the final margin of 7-0. The single was Bush's 100th career hit. Allison Kime was tagged with the loss for the Golden Knights and fell to 19-9. She was touched up for seven runs, three earned, on five hits. "It was tough to come out to practice (on Thursday) after losing the way we did to Louisiana-Lafayette," Valis said. "There was no other choice but for the team to get refocused. Everyone decided to go all in this weekend. We felt relaxed, comfortable and did an excellent job of playing our game all weekend." Houston opens a weekend series with a Saturday doubleheader at East Carolina. First pitch against the Pirates is scheduled for Noon. "We need to get back to work and have a strong week of practice in preparation for East Carolina," Holas said. "They had a strong weekend at UTEP. Our goal is to finish strong and keep our momentum going heading into the conference tournament."
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