Softball
Softball Set to Host Third Annual Striking Out Breast Cancer Game

Houston will play No. 21 Texas A&M at 6 p.m. on Wednesday

March 2, 2009

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HOUSTON-- The University of Houston softball team will host No. 21 Texas A&M for the Third Annual Striking Out Breast Cancer game at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Cougar Softball Stadium.

The Cougars enter the game after finishing 1-1 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, knocking off No. 6 Michigan, 3-2. UH lost 2-1 to South Carolina on Friday.

Houston's other three games were cancelled due to rain and snow in Columbus, Ga.

Senior Elaina Nordstrom leads the Cougars with a batting average of .438 going 14-32 and leads the team in walks with 16. Senior Jessica Valis has a team-high 61 at-bats and 18 hits.

Sophomore pitchers Baillie Lott and Amanda Crabtree are both 4-4 this season. Crabtree leads in strikeouts with 43, while Lott has struck out 22.

Houston played A&M earlier this season in the Marriott Houston Invitational and lost 4-3. During the game senior Haley Valis hit two doubles and senior Laurie Wagner hit a home run to plate all three Cougar runs.

Texas A&M enters the game after splitting with No. 10 Arizona last weekend. The Aggies lost 9-4 to the Wildcats on Saturday, but defeated the Wildcats in eight innings on Sunday, 5-4.

Rhi Kliesing leads the Aggies in the circle with her ERA of 1.67 and 9-4 record. Natalie Villarreal is the leading batter with a batting average of .406 and 28 hits. She has hit one home run this season along with seven doubles.

Holly Ridley has a batting average of .387 with 24 hits. She has hit seven home runs, six doubles and one triple this season. She leads the Aggies with 19 RBIs.

All proceeds from Wednesday's game will benefit the Susan G. Komen Houston Affiliate. During the game there will be a silent auction with multiple gift items that fans can place bids on to purchase. Each of the player's pink jerseys and helmets will also be auctioned off, autographed and given to the highest bidder at the end of the game.

Veronica Nordstrom, mother of Elaina Nordstrom, has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch to her daughter for the previous two seasons and will throw it out before Wednesday's game.

Last season, over 900 fans donated $10,000, and witnessed the Cougars take two from Texas in a double header, 5-1 and 6-0. Nordstrom hit a walk-off grand slam in game two to earn Houston's second win.

Tickets to the game are $5 and the gates to Cougar Softball Stadium will open two hours prior to the game. UH students get in free with a valid Cougar ID.

Fans can follow live stats by clicking the Gametracker link on the softball schedule page on UHCougars.com. Check the website for recap information following the game.

Following Wednesday's game, the Cougars will open Conference USA play in Greenville, N.C. where the Cougars will play a three-game series against East Carolina beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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