Sports

Coogs get back to work

Softball ends 6-day break with Bulldogs, Demons

Cougar Sports Staff

The UH softball team has steadily improved since the program debuted in 2000. But even this early in their existence, the Cougars know that overlooking a team like the Alabama A&M Bulldogs could leave them with bite marks on their backsides.

Brian Viney/The Daily Cougar

Todayis doubleheader against Alabama A&M is the most pressing concern for the Cougars (22-13, 6-0 in Conference USA), but the 11-19 Bulldogs probably wonit bark too loudly. The defending Southwestern Athletic Conference Champions are led by pitcher Taryn Hartleyis 4-8 record. Game 1 is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Stadium. Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m.

About the only thing that could keep the Cougars from being successful today is a long layoff between games. UH hasnit played since falling to the Texas Longhorns, 3-0, in Austin on Thursday. Three errors contributed to the loss. In fact, errors have been costing the team dearly. The Cougars lead C-USA with 45 fielding errors.

But the iHorns arenit in C-USA, and a loss against UT only hurts pride.

Following the brief set against the Bulldogs, the Cougars will look to knock off one of the top teams in the country Saturday and Sunday when No. 9 DePaul (16-3, 3-0 in C-USA) visits Houston.

Impressive as the Cougars have been lately (theyive won nine of their last 12 games), the Blue Demonsi run has been better. DePaul upset No. 1 UCLA on March 9 and has won 11 of its last 12 games.

Junior pitchers Jamie Falco (10-5) and Jenny Johnson (7-5) will take the mound in Saturdayis doubleheader. Game 1 is set for 1 p.m. The two will probably share pitching duties in Sundayis single contest at 1 p.m.

Despite picking up the loss against the Longhorns, Falco leads the team in wins and ERA (1.06). Sheis pitched 92.2 innings this season. On offense, UH is led by sophomore third base player Kristen Glowaczi .367 batting average and C-USA-leading 10 doubles. She hasnit gone down swinging in 25 games.

DePaul is led by junior Sarah Martz, who has a .483 batting average and .633 slugging percentage. Senior Lindsay Chouinard leads the team with 13 RBIs. Martz went 5-for-9 in the Blue Demonsi 3-0 sweep of Alabama-Birmingham on Friday and Saturday. But Chouinard and Martz donit just lead the team on offense.

Chouinard is 9-2 with a 0.92 ERA in 88 innings. She also leads the team with 66 strikeouts. Martz is 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA in seven appearances.

Following the series against the Bulldogs and Blue Demons, the Cougars will travel to Charlotte, N.C., to face the 49ers on April 5 and 6.

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