Sports

Cougars score just 3 runs in 1-2 series loss

Cougar Sports Staff

After racking up the hits and runs for the better part of a month, the Cougar softball team had to rely on pitching to get it through a three-game series against Louisville. UH pitchers held the Cardinals to three runs in Games 2 and 3. But the Cards allowed only one Cougar to score as UH lost the series 1-2 with a 2-1 loss Sunday in Louisville, Ky.

Lorrie Novosad/The Daily Cougar

The Cougars fell to 34-20 overall (14-7 in Conference USA). The Cardinals improved to 21-21 (12-8 in C-USA).

With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman starting pitcher Crystal Briscoe gave up a walk and was replaced by junior Jenny Johnson. Johnson retired the next two batters but loaded the bases with back-to-back singles.

The Cardinalsi Keona Calderon singled home the winning run to end the game. Briscoeis walked batter won the game so the freshman took the loss and fell to 9-5. The Cougars were held to just five hits.

UH fell behind 1-0 in the first inning off a sacrifice fly by Calderon. The lead was short-lived for the Cardinals, but the Cougars had to play short-ball to tie the game.

Sophomore shortstop Jeanie Davis pinch-ran for sophomore designated hitter Jenilee Skender. Sophomore outfielder Kim Nesloney moved Davis up to second with a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore first base player Michelle Keith plated Davis with a single to right center.

It looked like Houston would have the upper hand when the series began Saturday. Junior pitcher Jamie Falco (13-8) gave up just two hits in the Cougarsi 2-0 win in Game 1. Timely hitting gave UH the early 1-0 lead in the third. Nesloney scored in the fifth inning off a single from junior catcher Arelis Ferreris. Sophomore infielder Kristen Glowacz led UH with three hits.

But there were no timely hits in the second half of Saturdayis doubleheader. Johnson (11-7) pitched six innings of one-run ball but the Cougars couldnit break ULis Jessica Rak. Rak picked up the win by holding UH to just four hits and no runs in seven innings. A 1-0 lead in the first inning was all the Cardinals needed.

The Cougars had their chances. Down to their last at-bat in the seventh, Glowacz grounded out to third base with the bases loaded. UH stranded nine runners in the game.

While the hitters went through a dry spell, the defense stepped up during the series. UH didnit commit a single error in Games 1 and 2 and just one in the deciding game.

The Cougars finish the regular season with a three-game series at home against South Florida on Saturday and Sunday. They host the C-USA Tournament on May 8.

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