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'D' spells loss for Cougars

Cougar Sports Services

Both teams knew that the Cougars would win, but they did not know that the Cougars would beat themselves. 

In Thursday's game between the Cougars of UH and the Cougars of Brigham Young, Houston just didn't have it together and fell 2-0 to BYU. 

When sophomore pitcher Crystal Briscoe is on her game, few teams can score runs against her. She didn't have her best stuff Thursday, and the Cougar defense compounded the problem with two errors that ended up as the difference in the game. 

The game began and ended in the second inning. 

Briscoe allowed a walk to Laneta Lei to begin the inning. Ashlyn Simmons attempted a bunt, and UH senior outfielder Kristen Glowacz made an errant throw that flew past first base. Simmons advanced to second base and Kim Dabo, who came in to pinch run for Lei, got to third. 

Kate Walker singled, scoring Dabo. But left fielder Brandi Clark mishandled the ball, allowing Simmons to score as well, putting the score at 2-0. Briscoe left the game without recording an out or allowing an earned run. 

Senior pitcher Jenny Johnson came into the game in relief of Briscoe, and Johnson quickly retired the next three batters, ending the inning. Johnson didn't allow a run and surrendered only three hits. 

BYU's Brooke Boyce was as effective as Johnson, shutting out UH and also allowing only three hits and one walk, but Boyce had a two-run cushion that proved to be all she needed. 

UH threatened in the third inning, but Boyce retired three consecutive batters, ending the threat. 

With the loss, Houston falls to 11-6 on the season. But the Cougars don't have any time to brood, as the team plays four games in the next two days. On Friday, UH will face Mississippi State at 5 p.m. and Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. The team continues the pace Saturday, when they face Virginia at 5 p.m. and Villanova at 7 p.m.
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