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Sports

Cougars go 1-2 in weekend play at Hilton tourney

By Lourdres Castillo
The Daily Cougar

The Cougars began their monthlong homestand games falling to No. 12 Alabama 7-4, followed by a 3-2 win Friday against Sam Houston State. The Cougars later faced No. 4 Oklahoma falling 7-0 on Saturday. Unfortunately, rain forced the Hilton Plaza Invitational Tournament to end Sunday as the Cougars were up 4-1 on the top of the third inning. 

"Our main strategy this weekend was to come out and be aggressive, while hitting the ball and making some plays," freshman pitcher Angel Shamblin said.

On Friday, the Cougars fell behind 2-0 in the early in the game before senior first baseman and catcher Jenilee Skender sent a solo homerun in left center to give Houston the first run of the game in the second inning. In the sixth inning and down 5-2, senior first baseman Michelle Keith hit her first homerun of the season. Keith's homer drove in freshman pinch runner Courtney Spittler, who had just successfully stolen second base. Despite the Cougar's effort to come back, Alabama managed to remain in the lead ending the game 7-4. 

In the second game of the tournament, Shamblin recorded her first win and a complete game allowing one run on six hits with six strikeouts against the Bearkats. With the help of seniors Kim Nesloney, Kristen Glowacz and freshman Dru Daniels, the Cougars took the 3-0 lead only after the first three innings. The Bearkats tried to tie the game in the seventh inning after hitting a homerun and an RBI but Shambling struck out their final batter to end the game 3-2.

"We played well against Sam Houston and I feel like we should have won against Alabama on Friday," Nesloney said. "We gave away too many free bases, walks and overthrows against Alabama. I think that we need to play together and trust each other instead of going out there as individuals."

The No.4 Sooners with a 5-4 record gave the Cougars trouble taking the 6-0 lead after two innings Saturday. Facing a possible no-hitter, Keith singled with one out in the seventh to break up Oklahoma's no-hitter streak. Regardless of Keith's and pitcher Carla Kennimer's effort, the Sooners maintained their lead to then end the game 7-0. 

The Cougars later faced Alabama, who were able to get one run in each of the first, second and fourth innings, two of which were homeruns by the Crimson Tide's Jackie Wilkins and Emily Currie. In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, Glowacz hit the ball and drove in junior Brooke Johnson and Nesloney, while an error by Alabama's shortstop allowed Daniels to advance to third. In the bottom of the fifth, the Tide's pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle hit a solo-shot homerun over the center field fence to increase the lead to two, followed by another homerun by Capper Reed that sealed the game 5-2.

Regardless of the beginning slight rain showers, Sunday's game was played out until the third inning. The Sooners took the 1-0 lead, until the Cougars were able to take the lead 4-1 in the third inning. Johnson reached first base on a single shallow centerfield. After an error by Oklahoma's Stacy Baddock, Nesloney was able to advance to first, and Johnson advanced to third. Daniels then hit through centerfield and drove Johnson home. In desperate need of change, the Sooners made a pitching change bringing Nicole Denes into the game. Glowacz then sent the ball over the leftfield fence to give the Cougars the three-run advantage. The rain then forced a 30-minute delay and later the cancellation of the remaining of the tournament. 

"I think Brooke Johnson did a tremendous job defensively and offensively," Cougar head coach Kyla Holas said. "Kim Nesloney and Dru Daniels I think would be our other two key highlight players that really stepped up, and then of course Shamblin getting the first win for us. We need to work on some offensive stuff so we can put some more runs on the board next weekend when we got a little bit easier tournament as far as the ranking are."

The Cougars, now 1-6, will face No. 17 Baylor, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas State in the Crowne Plaza Classic Tournament at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday respectively and Sunday at 1 p.m. 
 

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