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Sports

Bears outlast Cougars in two close ones

UH shut out by Baylor 2-0 in Game 1; Houston finds its offensive rhythm in Game 2 but falls 8-6

Cougar Sports Services 

The softball team's doubleheader against NCFA No. 18-ranked Baylor in Waco on Wednesday evening was a tale of two games: The first game proved to be a pitching duel, and the second turned out to be an offensive shootout. 

Unfortunately for the Cougars, they won neither, falling 2-0 in the first game and 8-6 in the second game, giving the Bears the sweep of the two-game series. 

In the nightcap, the two teams combined for 14 runs and 21 hits. They battled to a 1-1 tie through the first four and a half innings before Baylor (18-6) took advantage of a pair of errors in the bottom of the fifth inning to grab a 4-1 lead. The Cougars (18-9) responded in the top of the sixth by sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs to take a 6-4 lead.

Sophomore pitcher Angel Shamblin deposited a 1-2 offering from Baylor's Tessa Lynam into left field for a two-run single.

UH's pitching broke down in the bottom of the sixth, allowing the Bears to score four runs. Jordan Daniel smacked a RBI-single that gave Baylor an insurance run heading into the seventh. In the final frame, the Cougars were put away by Lynam (4-0), who picked up the victory after pitching the final 1.2 innings. UH junior pitcher Candi Kloecker (7-4) was the unlucky loser after pitching only a third of an inning and allowing three runs on four hits. 

Kloecker was also saddled with the loss in the first game, even though she allowed only two hits. She carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, but Baylor's Chelsi Lake opened the frame after reaching on a Kloecker error. Pinch-runner Alex Colyear stole second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Lynam.

Ashley Monceaux lifted a foul ball to left field that was caught by UH senior outfielder Brandi Clark, who fired a one-hop bullet to the plate, but freshman catcher Elaina Nordstrom mishandled the ball after Colyear came barreling into home, giving the Bears a 1-0 lead. Brette Reagan produced an RBI-single in the seventh inning for an insurance run. Baylor starter Lisa Ferguson (9-2) pitched seven shutout innings for the win.

UH returns home to open Conference USA play this weekend against East Carolina with a Saturday doubleheader and single-game Sunday. First pitch for both days is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 

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