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Sports

UH drops two close contests to Aggies

Costly errors and stranded runners hurt the Cougars

by RUTHIE RODRIGUEZ
The Daily Cougar

If the Cougars had been able to avoid making costly errors and consistently drive in more runners than they left stranded, they might have been able to steal a game or two from nationally-ranked Texas A&M. As it turns out, they could do neither.

Houston dropped both games of its doubleheader with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association No. 4 Aggies before a record crowd of 912 on Wednesday night at Cougar Softball Stadium.

Texas A&M (21-2) stifled the Cougars' offense in Game 1 en route to a 3-0 victory. Game 2 was much closer, with the two teams heading into the seventh inning tied at 3, but a Macie Morrow solo home run in the top of the frame sent the Aggies to a 4-3 victory.

The Cougars (17-9) jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in Game 2, but watched helplessly as it quickly evaporated.

"We felt like we were in control ahead 3-1," sophomore shortstop Jessica Valis said. "There's no reason (why) we should have lost Game 2."

The Cougars hurt their cause in Game 2 by committing three errors, and the difference in Game 1 may have been the six runners the team left stranded on base.

"I felt that we had solid at-bats and hit the ball well in both games," UH head coach Kyla Holas said. "The only difference between our team and the Top 25 programs we play is that they capitalize and score runs when they get runners on. We get plenty on runners on, but we need to work on finishing them."

Junior right-hander Barbie Love (2-2) was charged with the loss in Game 2. She went the distance, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out nine batters in seven innings. Texas A&M starter Megan Gibson (9-0) allowed three runs on seven hits over seven innings to earn the victory.

Despite the loss, Holas noticed encouraging signs from Love.

"Barbie had a fantastic outing and continued to get better as the game went on," Holas said. "She is starting to emerge at the right time."

Her teammates notices, too.

"We believe that her ability's out there," Valis said. "She is really starting to put things together."

In Game 1, the two teams fought to a scoreless tie through the first five innings until the Aggies broke through with three runs in the top of the sixth. Those three runs proved to be enough for Amanda Scarborough (9-2), who tossed a three-hit complete game shutout.

Holas remains convinced that her squad has what it takes to defeat the nation's best teams. 

"We played this type of (tough) schedule as a gauge to see where we're at," Holas said. "This team knows that it can hang with anyone in the nation."

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