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Sports

Cougars leave El Paso with series win

Shamblin becomes the Houston leader in all-time career victories with 48

by LEE CLARK
The Daily Cougar

After suffering an embarrassing 17-1 loss to Texas-El Paso in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, the UH softball team could have played Saturday's rubber match with the memory of that drubbing fresh on their minds and mentally checked out of the series finale.

However, the Cougars quickly left the pasta behind and won in dominant fashion, beating the Miners 9-1 Saturday afternoon at Helen of Troy Field in El Paso. 

With Saturday's win, the Cougars (32-12, 13-2 Conference USA) claimed the series two games to one.

Junior ace Angel Shamblin made sure the Cougars wouldn't leave El Paso without avenging Friday's demoralizing loss. The right-hander allowed one run over two hits in six innings to tally her 48th career victory. That win puts Shamblin (21-5) atop the list of career victories by a Cougar pitcher.

The Miners (25-15, 4-8 C-USA) led 1-0 until the top of the fifth inning when junior infielder Amanda Grote led off the frame with a single. Sophomore infielder Jessica Valis followed with a single, and both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch by UTEP pitcher Nichole Tungent (9-4).

Sophomore centerfielder Katie Bush evened the score after bringing Grote home on an RBI-single. With runners on the corners, sophomore catcher Elaina Nordstrom belted a three-run homer to put the Cougars up 4-1.

Senior outfielder Laura Durham put a dagger through the Miners' heart with her sixth-inning grand slam, which finalized the score 9-1.

In Game 2 on Friday night, junior right-hander Barbie Love (5-4) was rocked for eight runs in the fourth inning and had to exit the game. The three relievers that followed couldn't stop the bleeding, though.

The Miners scored all 17 of their runs in the fourth inning, tying for the second most runs allowed in an inning in NCAA softball history.

UH came from behind in the series opener to win 5-3 on Friday night.

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