Cougars Split Decisions at Mary Nutter Classic

Saturday, February 25

Palm Springs, Calif.

2:30 PM

University of Houston

5-10

Oregon State

8-3

Oregon State

Houston

2/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 25, 2017

Final Stats

Season Stats | Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- The University of Houston Softball team fell 7-6 in eight innings to rv/rv Oregon State and bounced back with an 8-2 triumph over Purdue on Saturday at Big League Dreams Complex as part of the Mary Nutter Classic.

With the results, the Cougars improve to 6-10 overall, while OSU and Purdue move to 8-3 and 2-10, respectfully.

Freshman Arielle James led Houston at the plate with a pair of multi-hit games. For the day, the native of Moore, Okla., finished 5-for-8 with one double, four RBI and four runs scored.

Freshman Trystan Melancon (2-4) took the hard-luck loss against OSU, while sophomore Savannah Heebner (3-2) picked up the win against Purdue. Melancon surrendered 11 hits, seven runs (six earned) with two walks and six strikeouts in logging the third complete game of her career. Heebner scattered eight hits and two runs with zero walks and four strikeouts, before giving way to sophomore Presley Bell, who tossed a scoreless inning of relief against the Boilermakers.

The Cougars will close their California road swing and participation in the tournament in an 11 a.m. CT first pitch against Northwestern on Sunday.

OREGON STATE 7, HOUSTON 6 (8)
KEY INNINGS
1st | A leadoff double from James, Kaylin Crumpton sacrifice bunt and OSU fielding error allowed the Cougars to push one run across in the bottom of the first inning.

2nd | Houston tagged the Beavers for four more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-0 lead. Sophomore Brooke Vannoy (walk) and sophomore Sarah Barker (single) each reached to open the frame, before a sacrifice bunt from freshman Sarah Queen advanced the two into scoring position. With two outs, James plated both on a single to right field and was followed by a two-run home run from Crumpton.

3rd | A three-run, three-hit third inning pulled OSU within two runs at 5-3.

4th | A Beaver solo homer in the top of the fourth cut Houston's lead to one at 5-4.

7th | After OSU tacked on two more runs to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth, the Cougars manufactured one run on back-to-back fielder's choices in the bottom frame to tie the game at 6-6.

8th | With the international tiebreaker in effect, the Beavers plated one run for the 7-6 final

HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Arielle James | 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R
Kaylin Crumpton | 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Sarah Barker | 1-3, R, BB
Shelby Miller | 1-4, RBI

Pitching Breakdown:
Trystan Melancon (L, 2-4) | 8.0 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

HOUSTON 8, PURDUE 2
KEY INNINGS
2nd | After Purdue took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, the Cougars responded with two runs in the bottom frame to take a 2-1 lead. Junior De'Zha Scott and Vannoy started the inning with a single and walk, respectfully, before a Queen sacrifice bunt advanced the two into scoring position. With two outs, James brought the pair home on a single up the middle.

5th | The Boilermakers pushed one run across on two hits in the top of the fifth, before Houston again responded, this time with three runs, in its next at bat as four straight Cougars hit safely to open the bottom frame. Crumpton led off with a single down the right field line, before coming around on a Heebner double to left center, her second two-bagger of the game. Miller followed with a single down the right field line and advanced to second on a fielding error, before Barker tripled home her and Heebner in the next at bat.

6th | Houston tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. James walked and sophomore Rachel Hill hit a pinch-hit single to lead things off, before a fielding error loaded the bases. Miller plated James and sophomore Maya Thomas (pinch runner for Hill) on a single up the middle. Barker then walked to reload the bases and freshman Breezy Burton followed with a pinch-hit single to push one more run across.

HOUSTON NOTES
Top Offensive Players:
Arielle James | 2-3, 2 RBI, R, BB
Savannah Heebner | 2-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R
Shelby Miller | 2-2, 2 RBI, 1 R, 2 BB
Sarah Barker | 1-3, 3B, 2 RBI, BB

Pitching Breakdown:
Savannah Heebner (W, 3-2) | 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Presley Bell | 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

ON DECK
The Cougars will conclude their participation in the Mary Nutter Classic in an 11 a.m. CT first pitch against Northwestern on Sunday.

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SHASTA PASS
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The Shasta Pass offers Houston fans a substantial savings as single-game tickets start at $5 for all four sports. To purchase a Shasta Pass, CLICK HERE.

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