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University of Houston Athletics
Friday, February 22
Houston
3:30 p.m.
University of Houston
7-5
16
vs
0
Incarnate Word
0-7
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Incarnate Word
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
Houston
10
2
4
0
X
16
11
0
Offense Explodes in Doubleheader Sweep
2/22/2019 10:10:00 PM | Softball
Cougars combine to score 24 runs off 21 hits
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team opened day one of the Houston Challenge with an offensive outpouring on Friday that led the Cougars to a doubleheader sweep.
The Cougars (8-5) began the day with a 16-0 run-rule victory over the University of Incarnate Word (0-7) and followed that with their second run-rule win of the day, taking down Northern Illinois (6-6) 8-0 in five innings. Houston has posted three shutouts during its current four-game winning streak.
Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart continued her blistering hot start to the season, going a perfect 6-for-6 on the day with a home run, triple and eight RBIs. Her three hits in each contest today ties a career-high and has now hit safely in nine of her past 11 games.
In the circle, freshmen pitcher Rachel Hertenberger earned her first complete-game shutout of her career, having taken a no-hitter into the fifth against the Cardinals. Senior pitcher Savannah Heebner tossed her first complete-game shutout of the season and 23rd of her career against the Huskies, where she struck out six batters in the process.
HOUSTON 16, UIW 0 (5)
KEY INNINGS
1st | Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart wasted no time igniting the Cougar offense, leading off the bottom of the inning with her second home run of the season. Freshman outfielder Abby Odneal then followed her with her first career home run and just like that, the Cougars were ahead by two. After the Cougars drew three consecutive walks, senior first baseman Savannah Heebner singled home a run of her own to push the lead to three with nobody out.
Once Stewart came up to bat for the second time in the inning, Houston had already plated six runs, as all nine batters had reached base. She stepped into the box with the bases loaded and drove in all three runs with her triple to the right field gap and by the end of the inning, the Cougars held a 10-0 lead over the Cardinals.
3rd | Senior outfielder Sarah Barker singled home a pair of RBIs to put the Cougars ahead by 14. With Barker on second and freshman catcher Kati Ray Brown on first, Stewart then came to the plate recorded her third base hit of the game, driving in her career-high sixth run of the game.
5th | Freshmen pitcher Rachel Hertenberger surrendered her first hit of the game to the leadoff batter, breaking up her no-hitter bid and spot in history.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lindsey Stewart | 3-3, 6 RBI, HR, 3B, 2 R
Abby Odneal | 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, R
Rachel Hill | 2-2, R
Sarah Barker | 1-2, 2 RBI, R
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (W, 1-2) | 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 K
HOUSTON 8, NIU 0 (5)
KEY INNINGS
3rd | Senior infielder Rachel Hill stepped into the box with a pair of runners on a singled in both runners to push Houston's lead 3-0, and after a double from junior infielder Arielle James that scored Hill, the Cougars led by four. When Heebner came up to the plate after a walk from junior infielder Sarah Queen, Heebner's single up the middle stretched the Houston advantage to six. Stewart then tallied her eighth RBI of the game with a base-knock of her own, scoring Heebner on the play.
4th | Houston played small-ball, as a sacrifice fly and RBI from Queen scored junior catcher Brianna Burton. The run gave the Cougars an eight-run led.
5th | Heebner entered the circle in the top of the inning and retired the side in order to seal the 8-0 win for Houston.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lindsey Stewart | 3-3, 2 RBI, R
Savannah Heebner | 2-3, 2 R, RBI
Arielle James | 2-3, RBI, R
Maya Thomas | 2-3, RBI
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Savannah Heebner (W, 2-3) | 5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 0 ER, 8 K
ON DECK
The Cougars compete in the second day of the Houston Challenge when the Cougars host Northern Illinois and Kennesaw State at Cougar Softball Stadium.
First pitch against the Huskies is schedule for 3:30 p.m. while the matchup with the Owls is slated for 6 p.m.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchased for $80. Fans can also purchase a flex package of 20 games, where they can choose which games they want to attend.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Softball on Twitter and Instagram at UHCougarSB, and "Like" UHCougarSB on Facebook.
JOIN DIAMOND CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH. For more information, Click Here.
– UHCougars.com –
The Cougars (8-5) began the day with a 16-0 run-rule victory over the University of Incarnate Word (0-7) and followed that with their second run-rule win of the day, taking down Northern Illinois (6-6) 8-0 in five innings. Houston has posted three shutouts during its current four-game winning streak.
Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart continued her blistering hot start to the season, going a perfect 6-for-6 on the day with a home run, triple and eight RBIs. Her three hits in each contest today ties a career-high and has now hit safely in nine of her past 11 games.
In the circle, freshmen pitcher Rachel Hertenberger earned her first complete-game shutout of her career, having taken a no-hitter into the fifth against the Cardinals. Senior pitcher Savannah Heebner tossed her first complete-game shutout of the season and 23rd of her career against the Huskies, where she struck out six batters in the process.
KEY INNINGS
1st | Junior outfielder Lindsey Stewart wasted no time igniting the Cougar offense, leading off the bottom of the inning with her second home run of the season. Freshman outfielder Abby Odneal then followed her with her first career home run and just like that, the Cougars were ahead by two. After the Cougars drew three consecutive walks, senior first baseman Savannah Heebner singled home a run of her own to push the lead to three with nobody out.
Once Stewart came up to bat for the second time in the inning, Houston had already plated six runs, as all nine batters had reached base. She stepped into the box with the bases loaded and drove in all three runs with her triple to the right field gap and by the end of the inning, the Cougars held a 10-0 lead over the Cardinals.
3rd | Senior outfielder Sarah Barker singled home a pair of RBIs to put the Cougars ahead by 14. With Barker on second and freshman catcher Kati Ray Brown on first, Stewart then came to the plate recorded her third base hit of the game, driving in her career-high sixth run of the game.
5th | Freshmen pitcher Rachel Hertenberger surrendered her first hit of the game to the leadoff batter, breaking up her no-hitter bid and spot in history.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lindsey Stewart | 3-3, 6 RBI, HR, 3B, 2 R
Abby Odneal | 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, R
Rachel Hill | 2-2, R
Sarah Barker | 1-2, 2 RBI, R
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Rachel Hertenberger (W, 1-2) | 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 K
HOUSTON 8, NIU 0 (5)
KEY INNINGS
3rd | Senior infielder Rachel Hill stepped into the box with a pair of runners on a singled in both runners to push Houston's lead 3-0, and after a double from junior infielder Arielle James that scored Hill, the Cougars led by four. When Heebner came up to the plate after a walk from junior infielder Sarah Queen, Heebner's single up the middle stretched the Houston advantage to six. Stewart then tallied her eighth RBI of the game with a base-knock of her own, scoring Heebner on the play.
4th | Houston played small-ball, as a sacrifice fly and RBI from Queen scored junior catcher Brianna Burton. The run gave the Cougars an eight-run led.
5th | Heebner entered the circle in the top of the inning and retired the side in order to seal the 8-0 win for Houston.
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Lindsey Stewart | 3-3, 2 RBI, R
Savannah Heebner | 2-3, 2 R, RBI
Arielle James | 2-3, RBI, R
Maya Thomas | 2-3, RBI
PITCHING BREAKDOWN
Savannah Heebner (W, 2-3) | 5.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 0 ER, 8 K
The Cougars compete in the second day of the Houston Challenge when the Cougars host Northern Illinois and Kennesaw State at Cougar Softball Stadium.
First pitch against the Huskies is schedule for 3:30 p.m. while the matchup with the Owls is slated for 6 p.m.
Season tickets for the 2019 season are on sale now and can be purchased for $80. Fans can also purchase a flex package of 20 games, where they can choose which games they want to attend.
Follow Houston Softball on Twitter and Instagram at UHCougarSB, and "Like" UHCougarSB on Facebook.
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, visit UHCougars.com or call Cougar Pride at (713) 743-GoUH. For more information, Click Here.
– UHCougars.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hertenberger, Rachel (2-1)
L: Renee Hoffman (0-3)
Base Running:
CS: Angel Villanueva 1
Batting:
3B: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1
HR: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 1 ; Odneal, Abby 1
RBI: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 6 ; Odneal, Abby 3 ; Busch, Bethany 1 ; Heebner, Savannah 1 ; Howie, Aspen 1 ; Barker, Sarah 2 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stewart-Vaughn, Lindsey 2 ; Odneal, Abby 1 ; Wyatt, Charese 1 ; Queen, Sarah 1 ; James, Arielle 1 ; Heebner, Savannah 2 ; Hill, Rachel 1 ; Howie, Aspen 2 ; Thomas, Maya 2 ; Barker, Sarah 1 ; Vannoy, Brooke 1 ; Brown, Kati Ray 1
SB: Barker, Sarah 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
6
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
1
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballRHP/1B
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballHIGHLIGHTS: Houston 5, Utah 2
Sunday, March 30
HIGHLIGHTS: Houston 10, McNeese 6
Wednesday, March 26
HIGHLIGHTS: Houston 10, Lamar 6
Wednesday, March 19
Cinematic Recap vs. Iowa State
Tuesday, March 11