Softball Caps Weekend with Win over Rutgers

Sunday, February 11

Houston

10:30 a.m.

University of Houston

4-1

Rutgers

4-1

Rutgers

HOUSTON

2/11/2024 3:58:00 PM | Softball

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Cougars avenge Saturday setback with 6-3 win against Scarlet Knights

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team used a pair of home runs to power past Rutgers, 6-3, in the Houston Invitational finale on Sunday at Cougar Softball Stadium.

Redshirt sophomore Paris Lehman (2-0) spun six innings in relief, allowing two runs on seven hits, to earn her second win of the weekend for Houston (4-1). Georgia Ingle (0-1) picked up the decision for Rutgers (4-1).

Player Highlights:

Kennedy Thomas: 2-3, R
Bree Cantu: 1-3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI
Turiya Coleman: 1-2, HR, R, 2 RBI, BB
Paris Lehman: 6.0 IP, W, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO

Game Highlights:

With 37 runs in the opening weekend, Houston tied its second most in program history through five games. The top mark is 39 runs set in 2022 also under Head Coach Kristin Vesely.
Graduate Kennedy Thomas posted her 20^th career multi-hit game and her third of the season. She currently sits with a .750 (9-for-12) average through five games.
Vesely secured her 190^th win as head coach of the Cougars with the victory.
The game featured an hour and 17 minute rain delay.

Key Innings
1^st | After sophomore Mandy Esman led off the inning with a walk, junior Lair Beautae singled to put runners on the corners with no one out. Freshman Mikalah Nitta put Houston on the board with a sacrifice fly that plated Esman. Graduate Kennedy Thomas singled to put two runners back on and graduate Bree Cantu followed it up with a three-run homer to center, her second of the weekend, to extend the Cougars' lead to 4-0.

2^nd | The first two Rutgers batters reached on walks to begin the second and Lehman entered in relief. While Rutgers got on the board with a single that scored a run, Lehman settled in after, stranding a pair of Scarlet Knights to keep Houston in the lead, 4-1.

3^rd | While Rutgers got another run back in the top of the inning, junior Turiya Coleman put Houston back up by four with a two-run homer in the home half of the frame, her third homer of the weekend.

UP NEXT
Houston hosts another weekend tournament next weekend with UMass, Northwestern State, Nicholls and UTSA visiting Cougar Softball Stadium. In total, Houston will play six games starting with a battle against UMass on Feb. 16 at 4:30 p.m.

BUY TICKETS
Tickets for the 2024 softball season are available now. This year's home slate features 30 games, including five Big 12 Conference series. Season tickets cost $120, or just $4 per game, and include all neutral site games at Cougar Softball Stadium. Click here to ensure you don't miss any of the action during the Cougars' inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference!

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Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective, giving to Houston Rise, and by joining the Diamond Club which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.

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