University of Houston
5-0
ULM
1-4
Cougars Rally for Another Comeback Win
2/9/2025 6:26:00 PM | Softball
Houston overcomes eight run deficit to finish opening weekend undefeated
Freshman Rylee Michalak (1-0) secured her first career win, pitching two innings in relief for Houston (5-0). Mimi Blackledge (0-2) took the loss for ULM (1-4), allowing six runs in one inning on three hits.
Player Highlights
- Maddie Hartley: 3-4, 3 R, RBI, 2 2B, BB
- Brooke Wells: 3-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
- Mikalah Nitta: 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Makenna Mitchell: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HBP, SF
Game Highlights
- Houston is undefeated through five games for the first time since 2012.
- The Cougars' 51 runs through five games is the most in program history.
- For the second consecutive game, Houston posted a unique scoreline. The 15-11 win, which hadn't happened in program history, is the team's 184th unique score.
- Every member of the Cougars' starting lineup posted a hit, the first time its happened since March 29, 2024, at BYU.
- Eight of nine starters in Houston's lineup recorded an RBI including five with multiple.
- The Cougars have overcome a deficit in every game this season.
Key Innings
3rd | After putting up five runs in the first inning, ULM extended its lead further in the third. Four straight singles brought home a trio of runs, pushing the Warhawks edge to 8-0.
The Cougars answered in the bottom of the frame. A double and a hit-by-pitch put a pair of runners on followed by back-to-back singles from freshman Brooke Wells and sophomore Mikalah Nitta cut the deficit to six. After another single from sophomore Bethany Aguilar loaded the bases, freshman Isabel Cintron laced a double to center that scored another pair of runs. Freshman Madox Mitchael added another run on a single and junior Gabby Rawls capped the six-run inning with a sac-fly that scored Cintron, shrinking the gap to 8-6.
5th | After Houston got within one in the bottom of the fourth, ULM answered in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on an error to make the score 9-7.
The Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Jordee Wilkins drew a walk and then scored on a double off the bat of sophomore Makenna Mitchell. Mitchell scored on a sac-fly in the next at-bat to even the score at 9-all.
6th | The Warhawks reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth. A leadoff homer from Maryssa Zenzen, her second of the game, plated one while another scored on a sac-fly later in the inning to earn a 11-9 lead. ULM went on to load the bases with only one out, but Michalak shut the door, clinching a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.
Houston rallied in the bottom of the inning. A single and pair of walks loaded the bases for Rawls, who singled home Nitta and Aguilar to tie the game. Wilkins doubled home Mitchael for Houston's third run in the frame, followed by Mitchell singling home another pair. Nitta capped the Cougars' second six-run inning with a RBI ground out, securing a 15-11 win.
UP NEXT
Houston hosts another tournament next weekend as Pitt, Nevada and Incarnate Word visit Cougar Softball Stadium. The weekend starts at 4 p.m., Friday, as the Cougars battle Pitt before a 7 p.m. tilt against Nevada.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Michalak, Rylee (1-0)
L: Blackledge, Mimi (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Nichols, Maddie 1 ; Brown, Morgan 1
HR: Zenzen, Maryssa 2
RBI: Brown, Meagan 1 ; Nichols, Maddie 2 ; Zenzen, Maryssa 4 ; Thomas, Hollie 2 ; Buck, Jacelyn 1
SF: Thomas, Hollie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lippert, Brooklin 2 ; Carter, Ellie 1 ; Brown, Meagan 1 ; Nichols, Maddie 1 ; Zenzen, Maryssa 2 ; Brown, Morgan 2 ; Platt, Carys 1 ; Thomas, Hollie 1
SB: Platt, Carys 1
HBP: Brown, Meagan 1
Batting:
2B: Hartley, Maddie 2 ; Cintron, Isabel 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1
HR: Wells, Brooke 1
RBI: Hartley, Maddie 1 ; Mitchell, Makenna 3 ; Wells, Brooke 2 ; Nitta, Mikalah 2 ; Cintron, Isabel 2 ; Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Rawls, Gabby 3 ; Wilkins, Jordee 1
SH: Cintron, Isabel 1
SF: Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Rawls, Gabby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hartley, Maddie 3 ; Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Wells, Brooke 2 ; Nitta, Mikalah 2 ; Aguilar, Bethany 2 ; Cintron, Isabel 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Rawls, Gabby 1 ; Wilkins, Jordee 2
SB: Mitchael, Madox 2
HBP: Mitchell, Makenna 1
