PREVIEW: Softball Hosts #3/#3 Florida Before Starting Big 12 Play Against Iowa State

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team starts a four game homestand by challenging #3/#3 Florida in a midweek matchup before hosting Iowa State to kick off Big 12 Conference play this weekend.

The Cougars clash with the Gators at 6 p.m., Wednesday, prior to the weekend series against the Cyclones which starts at 6 p.m., Friday. The teams the meet again at 2 p.m., Saturday, before a noon, Sunday, finale.

#3/#3 FLORIDA
Date \| Time				March 5 \| 6 p.m.
Location				Cougar Softball Stadium
Links				Watch \| Live Stats \| Tickets \| Game Notes

IOWA STATE
Date \| Time				March 7 \| 6 p.m. \| Watch \| Live Stats \| Tickets March 8 \| 2 p.m. \| Watch \| Live Stats \| Tickets March 9 \| Noon \| Watch \| Live Stats \| Tickets
Location				Cougar Softball Stadium
Game Notes				Game Notes

SERIES vs FLORIDA

All-Time: 0-3
In Houston: 0-2
Last Houston Win: N/A
Last Florida Win: Feb. 11, 2006
Last 10 in Series: 0-3
Current Streak: L3

SERIES vs IOWA STATE

All-Time: 7-4
In Houston: 4-2
Last Houston Win: March 16, 2024; 10-2 (5)
Last UTSA Win: March 15, 2024; 9-4
Last 10 in Series: 6-4
Current Streak: W1

HEAD COACH KRISTIN VESELY
Overall record: 225-198-1 (9th season)
At Houston: same

FIRST PITCH

Houston is coming off a 4-1 showing at the Birds Up Bash, winning the tournament title after downing rv Boise State in the tournament championship. The Cougars scored 36 runs and drew 39 walks, marking their second most runs in a weekend and most walks in a weekend this season.
Freshmen are well represented in the starting lineup for this year's squad. Out of 189 positional start this season, first-years have earned 84 of them (44 percent) while underclassmen as a whole have snagged 170 of the team's 189 starts (90 percent). It is believed to be both one of the most freshmen heavy lineups and underclassmen heavy lineups.
Houston has been drawing walks at a prolific rate this season. Picking up 130 bases on balls through the first 19 games, the Cougars lead the country in walks, sitting 21 walks ahead of second-place Oklahoma. Houston has drawn 10-or-more walks in five games this season.
Houston used a 5-3-5 triple play to clinch a 4-3 win against Pitt on Feb. 15. It was the team's second triple play in program history and its first since April 7, 2007, against UTEP. The Cougars are one of four NCAA Divison I teams to turn a triple play this season, joining Alcorn, Campbell and Jackson State. Houston, Alcorn and Campbell all completed the feat in the second weekend of the season, followed by Jackson State in the fourth.
Houston is 12-11 all-time in conference openers and 15-8 all-time in home conference openers. Houston defeated #2/#1 Texas, 12-10, in last year's inaugural Big 12 Conference game at Cougar Softball Stadium.
After tying the record for most runs through 11 games with 94 runs last season, Houston is back to its run-scoring ways this year. Averaging 10.2 runs per game through five games, Houston broke its record for most runs to start the season in that span, besting its previous mark of 39 runs in 2022.
Freshman Brooke Wells played for the US Women's Junior National Team in the WBSC World Cup Group Stage last August. She helped lead the team to a 6-0 finish while herself posting nine RBIs with 10 runs scored, also collecting a .467 batting average with five extra-base hits, including a grand slam. She was named to both D1Softball's and Softball America's Freshman Watch Lists.
Cougar Softball Stadium features multiple upgrades for the 2025 season, including an expanded concessions menu, new safety netting and a new sound system.
Houston filled the third assistant coach role permitted by the NCAA last summer, hiring Barrett Barnes to complete the coaching staff. The Cougars' staff of Head Coach Kristin Vesely and assistant coaches Nadia Taylor, Hope Trautwein and Barnes are the only staff in the Big 12 who all have played either softball or baseball professionally.
Sixteen of Houston's 21 players hail from the Lone Star State, including seven from the Houston-metro area.
Vesely has defeated a ranked team in every season as head coach of Houston, including knocking-off top-ranked Texas last season for the Cougars' first win against a #1 opponent in program history.

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

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.

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