Tuesday, April 22
Houston
6 p.m.
University of Houston
21-19
11
vs
0
HCU
15-30
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2
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4
5
R
H
E
Houston Christian
0
0
0
0
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0
2
1
Houston
2
4
4
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X
11
11
1
Cougars Rout Huskies
4/22/2025 9:01:00 PM | Softball
Houston scores in every inning to secure run-rule win against crosstown foe
HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team secured an 11-0 shutout victory over HCU, dominating the five-inning game as freshman Brooke Wells and sophomore Makenna Mitchell hit homers at Cougar Softball Stadium on Tuesday night.
Freshman Rylee Michalak (5-4) spun the win for Houston (21-19), tossing four shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out a career-high five batters. Senior Ranci Willis completed the shutout after throwing the final frame and striking out two. Leah Hammack (5-11) took the loss for HCU (15-30) after allowing six runs on five hits and a walk.
Player Highlights
Notables
Key Innings
1st | Wells got the Houston bats started early with a double to left-center. Mitchell immediately followed it up with a homer to center, putting the Cougars up by two after one.
2nd | The Cougars added another four runs in the second. Freshman Madox Mitchael drew a walk, sophomore Bethany Aguilar singled and Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Wells in her second at bat of the game. The freshman launched her second grand slam of the season to right-center to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.
3rd | After a walk and two singles loaded the bases again, freshman Ariel Redmond drove home a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Freshman Isabel Cintron kept the rally going with another single to plate Aguilar and push the score to 9-0.
The Cougars continued to widen the gap as Mitchell grounded out to bring Wilkins home, creating a 10-run advantage.
4th | Houston capped the win in the fourth. After freshman Emilee Prochaska laced a single up the middle that allowed freshman Maddie Hartley to reach third, the Cougars executed a double-steal that succeeded as Hartley swiped home on the throw down to second, securing an 11-0 win.
Key Innings
1st | Wells got the Houston bats started early with a double to left-center. Mitchell immediately followed it up with a homer to center, putting the Cougars up by two after one.
2nd | The Cougars added another four runs in the second. Freshman Madox Mitchael drew a walk, sophomore Bethany Aguilar singled and Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Wells in her second at-bat of the game. The freshman launched her second grand slam of the season to right-center to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.
3rd | After a walk and two singles loaded the bases again, freshman Ariel Redmond drove home a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Freshman Isabel Cintron kept the rally going with another single to plate Aguilar and push the score to 9-0.
The Cougars continued to widen the gap as Mitchell grounded out to bring Wilkins home, creating a 10-run advantage.
4th | Houston capped the win in the fourth. After freshman Emilee Prochaska laced a single up the middle that allowed freshman Maddie Hartley to reach third, the Cougars executed a double-steal that succeeded as Hartley swiped home on the throw down to second, securing an 11-0 win.
UP NEXT
Houston is back on the road this weekend for a three-game series in Orlando, Fla. The first pitch of the series is slated for 5 p.m. CT, Friday at UCF. The two teams play a 1 p.m. CT, Saturday, rematch, then close out the weekend at 11 a.m. CT, Sunday.
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.
Freshman Rylee Michalak (5-4) spun the win for Houston (21-19), tossing four shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out a career-high five batters. Senior Ranci Willis completed the shutout after throwing the final frame and striking out two. Leah Hammack (5-11) took the loss for HCU (15-30) after allowing six runs on five hits and a walk.
Player Highlights
- Brooke Wells: 2-2, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB
- Makenna Mitchell: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
- Ariel Redmond: 1-3, 2 RBI
- Rylee Michalak: 4.0 IP, W, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Notables
- Sophomore Jordee Wilkins has reached base in 20 straight games, extending Houston's longest streak of the season.
- Sophomore Makenna Mitchell's first-inning homer set new team bests on the season for exit velocity (79.1 mph) and distance (246 feet).
- Both Mitchell and freshman Brooke Wells hit their ninth homers of the season.
- Wells hit the 53rd grand slam in program history and her second of the season, marking the 11th time a Cougar has hit multiple in one campaign.
- Michalak took a perfect game into the fourth inning.
- With four walks in the game, Houston now sits with 216 on the year, the third most in program history only behind 232 in 2006 and 240 in 2008.
- The 11-run win was Houston's largest margin of victory since a 12-run differential against SFA on March 20, 2024.
- Houston pitchers did not issue a walk for the third time this season.
- The Cougars notched their 11th game with 10-or-more hits and seventh game with 10-or-more runs.
Key Innings
1st | Wells got the Houston bats started early with a double to left-center. Mitchell immediately followed it up with a homer to center, putting the Cougars up by two after one.
2nd | The Cougars added another four runs in the second. Freshman Madox Mitchael drew a walk, sophomore Bethany Aguilar singled and Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Wells in her second at bat of the game. The freshman launched her second grand slam of the season to right-center to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.
3rd | After a walk and two singles loaded the bases again, freshman Ariel Redmond drove home a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Freshman Isabel Cintron kept the rally going with another single to plate Aguilar and push the score to 9-0.
The Cougars continued to widen the gap as Mitchell grounded out to bring Wilkins home, creating a 10-run advantage.
4th | Houston capped the win in the fourth. After freshman Emilee Prochaska laced a single up the middle that allowed freshman Maddie Hartley to reach third, the Cougars executed a double-steal that succeeded as Hartley swiped home on the throw down to second, securing an 11-0 win.
Key Innings
1st | Wells got the Houston bats started early with a double to left-center. Mitchell immediately followed it up with a homer to center, putting the Cougars up by two after one.
2nd | The Cougars added another four runs in the second. Freshman Madox Mitchael drew a walk, sophomore Bethany Aguilar singled and Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Wells in her second at-bat of the game. The freshman launched her second grand slam of the season to right-center to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.
3rd | After a walk and two singles loaded the bases again, freshman Ariel Redmond drove home a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Freshman Isabel Cintron kept the rally going with another single to plate Aguilar and push the score to 9-0.
The Cougars continued to widen the gap as Mitchell grounded out to bring Wilkins home, creating a 10-run advantage.
4th | Houston capped the win in the fourth. After freshman Emilee Prochaska laced a single up the middle that allowed freshman Maddie Hartley to reach third, the Cougars executed a double-steal that succeeded as Hartley swiped home on the throw down to second, securing an 11-0 win.
UP NEXT
Houston is back on the road this weekend for a three-game series in Orlando, Fla. The first pitch of the series is slated for 5 p.m. CT, Friday at UCF. The two teams play a 1 p.m. CT, Saturday, rematch, then close out the weekend at 11 a.m. CT, Sunday.
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.
− UHCougars.com −
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Michalak, Rylee (5-4)
L: Hammack, Leah (5-11)
Batting:
2B: Wells, Brooke 1 ; Esman, Mandy 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 1
HR: Wells, Brooke 1 ; Mitchell, Makenna 1
RBI: Cintron, Isabel 1 ; Wells, Brooke 4 ; Mitchell, Makenna 3 ; Redmond, Ariel 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilkins, Jordee 2 ; Wells, Brooke 2 ; Mitchell, Makenna 1 ; Hartley, Maddie 2 ; Mitchael, Madox 2 ; Aguilar, Bethany 2
SB: Hartley, Maddie 1 ; Mitchael, Madox 1 ; Prochaska, Emilee 1
HBP: Wilkins, Jordee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
INF
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P/INF
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P
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INF
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INF
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OF
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OF
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P
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