Cougars Split Saturday Doubleheader at Longhorn Invitational

Saturday, February 28

Austin, Texas

12 PM

University of Houston

13-5

Incarnate Word

12-6

Houston

Incarnate Word

Photo by: Stephen Spillman

Cougars Split Saturday Doubleheader at Longhorn Invitational

2/28/2026 10:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Freshmen shine in 7-6 win over Incarnate Word; Houston falls late 7-5 in sixth-inning surge against Prairie View A&M

AUSTIN, Texas. – The University of Houston Softball team split day two of action at the Longhorn Invitational, defeating Incarnate Word, 7-6, before falling to Prairie View A&M, 7-5, at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Saturday.

The Cougars (13-6) secured their second victory of the season over the Cardinals (13-6), having faced off on Feb. 15 where Houston took a 7-0 shutout win. Despite a late comeback bid for Incarnate Word through a five-run sixth inning after trailing 7-1, Houston held on to secure the one-run victory.

Game 1 (W, 7-6 vs Incarnate Word)

Player Highlights

Shelby Taylor: 2-2, R, BB
RyLee Gardner: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
Makenna Mitchell: 1-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B, BB
Maddie Hartley: 1-2, RBI, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB

Notables

Houston now improves to 5-1 all-time against Incarnate Word, besting the Cardinals for a second time this season after taking a 7-0 victory at the Houston Invitational (Feb. 15).
The win extends the Cougars' head-to-head winning streak to five games over the Cardinals.
The Cougars improved to 10-2 in games when scoring first this season.
Freshman Shelby Taylor made her first collegiate start for the Cougars starring at right field, tallying two hits and a run on the day.

Freshman RyLee Gardner has now homered in three-consecutive weekend, cashing in on a two-run blast in the top of the second. Gardner also produced her third multi-hit performance of the season with a home run and a single on the day.

Key Innings
1^st | Following two walks and a single up the middle by freshman RyLee Gardner to load the bases with one out, freshman Ronnie Esparza delivered the game's first score with a sac fly to center, bringing sophomore Maddie Hartley home for a 1-0 lead. Sitting on a 2-2 count, sophomore Madox Mitchael followed up immediately with a single to left field, scoring junior Makenna Mitchell from second base to double the lead at 2-0 early.

2^nd | With one out at the top of the frame, freshman Shelby Taylor tallied her first career hit in her first collegiate start with a single to right. Following a fielder's choice that put sophomore Ariel Redmond on base and a walk on Hartley, Mitchell doubled to left center scoring two to increase Houston's lead to 4-1. Gardner followed up with a second hit of the game, this time launching a two-run blast to center field to stretch the gap to 6-1 Cougars.

6^th | After Taylor tallied her second hit of the game, Hartley cracked an RBI double to deep left field and extend the lead to 7-1 and supply the eventual winning run.

Game 2 (L, 7-5 vs Prairie View A&M)

Player Highlights

Maddie Hartley: 2-3, 2 RBI, BB
Madox Mitchael: 2-4, R, 2B
RyLee Gardner: 1-3, RBI, HBP

Notables

Houston suffers its first ever loss to Prairie View A&M, now leading 7-1 all-time against the Panthers.
Mitchael produced her second multi-hit outing of the season, extending her hit streak to three games.
Hartley tallied her fifth multi-RBI performance of the season and sixth multi-hit outing of the year.

Taylor tallied another base-hit in her second-consecutive start, totaling three hits through her first two collegiate starts on the day.

3^rd | After Redmond reached second via fielding error in left field, Hartley belted an RBI single to right field to level the game at 1-1.

4^th | After back-to-back doubles to open the frame, sophomore Isabel Cintron sac flied out to center field, scoring senior Gabby Rawls from third to cut the deficit to 4-2. On the ensuing pitch, a passed ball scored Mitchael from third to leave Houston trailing 4-3. After junior Bethany Aguilar and Redmond reached via walks, Hartley returned for more as she knocked an RBI single to left, leveling the game at 4-4. With two outs and bases loaded, Gardner was hit by pitch, bringing Redmond home for a 5-4 lead.

UP NEXT
The Cougars wrap up the final day at the Longhorn Invitational, where they face Prairie View A&M once again at noon, Sunday at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin.

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