Cougars Fall in Game Two Against Baylor

Friday, April 3

Waco, Texas

6:30 PM

University of Houston

19-22, 2-12

Baylor

23-13, 6-5

Houston

Baylor

Photo by: Baylor Athletics

4/3/2026 5:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Gardner produces multi-hit performance; Bears take late lead to even series

WACO, Texas – The University of Houston Softball team dropped game two of its Big 12 weekend series, 7-2, against Baylor at Getterman Stadium on Friday.

The Cougars (19-22, 2-12 Big 12) struck first in the fourth inning, spotting two runs before the Bears (23-13, 6-5 Big 12) pieced together a seven-run sixth inning to take the lead late and close out the final frame in route to leveling the series at one game apiece.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:

RyLee Gardner: 2-3, RBI
Madox Mitchael: 1-4
Shelby Taylor: 1-3, 2B

NOTABLES

Freshman RyLee Gardner produced her seventh career multi-hit outing, marking her third in the last seven games.
Sophomore Madox Mitchael's single in the top of the third inning marked her 40^th base hit of the season while becoming the third Cougar this season to reach 40 hits.
Freshman Shelby Taylor tallied her first hit in four games with a double on the day, marking her 17^th hit and second double of the year.
Junior Bethany Aguilar's run in the top of the fourth to open the scoring marks her 10^th run of the season and second-consecutive season reaching double digits (15 in 2025).
Sophomore Maddie Hartley earned her 25^th walk of the season.

KEY INNINGS
4^th | After loading two on base via catcher's interference and fielder's choice with no outs, a throwing error from the circle opened the door for junior Bethany Aguilar to score from second base, providing the game's opening run at 1-0. Three pitches later, freshman RyLee Gardner plated the insurance run to score senior Mandy Esman with a single, doubling Houston's lead at 2-0.

UP NEXT
Houston will look to take the series against Baylor in game three with first pitch set for 2 p.m., Saturday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
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