The Cougars improved to 39-17 after defeating Memphis in the first round of the Conference USA championship. | Courtesy of UH Athletics.
Two explosive innings allowed UH to advance to the second round of the Conference USA Championships with a 9-1 victory against Memphis.
The Cougars scored four runs in the first and third innings sandwiched between a score in the second. Junior pitcher Diedre Outon threw a complete game allowing only one earned run. She not only had three strikeouts but contributed from the plate going 1-for-1 and scoring a run.
“I think energy wise we’re doing well. I know we’re coming together as a team… and having each other’s backs,” Outon said. “If one thing is struggling like the pitching or the hitting, we’ve got each other’s backs.”
After freshman outfielder Katie St. Pierre scored on a double steal and junior shortstop Kendra Cullum came home on senior third baseman Holly Anderson’s 15th double of the season, sophomore infielders Jaime Edwards and Kyla Holland knocked in RBI singles to give UH a 4-0 lead.
The Cougars batted around in the first inning, setting the tone for the game.
“We came out and we wanted to score first and keep getting runs every inning. Coming out here and getting nine runs is not expected of us, so I think getting those runs set the tone, Outon said.”
St. Pierre struck again in the second inning. After leading off the inning with a single, she scored on junior catcher Haley Outon’s double.
Cullum supplied the big blast in the third inning. Her second grand slam of the season gave the Cougars their 9-1 margin of victory. Cullum scored two runs Wednesday, leaving her one shy of the school record for runs in a single season. She has 50 runs this season.
“I’m just really excited for our team,” said head coach Kyla Holas. “This is that first one, so you’ve got the nerves you’ve been sitting for a little bit and traveling. It felt good to get out on the field and get some good weather to get it in and working really fast—we’re proud of that.”
UH will take the field for the second round to face Tulsa Friday at 2 p.m.
sports@thedailycougar.com