March 24, 2007

Box Score

Game One Box Score in PDF Format
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Houston's Angel Shamblin struck out 16 of the 26 University of Memphis (17-10, 1-3 C-USA) hitters that she faced, giving up just two hits in a 5-1 Houston win in game one of a Saturday doubleheader. The win is league-leading Houston's seventh of the conference season and their 24th win of the season.

Shamblin struck out six of the first nine Lady Tiger batters, preserving a 1-0 Cougar lead. Houston (24-10, 7-0 C-USA) got on the board first when shortstop Jessica Valis singled. The Cougars moved Valis around when Katie Bush laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced Valis all the way to third base. Catcher Elaina Nordstrom laid a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, scoring Valis.

Memphis avoided any further trouble in the early innings when the Cougars' Haley Valis singled and advanced to second when Christa Raley drew the Cougar's first walk of the game in the second. A wild pitch advanced both runners to scoring position, but a Cougar flyout and a groundout to the Lady Tigers' second baseman Tori Gross stranded the two base runners.

Houston added a trio of runs in the sixth inning after Elaina Nordstrom singled to left centerfield to open the inning. Courtney Spittler came in to pinch run for Nordstrom and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Laura Durham. A base hit from Christa Raley put runners on third and second and a stand-up double down the left field line pushed both Spittler and Valis across the plate. Houston's third run in the inning crossed the plate off a throwing error from third base, but Memphis escaped the inning with a double-play, trailing 4-0. Houston scored its final run of the game in the seventh inning when Jessica Valis tripled. She scored when Katie Bush singled in the next at-bat. Memphis got out of the inning with a flyout and a groundout third baseman Bridget McNulty and the Lady Tigers got on the board with the park's first homerun from Kimmi Hayden, who drove the ball over the left field fence

The win was Shamblin's 15th of the season. Shamblin allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out 16 and walking two. Senior Jenna Kubesch took the loss for Memphis, falling to 11-5 on the season after giving up five runs, four earned, while stiking out five and walking two.