UH Softball Eliminated by Southern Miss, 5-4

EL PASO, TEXAS (May 9, 2009) The University of Houston softball team lost the first game of the Conference USA Championship presented by Helen of Troy, 5-4 to end the season 25-24 overall.

The game was originally schedule to start at 9 p.m. CT, but with No. 2 East Carolina and No. 7 UTEP's game going into 13 innings and lasting four hours, the No. 3 Houston and No. 6 Southern Miss game started at 11:10 p.m. CT.

With no outs in the top of the first inning, Southern Miss put two runs on the board. Leslie LeJune reached base on an error by senior Jessica Valis, and Brandi Alonzo hit a single. Both runners would score on a double by Megan Hill. The inning would end with the Golden Eagles up 3-0, after Logan James hit a single to score Kristin Pilgrim, who reached base on an error by senior catcher Elaina Nordstrom.

Houston was unable to manufacture any runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Amanda Crabtree came in to pitch in the top of the second inning to relieve sophomore Baillie Lott and retired three batters.

With two outs, sophomore Melissa Gregson, who singled, scored on an error by the leftfielder. The error was a drop ball hit by sophomore Casey Willow, who reached third. Willow would eventually score on a fielder's choice by sophomore Katy Beth Sherman. Houston would tie the score at three when Sherman scored on a single by senior Katie Bush. The inning would end on a pop up by senior Laurie Wagner.

The Golden Eagles added two runs in the top of the third inning on two hits, and one error. With no outs, and bases loaded the Cougars got out of the jam to end the inning down 5-3.

Neither team would score innings four through six. Houston added one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it wouldn't be enough for the win and Southern Miss would take the 5-4 win to eliminate UH from the tournament.

Crabtree is now 7-10 after striking out six, walking four and allowing two runs on four hits.

Bush went 3-for-4 and an RBI, while Gregson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.