HOUSTON \u2013\u00a0The University of Houston Softball team fell on Senior Day, 16-8, against #25 Arizona State at Cougar Softball Stadium on Saturday.
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\nThe Cougars (20-27, 3-17 Big 12) scored in each of their first four innings, cutting the deficit to as little as one run at 9-8 in the fourth, but three multi-run innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth by the Sun Devils (34-13, 7-10 Big 12) stretched the gap late to seal the series in two.
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\nPLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:<\/p>\n
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\n\tMaddie Hartley<\/a>: 3-3, HR, RBI, 2 R, HBP
\n\tMandy Esman<\/a>: 2-4, RBI, R
\n\tAriel Redmond<\/a>: 2-3, HR, RBI, R, HBP
\n\tMakenna Mitchell<\/a>: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R
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\nNOTABLES<\/p>\n
\n\tWith three homers on the day, the Cougars now rank second in program history for single season home runs, passing the 2011 team with 67. They sit five behind from tying the program record of 73 set in 2008.
\n\tSophomore Maddie Hartley<\/a> matched a career-high three hits on the day, tallying her 15th\u00a0multi-hit game of the season as well as of the 21st\u00a0of her career.
\n\tHartley’s 19th\u00a0homer of the season propels her up to a tie for second on the Houston single-season homer list, joining Laurie Wagner in 2008.\u00a0
\n\tSenior Mandy Esman<\/a> recorded two hits in back-to-back games this series, marking her 12th\u00a0of the season.\u00a0
\n\tSenior Kylei Griffin<\/a> extended her hit streak to six games, totaling 11 hits in that stretch.
\n\tSophomore Ariel Redmond<\/a> cracked her first homer in 21 games, sending a solo shot to deep center field in the third inning.
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\nKEY INNINGS
\n1st\u00a0| Leading off the game for the Cougars, Hartley took the fourth pitch of the at bat deep for a solo shot to center for Houston’s first run of the game.
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\n2nd\u00a0| With the bases loaded and no outs, junior Makenna Mitchell<\/a> sent a sac fly to right field, plating Esman from third to cut the deficit to 5-2. On the ensuing pitch, Griffin singled to left infield and scored junior Bethany Aguilar<\/a>, making it 5-3 in the second.
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\n3rd\u00a0| Leading off the bottom of the third, Redmond cracked a solo shot to deep center field for the team’s second homer of the day.\u00a0
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\n4th\u00a0| After Hartley reached first on a hit by pitch, Mitchell delivered the Cougars’ third homer of the day with a two-run blast to deep center, cutting the deficit to 9-6. With two outs, Esman singled to short before a throwing error opened the door for freshman RyLee Gardner<\/a> and sophomore Madox Mitchael<\/a> to reach home and cut the gap to one run at 9-8.\u00a0
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\nUP NEXT
\nHouston will cap off the weekend against Arizona State with the series finale set for noon, Sunday. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.\u00a0
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\nSUPPORT YOUR COOGS\u00a0
\nFans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Softball by\u00a0supporting LinkingCoogs<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 UH’s very own NIL collective \u2013 and by\u00a0joining the Diamond Club<\/a>\u00a0which provides financial support directly to Houston Softball for needs beyond its operating budget.
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\nSTAY CONNECTED
\nFans can receive updates by following\u00a0@UHCougarSB<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team’s Facebook page at\u00a0Houston Softball<\/a>. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at\u00a0@UHCougarSB<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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