Softball - Baton Rouge Regional - ULL vs Houston Take 2 (L 7-2 - eliminated)

Top 2nd

ULL ties it with a one out homer…Tied 1-1

Follow it up with two straight singles to put runners on the corners. Bell in to pitch for Melancon

Bell is able to induce a grounder back to her and she was able to get the runner at home. Double drives home 2 more…ULL leads 3-1

Runner steals 3rd. Walk puts runners on the corners with 2 outs. Runner at 1st steals 2nd. Melancon escapes the jam though.

M2…ULL leads 3-1

Bottom 2nd

Vannoy with the leadoff walk, steals 2nd with 2 outs, but is stranded

T3…ULL leads 3-1

Top 3rd

HBP, 1 out single, groundout advances both runners, and a single brings both home…ULL leads 5-1

M3…ULL leads 5-1

Bottom 3rd

1 out single by Crumpton. Moves to 2nd on a passed ball. Moves to 3rd on another passed ball. Queen is robbed of a homer to end the inning.

T4…ULL leads 5-1

Top 4th

Leadoff infield single off Bell’s arm. Next batter singles to put runners on 1st/2nd. 1 out single drives home a run…ULL leads 6-1

Melancon is coming back in to pitch.

With a 3-1 count and 2 outs, lightning strikes nearby and there will be at least a 30 minute delay

After the continuation, a walk loads the bases. Melancon coaxes a flyout to end the inning.

B4…ULL leads 6-1

https://twitter.com/UHCougarSB/status/997995455031234560

Bottom 4th

Leadoff walk for Williams. Vannoy is hit by a pitch to put runners on 1st/2nd with no outs. Barker is robbed of a hit on a full out dive on a liner to CF for the 1st out. Groundout by Garcia moves the runners to 2nd/3rd with 2 outs. Coogs leave them stranded.

T5…ULL leads 6-1

Centerfielder for ULL has saved at least 3-4 runs now over the last 2 innings.

Top 5th

Heebner to pitch.

She works a 1-2-3 inning

M5…ULL leads 6-1

Bottom 5th

James hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning. Moves to 2nd on a groundout. Queen with a 2 out single to score James…ULL leads 6-2

T6…ULL leads 6-2

Top 6th

Leadoff single. Groundout moves the runner to 2nd. Heebner leaves her there

M6…ULL leads 6-2

Bottom 6th

Coogs down in order

T7…ULL leads 6-2

Top 7th

Leadoff homer…ULL leads 7-2

Next batter walks, but is left stranded.

M7…ULL leads 7-2

Bottom 7th

Coogs down in order

Coogs are eliminated after losing 7-2

https://twitter.com/UHCougarSB/status/998010662940012544

https://twitter.com/Coach_Ves/status/998216869743091712

http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051918aas.html

VESELY OPENING STATEMENT:
VESELY: Happy to be here. It was a long day for us. I thought we handled the weather delay pretty well. We played a close game with LSU, and we want to be standing next year on Sunday.

DEFENSIVELY, Y’ALL WEREN’T ABLE TO STOP THEM LIKE YOU WERE LAST NIGHT. WHAT CHANGED? DID YOU SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS TIME?
VESELY: You know, they did a good job of making adjustments offensively, and I think that defensively, we did the best we could. Before, we made some big plays to eliminate some extra runs but today we just didn’t have it in the circle that second game.

THE CAJUNS DEFENSE WAS REALLY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME.
VESELY: Absolutely.

CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT?
VESELY: They made some huge, tremendous, big plays. Their outfield, even the first game we played them, was the difference-maker in that game and they prevented additional runs in the first game we played them. They stepped up and made big-time plays.

https://twitter.com/UHCougarSB/status/998202994658369536

Final thoughts on the season: I thought we got the most out of this team this year. If we could have won the LSU game, I thought we might have a chance to advance, but when we lost, I knew it would be hard because we don’t have much pitching depth beyond Heebner right now.

Offensively, I think we’re in good shape as we had a lot of production from freshmen this year and it will only get better with the signees coming in. We also looked much better defensively, although that could use some tightening up.

Main thing is to develop a pitcher behind Heebner next year. Melancon looked very good as a freshman, but regressed this past year; need her to get back to where she had been. I think we also have a pretty good pitcher coming in next year, but I’ll have to go back and see if that was for this coming year or the following.

All in all, this program is in great shape and should return to the NCAAs next year with Heebner coming back as a senior. Good things on the horizon and nothing but positive feelings for the coaches and players.

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As far as the real good pitcher coming in, I was right; Coogs signed Rachel Hertenberger our of Alvin. She’s been All-State 3 straight years and should be again this year. At one point this season, she was leading the nation in Ks and has twice set the Alvin school record for strikeouts in a season.

Thread about her: C/O '18 P Rachel Hertenberger from Alvin signs with Houston Softball

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https://twitter.com/UHCougarSB/status/999756929546108928