Cougars Rout Huskies

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Houston scores in every inning to secure run-rule win against crosstown foe

By: Grace Rodriguez

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Softball team secured an 11-0 shutout victory over HCU, dominating the five-inning game as freshman Brooke Wells and sophomore Makenna Mitchell hit homers at Cougar Softball Stadium on Tuesday night. 

Freshman Rylee Michalak (5-4) spun the win for Houston (21-19), tossing four shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out a career-high five batters. Senior Ranci Willis completed the shutout after throwing the final frame and striking out two. Leah Hammack (5-11) took the loss for HCU (15-30) after allowing six runs on five hits and a walk. 

Player Highlights

• Brooke Wells: 2-2, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB

• Makenna Mitchell: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R

• Ariel Redmond: 1-3, 2 RBI

• Rylee Michalak: 4.0 IP, W, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Notables

• Sophomore Jordee Wilkins has reached base in 20 straight games, extending Houston's longest streak of the season.

• Sophomore Makenna Mitchell's first-inning homer set new team bests on the season for exit velocity (79.1 mph) and distance (246 feet). 

• Both Mitchell and freshman Brooke Wells hit their ninth homers of the season. 

• Wells hit the 53^rd grand slam in program history and her second of the season, marking the 11^th time a Cougar has hit multiple in one campaign.

• Michalak took a perfect game into the fourth inning. 

• With four walks in the game, Houston now sits with 216 on the year, the third most in program history only behind 232 in 2006 and 240 in 2008. 

• The 11-run win was Houston's largest margin of victory since a 12-run differential against SFA on March 20, 2024. 

• Houston pitchers did not issue a walk for the third time this season.

• The Cougars notched their 11^th game with 10-or-more hits and seventh game with 10-or-more runs.

Key Innings

1^st | Wells got the Houston bats started early with a double to left-center. Mitchell immediately followed it up with a homer to center, putting the Cougars up by two after one.

2^nd | The Cougars added another four runs in the second. Freshman Madox Mitchael drew a walk, sophomore Bethany Aguilar singled and Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Wells in her second at bat of the game. The freshman launched her second grand slam of the season to right-center to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.  

3^rd | After a walk and two singles loaded the bases again, freshman Ariel Redmond drove home a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Freshman Isabel Cintron kept the rally going with another single to plate Aguilar and push the score to 9-0.

The Cougars continued to widen the gap as Mitchell grounded out to bring Wilkins home, creating a 10-run advantage. 

4^th | Houston capped the win in the fourth. After freshman Emilee Prochaska laced a single up the middle that allowed freshman Maddie Hartley to reach third, the Cougars executed a double-steal that succeeded as Hartley swiped home on the throw down to second, securing an 11-0 win. 

Key Innings

1^st | Wells got the Houston bats started early with a double to left-center. Mitchell immediately followed it up with a homer to center, putting the Cougars up by two after one.

2^nd | The Cougars added another four runs in the second. Freshman Madox Mitchael drew a walk, sophomore Bethany Aguilar singled and Wilkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Wells in her second at-bat of the game. The freshman launched her second grand slam of the season to right-center to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.  

3^rd | After a walk and two singles loaded the bases again, freshman Ariel Redmond drove home a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Freshman Isabel Cintron kept the rally going with another single to plate Aguilar and push the score to 9-0.

The Cougars continued to widen the gap as Mitchell grounded out to bring Wilkins home, creating a 10-run advantage. 

4^th | Houston capped the win in the fourth. After freshman Emilee Prochaska laced a single up the middle that allowed freshman Maddie Hartley to reach third, the Cougars executed a double-steal that succeeded as Hartley swiped home on the throw down to second, securing an 11-0 win. 

UP NEXT

Houston is back on the road this weekend for a three-game series in Orlando, Fla. The first pitch of the series is slated for 5 p.m. CT, Friday at UCF. The two teams play a 1 p.m. CT, Saturday, rematch, then close out the weekend at 11 a.m. CT, Sunday.