In Game 1, the Coogs won by 9-1 in just five innings. Junior Elaina Nordstrom led the Cougars with her first home run this season and the 18th of her career.
The Cougars scored five times in the first inning. Junior Jessica Valis and junior Katie Bush each scored after reaching base on walks to open the game.
Junior Haley Valis hit the lone triple in the game. She hit in junior Laurie Wagner and would eventually score herself. The final run of the inning came from junior Christa Raley after she reached base on a walk and Jessica Valis hit a single bring her in.
The Cougars would seal the win with three runs in the third inning.
Senior Angel Shamblin (2-0) pitched the entire game, striking out nine and allowing just four hits and one error.
In the second game, freshman Jennifer Klinkert hit her first career home run to pace the Cougars' 8-0 victory in six innings.
After opening the game with three quick runs in the first inning, Houston was held scoreless until the bottom of fourth, when Raley hit a double to bring in Jessica Valis. Raley would score on a single by senior Courtney Spittler. An illegal pitch would bring Spittler in to give Houston the 6-0 advantage.
In the sixth, senior Amanda Grote hit a single to open the inning. After two quick outs, Bush reached base on a double down the right field line, scoring Grote. The final run came on a Klinkert single that sent Bush home.
Senior Barbie Love (1-0) pitched the second game notching nine strikeouts and allowing one hit, no runs and no errors in her first start.
The Cougars continue their month-long home stand when they play host to the Crowne Plaza Classic on Feb. 15-17. Teams scheduled to play in the tournament include DePaul, Army and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
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