The University of Houston softball team is preparing for a demanding stretch, playing five games over six days. The schedule includes midweek contests against McNeese and Incarnate Word before opening Big 12 Conference play at home against Texas Tech.
Houston will first host McNeese on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Cougar Softball Stadium. The following day, the Cougars travel to San Antonio to face Incarnate Word at HEB Field with a 5 p.m. start time. The weekend brings the start of conference action as Houston welcomes No. 2 Texas Tech for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m., followed by games on Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
In recent matchups, Houston split two games with McNeese earlier this season, losing 7-3 and winning 9-1 in February. Against Incarnate Word, the Cougars are undefeated in their two meetings this year, posting victories of 7-0 and 7-6.
The team’s offensive production has increased significantly compared to last season. After hitting 32 home runs in all of 2025, Houston has already surpassed that mark with 34 home runs through just 20 games this season. This performance places them among only eighteen programs nationally with more than thirty home runs so far this year and ranks them second in the Big 12 behind Texas Tech’s total of forty-five home runs.
Individually, sophomores Maddie Hartley and Ariel Redmond along with junior Makenna Mitchell have been key contributors in power hitting for the Cougars. Hartley leads the Big 12 with nine home runs while Redmond and Mitchell are tied for third place with seven each.
Mitchell, Hartley, and sophomore Nevaeh Brown were named Top Performers after week two by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). This recognition marks the second time this season that both Brown and Hartley have received such honors.
Fans interested in supporting Houston softball can contribute through LinkingCoogs—UH’s NIL collective—or by joining the Diamond Club to provide financial support beyond the program’s operating budget.
Updates about the team are available via @UHCougarSB on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook under Houston Softball, or Instagram @UHCougarSB.
