HOUSTON, Texas - Senior Arelis Ferreris drove in four runs and senior pitcher Jenny Johnson pitched four strong shutout innings, as the University of Houston polished off its three-game sweep of Conference USA foe East Carolina with a 9-0 win at the Cougar Softball Complex.

The seventh straight win for the Cougars, and ninth out of their last 10, improves Houston to a best-ever 18-6 overall record and 3-0 in C-USA play. With the loss East Carolina falls to 11-5-1 and 0-3.

Houston set the tone for the quick, five-inning game with two runs in the first inning. Junior Kim Nesloney led off with a walk and reached second when ECU third baseman Mandi Nichols bobbled freshman Jamie Adams grounder. Junior Kristen Glowacz loaded the bases on a single through the left side of the infield, and after a popup by junior Jenilee Skender, Ferreris drew a walk off Pirate pitcher Brentley Bridgeforth (5-3) to bring home Nesloney. After another out junior Michelle Keith singled home Adams to give Houston its quick 2-0 lead.

In the fourth the Cougars put the game away with a seven-run frame, including Ferreris' third home run of the season. Keith led off with a single and was promptly sacrificed over by senior Lindsay Durham. Keith moved up on a wild pitch, and sophomore Jaci Gonzalez drew a walk to put runners at the corners. Bridgeforth uncorked a wild pitch, with Keith scoring and Gonzalez hustling all the way to third.

Maggie Lingo relieved Bridgeforth and walked Nesloney to put runners at the corners again. Nesloney stole second, moving to third on Adams single up the middle, which scored Gonzalez to push UH lead to 4-0. Glowacz plated Nesloney on a sharp single, and then both Glowacz and Adams moved up a base on a wild pitch by Lingo. Skender brought home Adams on a single to right, and then Ferreris deposited a Lingo fastball over the left field fence for the 32nd round-tripper of her career.

Johnson worked four innings of four-hit ball before being relieved by freshman Carla Kennimer with the win securely in hand. Kennimer retired the Pirates in order.