The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
02.11.2014 | Softball
The Longhorns open their 2014 home slate on Wednesday night (7 p.m., Longhorn Network) at McCombs Field
No. 15/16 Texas (4-2, 0-0 Big 12) vs. UTSA (3-0, 0-0 Conference USA)
Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 - 7 p.m. Central
Red & Charline McCombs Field - Austin, Texas
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network. Carter Blackburn (pxp) and Cat Osterman (reporter) will call the action.
• RADIO: Terry Lewis will call the action for the internet radio broadcast on www.TexasSports.com.
Game Notes | Listen (internet audio) | Live Stats | Media Stats | Twitter | Buy Tickets
HOME OPENER SUCCESS:
- Texas will open its 17th season at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Wednesday night when it welcomes in-state rival UTSA. The Longhorns are 15-2 in home opening games all-time.
- The Longhorns have won seven straight home openers. Their only losses came in 1999 (vs. No. 19 Alabama) and in 2007 (vs. San Diego State).
- UT has posted nine shutouts and outscored opponents 90-21 during the initial contests on its home field. Last year, the Longhorns defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-0, behind Blaire Luna's no-hitter.
- Before McCombs Field was built, the Horns played their inaugral varsity season (1997) at the East Austin Youth Complex. UT defeated Northwood in its 1997 home opener in what was also its first game in Austin.
CLARK REACHES 700-WIN PLATEAU:
With Texas', 7-3, win over No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette on Feb. 8, 2014, head coach Connie Clark collected her 700th career win.
- She became the 55th head coach in NCAA Division I softball to eclipse the milestone.
- Clark ranks 34th among active NCAA Division I coaches in wins.
- Her .703 win percentage is ranked 21st in Division I history
- She ranks second among current Big 12 coaches in all-time wins. Only Oklahoma's Patty Gasso has more with 931.
BREJAE STEALS 100TH BASE
Already the program's all-time leader in stolen bases, senior Brejae Washington stole the 100th base of her career on Feb. 7, 2014 against Louisiana Lafayette. Washington is 6-for-6 in steal attempts this season and now has 103 steals in her career.
OFF TO A FAST START
- Senior Taylor Thom and sophomore Erin Shireman were elected to the Louisiana Classic's All-Tournament team.
- Thom hit .500 through the first 6 games. She collected 10 hits over that spanm including a home run in the season-opener at LSU. She also went 3-for-4, stole two bases and scored a pair of runs, including the game-winner in UT's 7-3 win over North Carolina. Thom carries a seven-game hitting streak, dating back to last season.
- Shireman blasted three home runs and hit .357 during the team's opening weekend. Against Purdue, she dorve in three RBIs.
- Sophomore Lindsey Stephens leads UT with eight RBIs through the first six games. In the team's opening weekend, she smashed three home runs and hit .333. She enters Wednesday's game on a seven-game hitting streak, dating back to last season.
- Junior pitcher Gabby Smith improved her career mark in the circle to 8-0 with her complete game win on Opening Night at LSU (Feb. 6) and her victory over Louisiana Lafayette on Feb. 8. Smith is 2-0 on the season and has posted a 2.84 in four appearances (12.1 IP)
NO. 15/16 TEXAS VS. UTSA
- Texas and UTSA will meet for the 40th time. The series dates back to UT's doubleheader sweep over the Roadrunners in San Antonio on April 23, 1997.
- The Longhorns hold a 34-4-1 mark in the all-time series.
- UT has won nine straight meetings against the Roadrunners.
- Texas has run-ruled UTSA in each of the last two meetings (15-0 on Feb. 10, 2012 and 8-0 on Feb. 11, 2012).
DOMINATE THE STATE
UTSA will be the first of 15 scheduled games against in-state opponents for the Longhorns this season. Since beginning varsity competition in 1997, UT has posted a 274-65-1 mark (.807 winning percentage) versus foes from Texas, including an 18-0 record in such games during the 2013 campaign.
CORRIE HILL - UTSA CONNECTION
Texas assistant coach Corrie Hill spent seven seasons (1999-2005) as the head coach of UTSA's softball program. During her time at the helm of the Roadrunners, she posted a 164-67 (.710) record and led them to back-to-back (2004 and 2005) Southland Conference regular season titles. In 2004, she was named the Southland Conference's Coach of the Year, as her won the league, earning them a spot in the NCAA Regionals.
Current UTSA head coach Michelle Cheatham and assistant coach Jessica Rogers played under Hill during her stint with the Roadrunners. Cheatham played from 1999-2002 under Hill, while Rogers played for Hill from 2003-05.
SALUTE TO 2013
Prior to Wednesday's contest, Texas Athletics will commemorate the 2013 Texas softball team's Women's College World Series appearance. The year, '2013' will be added to the WCWS board out in right field foul territory. Former ace and three-time All-American Blaire Luna will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Longhorns finished No. 3 in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball final polls with a record of 51-10, marking the second-most wins in school history. Only the 2006 team had more wins in a season with 55 ... The program made its fifth trip to the Women's College World Series and eventually reached its third trip to the WCWS Semifinals
