The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Louisiana Tech
No. 15/16 Softball Preview: Texas Classic [Feb. 14-16]
02.13.2014 | Softball
The Longhorns welcome No. 7/9 Kentucky, IPFW and Louisiana Tech for tournament play this weekend at McCombs Field.
2014 TEXAS CLASSIC
No. 15/16 Texas (4-3, 0-0 Big 12) vs. No. 7/9 Kentucky (5-0); IPFW (2-2), Louisiana Tech (4-0)
Feb. 14-16, 2014
Red & Charline McCombs Field - Austin, Texas
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: All 10 games will be televised nationally by Longhorn Network. Alex Loebb (PxP) and Amanda Scarborough (analyst) will call all five of the Longhorns' games, while Tyler Denning (pxp) and Megan Willis (analyst) will have the call for the four non-Texas contests.
• RADIO: Terry Lewis will call the action for the internet radio broadcast on www.TexasSports.com.
Texas Classic Bracket | Game Notes | Listen (internet audio) | Live Stats | Media Stats | Twitter | Buy Tickets
TEXAS CLASSIC
The Longhorns are hosting their first of two tournaments at Red & Charline McCombs Field this spring. UT welcomes No. 7/9 Kentucky, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) and Louisiana Tech for this weekend's Texas Classic. See the bracket for the full schedule.
1,000TH GAME
When the Longhorns face Kentucky on Friday afternoon, the Longhorns will be taking the field for the 1,000th game in Texas Softball history. UT played its first varsity softball game on Feb. 8, 1997 at St. Edwards, where it won, 8-2. Coming into Texas Classic, the Longhorns have posted a 700-296-3 under head coach Connie Clark, who has been at the helm of the program since its beginning.
NO. 15/16 TEXAS VS. No. 7/9 Kentucky
- Texas and Kentucky will meet for the second time overall and for the first time since the Wildcats claimed a 2-1 win over the Horns on Feb. 17, 2002 at the Fastpitch Express College Classic in San Antonio.
- Kentucky comes into the weekend after being tabbed with its highest ranking in the national polls in program history.
NO. 15/16 TEXAS VS. IPFW
Texas and IPFW are meeting for the first time ever.
NO. 15/16 TEXAS VS. LOUISIANA TECH
Texas and Louisiana Tech will meet for the first time.
TEXAS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
So far this season, UT has posted a 3-0 record over ranked opponents. During the team's opening weekend, they took down No. 17/19 LSU and No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette twice. Since UT's varsity program began in 1997, Texas has played 349 games against teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll. In those contests, UT is 175-173-1, including a 38-22 mark since the current seniors arrived on campus for the 2011 season.
THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK
Texas' loss on Wednesday night to UTSA marked its third consecutive setback since reeling off four straight wins to begin the season. The Longhorns will be looking to ditch the skid and avoid four losses in a row for the first time since the 2007 season (April 11-18). UT is 4-3 to start a season for the third time in program history.
OFF TO A FAST START
- Senior Taylor Thom and sophomore Erin Shireman were elected to the Louisiana Classic's All-Tournament team.
- Thom has at least one hit in every game this season, putting her current hitting streak at eight- straight games dating back to last season's WCWS semifinal against Tennessee. So far this year, Thom is hitting .478 with 11 hits, including a home run in the season-opener at LSU. Against UNC, she went 3-for-4, stole two bases and scored a pair of runs, including the game-winner in UT's 7-3 win over the Tar Heels.
- Shireman blasted three home runs and hit .357 during the team's opening weekend. Against Purdue, she drove in three RBIs.
- Sophomore Lindsey Stephens leads UT with eight RBIs through the first seven games. In the team's opening weekend, she smashed three home runs. She is hitting .292 on the year with seven hits.
- Junior pitcher Gabby Smith has made five appearances in UT's first seven games, including three starts. Smith is 2-1 on the year. She opened the season with a complete game win on Opening Night at LSU (Feb. 6) before earning the victory over Louisiana Lafayette on Feb. 8. Smith was dubbed with her first career loss on Wednesday vs. UTSA, making her 8-1 during her three seasons in burnt orange.
