No. 10/10 Softball takes down UNC and rallies for comeback against No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette

Friday, February 7

Lafayette, La.

11:30 AM

University of Texas

2-0

North Carolina

0-2

Texas

North Carolina

No. 10/10 Softball takes down UNC and rallies for comeback against No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette

02.08.2014 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Washington scores five runs and Thom collects five hits on the day; Longhorns battle back from five runs against ULL.

UNC Box Score | ULL Box Score | Twitter

LAFAYETTE, La. – No. 10/10 Texas Softball boosted its record to 3-0 on Friday by sweeping a pair of games on the opening day of play at the 28th Annual Louisiana Classic. The Longhorns defeated North Carolina, 7-3, before coming back from five runs down to take a win from tournament host No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette at Lamson Park.

Senior Brejae Washington scored five runs and stole four bases in her 4-for-8 day at the plate. She provided the game-winning hit in UT's come-from-behind win over Louisiana Lafayette and reached 100 career stolen bases. Washington, the Horns record holder in the category, now has 101 in her career with her four on the day. Her classmate, shortstop Taylor Thom also had a big day at the dish, having a team-high five hits in eight at bats. Freshmen pitchers Lauren Slatten and Tiarra Davis earned their first career wins against UNC and ULL, respectively.

Against UNC, Texas wasted no time getting things going by putting up a three-spot in the first inning. Washington led off the frame with a walk and then made her way to third base after stealing a base and an error by the Tar Heels' catcher. Thom knocked in Washington for the game's first run with a single. After stealing second base, sophomore Lindsey Stephens doubled to bring Thom home. The Longhorns would run their lead up to three on Davis' sacrifice fly that scored Stephens.

The Tar Heels would take a run back in their half of the opening inning, but the Longhorns pounded out four more hits the next time they went to the plate, resulting in two more runs. Thom singled on Stephens' bunt single before freshman Devon Tunning scored her first run of her UT career on senior Karina Scott's base hit that gave the Longhorns a 5-1 lead.

UNC would get as close as 6-3, but in the seventh inning sophomore Erin Shireman's smashed a solo home run to right center field to keep the Horns well ahead in the final inning.

Making her first career start, Slatten threw 6.0 innings of work, over which she was charged with just two of UNC's three runs. The UT rookie right-hander gave up four hits, walked two and struck out one in her debut.

Due to a preceding game between ULL and Northern Iowa going into extra innings, Texas' matchup with the Ragin' Cajuns was put on hold for two hours and 20 minutes. As the contest got going, the Longhorns showed no signs of being tired from the wait, despite ULL scoring five unearned runs in the opening inning.

UT worked to get a run back in its half of the first frame. With Stephens' at the plate, Washington scored from third base after ULL catcher Lexie Elkins dropped the third strike.

The Longhorns would use the long ball to lessen the gap, as Washington blasted a solo shot and Stephens smashed a three-run home run, in the fourth inning to make it a 5-4 game in favor of ULL.

Sophomore pitcher Holly Kern, who rebounded well after ULL scored five unearned runs in the first inning, departed after 4.0 innings. During her outing, she was charged with only two earned runs on five hits and six walks while striking out one in her 2014 debut.

Following a two-run fifth inning for ULL, the Longhorns would put together their first of three straight three-run innings in their half of the fifth frame.

Freshman Stephanie Wong got the fifth inning rally started after she went in as a pinch runner for senior Mandy Ogle. Wong scored on sophomore Stephanie Ceo's hit into left field. Ceo made it a one-run game when she tagged home on Tunning's walk. UT finally came all the way back and matched ULL at seven apiece on Stephens' sacrifice fly that brought Washington home.

When they went back to the plate in the sixth inning, the Longhorns got junior Gabby Smith and Ogle on immediately. Washington stepped into the box ad ripped a single to score Smith, which proved to be the game-winning run for the Horns.

Texas added two more in the inning and took a 10-7 lead into the seventh inning, where Davis closed it out and picked up the win.

Davis pitched four innings between the two games, including the final three in UT's dramatic win over ULL. Through her two outings, she allowed no runs on two hits and struck out four batters, while issuing no walks.

The Longhorns will get right back to work on Saturday with two more games beginning at 4:30 p.m. Central with a rematch against the Ragin' Cajuns and a 7:00 p.m. contest against Northern Iowa.

POSTGAME NOTES

Texas is 3-0 to start a season for the fifth straight season and for the 12th time in program history.
The Longhorns improved to 4-1-1 all-time against UNC and to 9-2 against Louisiana Lafayette.
Texas is 2-0 against nationally ranked opponents in 2014. UT is 174-173-1 all-time against teams in the USA TODAY/NFCA Top 25 poll. The current senior class is 37-22 against such teams.
With her first stolen base against Louisiana Lafayette, senior Brejae Washington snagged the 100th stolen base of her UT career. She went 4-for-4 on the day in her attempts.
Freshmen pitchers Lauren Slattern and Tiarra Davis picked up their first career wins in the circle.
With two more wins on the day, 19-year head coach Connie Clark is one win away from 700 career victories.