The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
03.25.2014 | Softball
The Longhorns return to McCombs Field to open up a five-game homestand on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. on Longhorn Network.
TEXAS (19-15, 1-0) vs. TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI (7-23, 2-7)
Non-conference game
March 26, 2014
Red & Charline McCombs Field - Austin, Texas
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally on Longhorn Network. Carter Blackburn (pxp) and Cat Osterman (analyst) will have the call.
• 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
TEXAS VS. TEXAS A&M - CORPUS CHRISTI
- The Longhorns hold a 24-3 advantage in 27-game head-to-head series with the Islanders. UT has won the last five meetings between the clubs.
- Texas defeated TAMU-Corpus Christi twice last season, winning 6-0 on Feb. 7 and 8-0 in five innings on Feb. 9, 2013. Both games were played in Austin as part of the Texas Classic.
DOMINATE THE STATE
Since beginning varsity competition in 1997, UT has posted a 280-67-1 mark (.806 winning percentage) versus foes from Texas, including a 6-2 record in such games during the 2014 campaign.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, Texas holds the fourth-highest batting average this season with its .341 clip. Senior Brejae Washington is ranked third in the nation in sacrifice flies (4) and 18th in hitting (.466) while sophomore Lindsey Stephens is ranked fourth in the country in triples (4). Freshman Tiarra Davis' 3.98 hits allowed per seven innings in ranked 18th-best in the land.
ENEMIES OF THE STATE
Including last week's games against Houston and No. 12/12 Baylor, Texas is in the middle of playing seven straight games against in-state foes. After hosting Texas A&M- Corpus Christi on Wednesday, the Longhorns will host Texas State in a week before welcoming Texas Tech for its first Big 12 three-game series at McCombs Field this season.
SETTING THE TONE
Since being etched in as Texas' 1-2-3 hitters on the lineup card against Cal Poly on Feb. 20, Taylor Thom, Brejae Washington and Lindsey Stephens are hitting a combined .447 (89-for-199) and have provided 46 of the team's 108 RBIs during that span.
GETTING ON
Sophomore Lindsey Stephens holds the program's second-longest streak of games reaching base, which currently stands at 35-consecutive games dating back to the final game of last season. Senior Brejae Washington also carries a streak of reaching base in 25-straight games.
SLUGGING STEPHENS
Stephens is currently ranked in seven offensive categories in the Big 12 this season, including first in home runs (10), triples (4), RBIs (42) and total bases (90).
ACE OF THE STAFF
After graduates Blaire Luna and Kim Bruins departed from the program last year, it was unclear who UT's go-to pitcher would be in the 2014 season. Freshman Tiarra Davis, who is the first lefthanded pitcher at Texas since three-time National Player of the Year Cat Osterman, has emerged as the ace for the Longhorns. Davis is 8-7 with a 2.24 ERA through 22 appearances. Already, she has 11 complete games and has tossed three one-hitters, including her first shutout on March 17 against Iowa. Opposing teams are hitting just .165 against the southpaw, which is the third-lowest in the Big 12.
ROAD SUCCESS
Texas holds the best road record in the nation with a 6-0 mark. The Longhorns are one of only two teams to be undefeated through at least five true road contests (Oregon is 5-0). Four of UT's six road wins have been against nationally ranked opponents.
AN EARLY LOOK AT THE RPI
In the first Rating Percentage Index (RPI) release of the season, Texas is ranked No. 31 in the country. The RPI is a quantity used to rank teams based upon a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule.
RECORD BREAKERS
As seniors Taylor Thom and Brejae Washington are closing out their careers at Texas, they are leaving their imprint on the program by overtaking several of the school's all-time records. Washington, who has held the school's record for stolen bases since last season, is one sacrifice hit away from the most all-time. She is also 17 hits away from breaking the UT record for hits in a career. Thom, who set the program record for RBIs in a Texas career, is only seven doubles away from having the most ever while playing on the Forty Acres.
NEXT UP FOR UT
The Longhorns will have a week off until they return to the filed to continue their five-game homestand. Texas will welcome Texas State on Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at McCombs Field. The game will be broadcasted nationally on Longhorn Network.
STATS OF NOTE:
- Texas is 14-0 when scoring six or more runs and is 15-0 when holding opponents to two runs or less.
- Washington started the season with six runs through the first eight games. Since then, she has had 24 runs over the last 26 games.
- Washington has not been caught stealing since May 4, 2013 at Oklahoma State.
- Texas entered the week with a .344 team batting average, which is fourth-best in the nation and is ranked first in the Big 12.
- UT is 11-5 when the opponent commits one error and is 8-11 when the opponent commits 0 or 2+ errors.
DAVIS DAZZLES IN THE CIRCLE
Through her first 22 appearances in the circle, freshman Tiarra Davis is 8-7 on the season with an ERA of 2.34 Take a look at how the rookie southpaw has progressed over her first 14 starts.
DAVIS' IMPROVEMENT
STAT__________ FIRST 7 STARTS______ LAST 7 STARTS
Record_____________ 2-5_________________5-1
ERA________________ 3.28_______________ 2.24
CG__________________5__________________6
Strikeouts___________ 35_________________ 42
Shutouts_____________ 0__________________1
Opp. Avg.__________ .176_________________ .161
STEADILY IMPROVING
After an 8-9 start through its first 17 games, Texas is 11-6 over the last 17 contests it has played. Here's a look at how UT has improved since the first half of the season.
1ST HALF (17 GMS)________ STAT___________ 2ND HALF (17 GMS)
.315______________ Batting Avg._______________ .368
153__________________ Hits___________________ 170
.454_______________ Slugging %________________ .522
.393_______________ On Base %________________ .439
.847__________________ OPS___________________ .961
.217____________ Opp. Batting Avg._____________ .203
81________________ Strikeouts________________ 107
KERN CONNECTS
After hitting just .211 last season, sophomore Holly Kern has shown an increase production, as she is hitting .348 in 2014. Below is a comparison of how her production has increased after her first 16 games of the season.
First 16 games___________ STAT___________ Last 13 games
.293______________ Batting Avg._____________ .387
8____________________ RBIs_________________ 8
12 (2)________ Hits (Extra-base hits)_________ 12 (4)
WASHINGTON IS SURGING
Senior Brejae Washington, who has reached base in each of the last 25 games, has been a consistent hitter for UT in the first half of the season. Coming into the Wednesday's game against Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, Washington is first in the Big 12 in hits with 48. Her consistency over the last 13 games has made her one of the more dangerous hitters to face in Texas' lineup this season. Below is breakdown of how she stared the season and what she has done over the last 13 contests.
First 21 games___________ STAT___________ Last 12 games
.418______________ Batting Avg._____________ .556
4___________________ RBIs_________________ 6
28 (2)________ Hits (Extra-base hits)_________ 20 (4)
LIKE A LEGEND
Of sophomore Lindsey Stephens' 45 hits, 47 percent have been for extra bases (seven doubles, four triples and 10 home runs). To put it in perspective, former All-American Taylor Hoagland is UT's all-time leader in slugging percentage (.708). During her four-year (2009-12) career, 43 percent of her hits were for extra bases, including 58 home runs.
MILESTONE WATCH
Upcoming Career Milestones
- 1 run away from tying for 2nd all-time in runs scored at UT. (currently has 165)
- 1 hit away from tying for 4th all-time for most hits at Texas. (currently has 228)
- Currently one sacrifice hit away from sole possession of 1st all-time in sacrifice hits at UT(currently has 28)
- 1 stolen bases away from tying for 5th all-time in stolen bases (currently has 58)
- 1 hit away from T-6th all-time in hits (currently has 217)
Upcoming Season Milestones
- 1 RBI away from tying for 9th, 2 from tying for 6th, 3 from tying for 5th, 4 from tying for 4th and 8 from tying for 3rd for RBIs in a single season
- Currently has four triples, which is tied for 7th in a single season at Texas. (Washington is 1st all-time. She had 7 in 2013)
