The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Houston
Softball Preview: Judi Garman Classic [March 6-9, 2014]
03.05.2014 | Softball
The Longhorns head back to Southern California for the annual Judi Garman Classic.
2014 JUDI GARMAN CLASSIC
Texas (13-9, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Houston, Arizona State, Michigan, Washington, Long Beach State
March 6- March 9, 2014
Fullerton, Calif.
JUDI GARMAN CLASSIC:
Named after former Cal State Fullerton Hall of Fame head coach, the ninth annual Judi Garman Classic will be held at the dual diamond Titan Softball Complex on Thursday, March 6, to Sunday, March 9. Since beginning in 2006, the Judi Garman Classic is widely regarded as the premiere mid-season collegiate tournament in the country. Texas has participated in six of the previous eight Judi Garman Classics, owning a record of 22-10.
TEXAS INVITATIONAL RECAP:
The Longhorns fired on all cylinders this past weekend, exploding for 42 runs on 64 hits (.492), while pitchers Gabby Smith and Tiarra Davis threw complete games in every one of their starts, as they limited the opposition to only six runs and a .140 batting average through the five games. Texas went 5-0 in the Texas Invitational and run-ruled four straight games for only the second time in program history.
STEPHENS IS SWINGIN' IT:
Sophomore Lindsey Stephens was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for her performance last week at the Texas Invitational. She led the Longhorns to a 5-0 record against Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Miss and Texas Southern by going 12-for-17 (.706) at the plate with 10 RBIs and seven runs scored through the five games. Five of her 12 hits were for extra bases, including a pair of triples. The second-year power hitter slugged an astounding 1.118 during the three-day round robin while racking up an on base percentage of .722. She also extended her hitting streak to 13-straight games and now has 21 RBIs over the last 10 games. Stephens is currently ranked in eight offensive categories in the Big 12 this season, including first in hits (33), home runs (7), RBIs (34), total bases (64) and slugging percentage (.865).
FRESHMEN PHENOMS:
LHP Tiarra Davis and OF Stephanie Wong are making an impact in their first year at Texas. Davis' diligence in the early-going has earned her a job as one of the starting pitchers on the staff. She has already tossed five complete games and owns a 2.62 ERA with three win, while leading the staff in strikeouts with 48. Wong has made the most of every opportunity so far this season. During the Texas Invitational, she was an offensive catalyst for the Horns, as she hit .583 (7-12) with four RBIs, including her first career home run with a two-run shot against TSU (3/2). Entering this weekend, she leads UT in hitting with a .450 batting average, while ranking third on the squad in stolen bases with five.
SMITH EMERGING AS THE ACE:
Junior Gabby Smith leads the Texas pitching staff with an 8-1 record and 2.06 ERA in the circle. In last week's Texas Invitational, she tossed complete game victories in three-straight days, giving her four-straight and a total of six before entering play at the Judi Garman Classic. Smith has been the pitcher of record in both UT shutout victories this season. In each of her three starts last weekend, she struck out at least seven batters in all three games she pitched, including a season-high nine against Texas Southern on March 2. She totaled 23 strikeouts in 18.0 innings pitched. Smith showed her knack for swinging the bat, as she helped her own cause by reaching base in all five games on the weekend, scattering five hits, three walks and three RBIs.
OLD STOMPING GROUNDS:
The trip to Fullerton will be a venture home of sorts for head coach Connie Clark, who won the 1986 NCAA Softball championship as a member of the Cal State Fullerton Titans. During her two seasons, she won 20 games as a junior and 33 as a senior in 1987 when she won the Broderick Award, presented to the nation's best collegiate softball player. Her career record was 53-7 with an earned run average of 0.37. She still holds the school single-season records for lowest opponent batting average (.086 in 1986) and most strikeouts per 7 innings (8.88 in 1986).
TEXAS VS. HOUSTON
- Thursday's matchup will be the 23rd time the two teams have met. It will be the first time that they have met on a neutral site.
- The meeting will also be the first of two games between the two Texas schools this season, as they will clash again on March 19 in Austin.
- Texas holds an 18-4 edge in the all-time series.
- The Longhorns have won the last three meetings all by the run-rule, including last season's 15-0 win in Houston on Feb. 16. Senior Taylor Thom became the fourth player in NCAA history to hit two grand slams in a game.
DOMINATE THE STATE
Since beginning varsity competition in 1997, UT has posted a 276-66-1 mark (.809 winning percentage) versus foes from Texas, including a 2-1 record in such games during the 2014 campaign. The Longhorns fell to in-state rival UTSA on Feb. 12 when they last time played a Texas-based school.
TEXAS VS. ARIZONA STATE
- UT and ASU are meeting for the 14th time and for the seventh time at the Judi Garman Classic.
- The Longhorns hold a narrow 7-6 edge in the all-time series with the Sun Devils.
- Texas and Arizona State last clashed at the 2013 Women's College World Series, where the Longhorns took a 6-3 win from the Sun Devils on May 30, 2013 in Oklahoma City.
TEXAS VS. MICHIGAN
- Texas and Michigan will meet for the 11th time. The Wolverines hold a 8-2 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to a 2-0 UT win back on March 8, 1998.
- Seven of the previous 10 meetings have been played on a neutral site, including two at the Women's College World Series (1998 & 2005).
- The Longhorns claimed a 5-2 win over the Wolverines the last time they met, which was at the Judi Garman Classic on March 20, 2010.
TEXAS VS. WASHINGTON
- Saturday's meeting will mark the 22nd meeting between the Longhorns and Huskies. Washington holds the edge with a 14-7 mark, including a 3-2 over UT two weeks ago at the Mary Nutter Classic.
- Texas has won the last two of the last three head-to-head matchups, including last season's 4-1 win at the Judi Garman Classic.
- The Huskies and Longhorns first met on March 21, 1997 in Fullerton. Washington claimed an 8-0 win in five innings.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Freshman left-handed pitcher Tiarra Davis tossed her third-straight complete game, but then-No. 25/25 Texas could not overcome then-No. 3/2 Washington's second inning output when it capitalized on two Texas errors, which led to all three runs it would score. Sophomore Lindsey Stephens cranked her sixth home run with Taylor Thom abaord to cut the deficit to a one-run game.
TEXAS VS. LONG BEACH STATE
- Texas comes into the contest holding a 5-2 lead in the all-time series vs. LBSU. The Longhorns have won the last three times.
- Sunday's game marks the second time UT and LBSU will meet at the Judi Garman Classic. Texas defeated LBSU, 8-4, on March 18, 2005 in Fullerton.
Texas Versus Ranked Opponents ...
So far this season, UT has posted a 3-3 record over ranked opponents. The Longhorns defeated No. 17/19 LSU (2/6) and No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette twice (2/7 & 2/8) and took losses from No. 7/9 Kentucky (2/14 & 2/16) and No. 3/2 Washington (2/21). Since UT's varsity program began in 1997, Texas has played 352 games against teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll. In those contests, UT is 175-176-1, including a 38-25 mark since the current seniors arrived on campus for the 2011 season.
