The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Softball Preview: at No. 16/12 Oklahoma [April 17-19, 2014]
04.16.2014 | Softball
The Longhorns head to Norman for a Big 12 series showdown with the Sooners.
TEXAS (26-16, 6-1) at No. 16/12 OKLAHMOMA (32-9, 9-1)
Big 12 Conference play
April 17-19, 2014
OU Softball Complex – Norman, Okla.
SERIES SCHEDULE
Thursday, 8:00 p.m. CT – ESPN2 – Beth Mowins (PxP) and Jessica Mendoza (analyst)
Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT – FOX Sports Oklahoma/FOX College Sports - Bruce Haertl (PxP), Jessica Shults (analyst), Jessica Coody (reporter)
Saturday, 6:30 p.m. CT – FOX Sports Regional – Brenda VanLengen (PxP) and Tracy Warren (analyst)
THE RED RIVER SHOOTOUT SOFTBALL EDITION
- The Longhorns trail the all-time head-to-head series to the Sooners, 26-23.
- UT and OU are meeting for the first time since the No. 1 Sooners defeated the No. 4 Longhorns, 10-2 in five innings in last year's Women's College World Series.
- OU has taken two-of-three in each of the last two season series between the teams.
- Texas last defeated OU twice in a season back in 2009. The Longhorns run-ruled the Sooners, 15-6 in five innings on March 28, 2009 before taking a 9-7 victory the next day. OU has not been run-ruled since that game.
TEXAS SWEEPS IOWA STATE
UT completed a three-game sweep of Iowa State on Saturday afternoon. The Longhorns put up 38 runs in the series, setting a program record for tallies in a three-game set. Texas knocked off the Cyclones by counts of 19-6, 2-0 and 17-1. The Horns put 17 or more runs for the third time in a seven-game stretch. Texas improved to 42-1 all-time against Iowa State and 18-0 in Ames, while extending its win streak against the Cyclones to 22-straight.
THOM HONORED AGAIN
Senior shortstop Taylor Thom was named the Big 12 Player of the Week for a second consecutive week. Coming off the honor last week, she continued to swing a hot bat, going 4-for-7 (.571) with 7 runs scored and 8 RBIs in the series at Iowa State. For Thom, it marks the fourth time in her career that she has been named the Big 12's Player of the Week and is the second time she has been garnered with the honor in back-to-back weeks (Feb. 19 and Feb. 26, 2013).
THOM'S TORRID TREND
Over the last seven games, Thom has raised her cumulative batting average by 41 points. The fourth-year shortstop is hitting .667 (12-for-18) with five home runs, 14 runs scored and 17 RBIs during that stretch.
TAYLOR THOM'S IMPROVEMENT
STAT_________________ First 35 Games______________ Last 7 Games
Batting Avg.__________________ .357_________________ .667
RBIs_________________________ 21___________________ 17
Runs________________________ 30___________________ 14
HR___________________________ 3___________________ 5
Grand Slams__________________ 0___________________ 2
Errors_______________________ 10___________________ 1
SCORING IN BUNCHES
- Over the last seven games, the Longhorns' potent offense has produced 74 runs (10.6 per game) on 80 hits.
- During that stretch, the team has tallied 17 or more runs in a game three times. Prior to this season, UT had only two games in program history in which it tallied at least 17.
- Against Texas State (April 2), the Horns scored 19, which marked the second-most in school history. UT used 15 hits, including a season-high four home runs, to put up its largest run total since Feb. 9, 2012 when it tallied 23 in its 2012 season opener against Cal State Fullerton.
- The 26 runs (19-7) between Texas and Texas State was the most combined runs in a game in which the Longhorns were involved in.
- Five games later in the series opener at Iowa State (April 11), Texas matched its season-high run total with 19 .
- Texas continued its barrage the next day in the series finale against Iowa State by putting up 17 runs, highlighted by a 9-run fourth inning, which tied the program record for runs in an inning.
TEXAS' LAST 7 GAMES
Runs___________ 74 (10.6 per game)
Hits___________ 80 (11.4 per game)
Walks_________________ 36
Extra-base hits_________ 30
RBIs___________________ 65
Batting Avg.___________ .417
Slugging %____________ .745
On base %____________ .521
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ROAD SUCCESS
Texas owns the best record in the nation in true road games with a 9-0 mark. Four of UT's nine road wins have been against nationally ranked opponents.
AGAINST THE NATION'S BEST
The Longhorns are 4-6 against nationally ranked opponents this season. UT defeated No. 17/19 LSU in Baton Rouge (Feb. 6), No. 13/15 Louisiana-Lafayette in Lafayette twice (Feb. 7 & Feb. 8) and No. 12/12 Baylor in Waco (March 22).
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Texas' .356 batting average is its highest in school history and is the second-highest in the nation, behind only No. 3/3 Michigan's .363 clip. As a team, the Longhorns are hitting 0.46 triples per game, which leads the nation. Senior Brejae Washington is ranked fifth in the nation in sacrifice flies (5), ninth in batting average (.464), 12th in on base percentage (.544).
TUNNING'S BAT TUNES UP
Since starting her Texas career with a .197 batting average through the first 34 games, freshman Devon Tunning is showing signs of becoming the hitter the Texas' coaches foresaw. Over the last nine games, Tunning leads the team with an .571 batting average (12-for-21), and has the second-most hits during that span. Tunning has five extra-base hits during that stretch, including two home runs.
TABLE SETTERS
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 .460 (122-for-265) and have provided 77 RBIs and scored 92 runs during that span.
GETTING ON
Sophomore Lindsey Stephens holds the program's second-longest streak of games reaching base, which currently stands at 43-consecutive games dating back to the final game of last season. Senior Brejae Washington also carries a streak of reaching base in 33-straight games, which is the third-longest in school history.
SLUGGING STEPHENS
Lindsey Stephens is currently ranked in nine offensive categories in the Big 12 this season, including first in triples (4) and RBIs (53).
A LOOK AT THE RPI
In the latest Rating Percentage Index (RPI) release of the season, Texas is ranked No. 27 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.
MILESTONE WATCH
Upcoming Career Milestones
- 2 hits away from moving into a tie for 2nd place all-time for most hits at Texas. (currently has 239) Needs 7 to break the program record.
- 9 hits away from T-3rd all-time in hits (currently has 230)
Upcoming Season Milestones
- 4 RBIs from tying for 2nd and 13 from tying for 1st for RBIs in a single season (Currently has 53)
- 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)
NEXT UP FOR UT
The Longhorns will visit San Marcos next Wednesday night for a non-conference midweek matchup against Texas State at 6:00 p.m. CT.
