The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
27-18, 0
Oklahoma
34-10, 0
Bats stifled as Softball falls 8-0 in five innings to No. 16/12 Oklahoma in series finale
04.20.2014 | Softball
Ogle leads the Longhorns with two hits.
NORMAN, Okla. – A night after run ruling No. 16/12 Oklahoma, Texas Softball had the favor returned, as it endured an 8-0 loss to the Sooners in five innings on Saturday night at Marita Hynes Stadium.
With the loss, OU clinched the three-game Big 12 series, taking two-of-three to drop UT to 27-18 on the season and to 7-3 in conference action. The Sooners remain in first place of the Big 12, as they boosted their mark to 34-10 overall and to 11-2 in Big 12 play.
For the third straight night, both teams sent their aces out to start in the circle. Just as Texas freshman LHP Tiarra Davis had her night to impress on Friday night, OU's Kelsey Stevens had her moment to shine on this night.
Davis was dubbed with the loss, adjusting her mark to 14-9 on the season and to 6-2 in Big 12 play. The OU sophomore held the Longhorns scoreless for the first time this season and limited them to three hits for the second time in the series en route to a complete game and her 25th victory of the season.
Senior Mandy Ogle led Texas with a 2-for-2 night, having a double and a single, but was unable to be knocked in.
Sophomore Lindsey Stephens had the only other hit for the Longhorns, coming in the first inning, which helped her extend her reached base streak to 46 straight games.
In its first attempt to avenge Friday night's run rule loss, OU got its frustrations out quickly, as it scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Sooners first three batters reached base before Kady Self doubled off the center field wall to tack on the first two runs for the Sooners. A base hit by Paris Townsend and a sacrifice fly to right field would bring two more in, giving Oklahoma a 4-0 lead.
With two outs recorded and facing the lineup a second time around, Davis surrendered back-to-back hits to Destinee Martinez and Pendley, which ended her outing.
The UT southpaw exited after one-and-two-thirds over which she allowed four runs on six hits and a walk. Freshman Lauren Slatten took over and stranded the two runners she inherited, getting Brittany Williams to tap a grounder right back to her.
Things were different for Slatten when she returned to the circle in the third inning, as OU walked once and hit off her four times to score three more runs in the fourth. Junior Gabby Smith would take over for Slatten, as she inherited Casey and Martinez at first and second and two outs. Pendley pounded out a base hit to score Martinez, pushing OU's lead to 8-0 after three innings.
Smith silenced the Sooners' bats in the fourth, as she recorded a pair of strikeouts and jammed Erin Miller into a popup.
In its final chance to keep the contest going, Ogle swatted a base hit with one out. Freshman Devon Tunning nearly broke the eight-run lead with a two-run home run, but Martinez ran down the ball in deep left center field to make the catch. Sophomore Stephanie Ceo went to the plate and was hit by a pitch, making things interesting, as she setup runners at first and second for the top of the Longhorns' order, but Stevens got the best of senior Brejae Washington, as she got UT's leader hitter to strike out swinging.
The Longhorns will head back to the state of Texas, where they will play their final nine games. Texas Softball continues its current seven-game road swing on Wednesday night when it visits San Marcos for a battle with Texas State at 6:00 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Texas is now 24-28 all-time against Oklahoma. The Sooners have won the last three season series between the teams.
- UT's record in true road games is now 10-2
- The Longhorns are now 5-8 against ranked opponents this season.
- Three hits in a game ties for the team's season-low (three times).
- The run rule loss is Texas' first since losing 10-2 in five innings to No. 1 Oklahoma in last season's Women's College World Series (June 2, 2013)
- Extended her reached base to 46 consecutive games with a single in the top of the first inning.
- Went 2-for-2 on the night with a double and a single
- Finished the series with four hits (tied with Thom for the team-high during the three-game series)
- Started her 14th straight game in the circle.
- Lasted 1.2 innings over which she allowed 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk
- Made her 13th appearance and third in Big 12 play.
- Line: 1.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 K
- Line: 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 2 K
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stevens, K. (25-7)
L: Davis, Tiarra (14-9)
Batting:
2B: Ogle, Mandy 1
Base Running:
CS: Washington, Brejae 1
HBP: Ceo, Stephanie 1
Batting:
2B: Self, Kady 1
HR: Ellis, W. 1 ; Townsend, P. 1
RBI: Martinez, D. 1 ; Pendley, S. 1 ; Self, Kady 2 ; Ellis, W. 2 ; Townsend, P. 2
SF: Townsend, P. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Casey, G. 2 ; Martinez, D. 1 ; Pendley, S. 1 ; Self, Kady 1 ; Ellis, W. 1 ; Townsend, P. 1 ; Miller, Erin 1
SB: Martinez, D. 1
