The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
Eleven-run sixth inning ignites Softball to 15-6 comeback victory at Texas State
04.23.2014 | Softball
Four Longhorns finish with multi-hit game; Kern sets career highs with three hits and three runs scored
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Trailing by two runs heading into the sixth inning, Texas Softball broke out for 11 runs in the top half of the inning en route to a 15-6 victory over the Texas State Bobcats in six innings on Wednesday evening at Bobcat Softball Stadium. The win in San Marcos gives the Longhorns their 11th road victory of the season, matching a program most.
The Longhorns swept the season series over the Bobcats and outscored them, 34-13 in the two meetings this season. Texas has now won 10 straight over the I-35 rivals.
Texas (28-18, 7-3 Big 12) and Texas State (22-27, 5-10 Sun Belt) battled back and forth before the Longhorns took command in the sixth inning for their 11th run-rule win of the year.
Freshman Tiarra Davis started her 15th consecutive game and pitched two-and-one-third innings before junior Gabby Smith relieved the rookie southpaw and finished the contest, improving her record to 12-4 on the year.
Texas scored three runs in the second inning to open up the scoring, 3-0.
Sophomore Holly Kern began a career night with a single to lead off the frame before Rayn House beaned freshman Devon Tunning and sophomore Stephanie Ceo with pitches to load the bases. With two away in the frame, senior Brejae Washington knocked in Kern with a single to left. Kern finished the night with a career-high three hits and three runs scored. Stephens drove in her team-leading 56th RBI of the year on a four-pitch walk, scoring Tunning. Senior Taylor Thom followed and reached first on the defensive miscue by the shortstop, allowing Ceo to score from third.
The Bobcats got two runs back in the third. Katie Doerre led off with a solo home run over the left-center field wall, cutting the lead to 3-1. Back-to-back walks put two runners aboard with no outs. An ensuing fielding error allowed Jordan Masek to score. Two batters later, Koroll pounded a bases-loaded, two-run single through the middle to give Texas State the 4-3 lead. Ramirez matched Koroll, singling up the middle to score the Bobcats' fifth run of the game.
Trailing by two runs, the Texas bats went back to work. After two quick outs, Stephens reached base for the third time, smashing a double to center field. After freshman Stephanie Wong was hit by a pitch, Davis knocked an RBI-single to left field, scoring Stephens to narrow the deficit to 5-4 Bobcats.
Texas State extended the margin to 6-4 when Delia Saucedo hit a solo shot over the left field wall.
The Longhorns took command in the sixth, scoring 11 runs, the third-most in an inning in school history, to grab a 15-6 lead. In total, Texas sent 16 batters to the plate in the frame, collecting eight hits and four walks. Thom, Kern and Wong each scored twice in the inning. The breakout inning was fueled by senior Mandy Ogle's two-run double that put Texas over the top, 7-6.
Texas returns home for a three-game Big 12 series against Oklahoma State, beginning Friday. Game one of "Zero-Waste Weekend" is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on Longhorn Network.
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
- 11 runs in the 6th inning is the third-most in a single inning in program history
- Texas has scored 8 or more runs in an inning three times this season.
- Matched a school record with 11 road wins (2002, 2005).
- Improved to 33-9 in the all-time series against Texas State, including 10 straight wins.
- Outscored Texas State 34-13 in the two contests in 2014.
- Recorded 10+ hits for the 24th game this year.
- Texas is 19-5 when collecting at least 10 hits.
- The Longhorns are 21-0 when scoring at least six runs.
- Set a career high in hits and runs, tallying three apiece.
- Went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI
- Extended her hit streak to eight games and reached-based streak to 47 games.
- Upped her team-leading RBI total to 56 with a bases-loaded walk in the second.
- Picked up her sixth multi-walk game of the season.
- Hit her team-best 10th double of the season.
- Tied for fourth all-time with 119 total bases in a season.
- Went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and
- Extended her hitting streak to nine games
- Hitting .500 (13-26) over her last nine contests.
- Ripped an RBI-single to left field to score the first run of the game.
- Increased her career hits total to 243, putting her just three hits shy of the all-time mark for hits in program history.
- Went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
- Picked up five hits and six RBIs over last five games.
- Hit 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.
- Drew two walks and scored two runs.
- Thom's 34 walks on the year are tied for eighth for a single season in program history.
- Scored 171 career runs, good for third alone
- Pitched 3.2 innings in relief, striking out five and allowing one run.
- Improved to 12-4 on the year.
- Went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored.
