Washington breaks UT hits record; Softball shuts out Oklahoma State, 3-0, to take weekend series

Sunday, April 27

Austin, Texas

11:30 AM

University of Texas

30-19, 9-4

Oklahoma State

25-23, 5-11

Oklahoma State

Texas

Washington breaks UT hits record; Softball shuts out Oklahoma State, 3-0, to take weekend series

04.27.2014 | Softball

Box Score

Washington goes 2-for-3 to pass Lexi Bennett for most hits in Texas Softball history; Smith pitches complete-game gem.

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AUSTIN, Texas – Senior Brejae Washington cemented her name in the Texas Softball record book once more, as she became the program all-time hits leader, helping the Longhorns to a 3-0 Big 12 series-clinching win over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field. The win pushes the Longhorns' record on the season to 30-19 and 9-4 in Big 12 play, while OSU falls to 25-23 and 5-11.

With a leadoff bunt single in the first inning, Washington passed Lexi Bennett (2009-2012) for the career hits record in school history with her 246th hit. Washington now is the program leader in six offensive categories, including: hits (247), triples (20), stolen bases (128), sacrifice hits (31) and sacrifice flies (10). On the afternoon, Washington went 2-for-3 with an RBI and stolen base.

For the first time in 18 games someone other than freshman LHP Tiarra Davis made the start in the circle for Texas. Starting for the first time since March 16 against Iowa, junior RHP Gabby Smith gave the Longhorns a solid outing, as he threw her third complete game shutout on the season.

The Texas righty scattered three hits and six walks while striking out two Cowgirls. At the plate, Smith helped her own cause, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. The win runs her record to 13-4 for the 2014 campaign.

Smith stranded 10 runners on the basepaths with the help of a relentless infield defense. The Longhorn junior got herself into a bases loaded situation with only one out in the fourth inning, by inducing a flyout down the left field line and a popup to senior Taylor Thom.

In the seventh inning with OSU down to its final chance to make a comeback, Shelby Davis led off the frame with a base hit before Thom bolted over to the left field line to lay out and make a sensational diving catch before firing over to Ceo to nearly doubled up Davis heading to second base. Smith stranded Davis by getting a popup and a comebacker groundout to end the game.

The second inning was the only run-producing frame of the game, as the Longhorns broke through for three runs. Freshman Devon Tunning, who batted in the cleanup spot for the first time this season, led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on freshman Tiarra Davis' sacrifice bunt.

Making her first career start, freshman Kelli Hanzel walked to put two runners on with one out, setting up senior Mandy Ogle up for an RBI double down the left-field line. Smith gave herself an insurance run with a bloop single over the second baseman to score Hanzel. Texas extended its lead to 3-0 when Washington recorded her second hit of the game to plate Ogle.

The Longhorns continue Big 12 play next weekend when the Kansas Jawhawks visit Austin for a weekend series. Game one is set for Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. CT. All three games of the series will be televised nationally on Longhorn Network.

POSTGAME NOTES

Team Notes

Texas now leads the all-time series with Oklahoma State 27-14.
The Longhorns are 15-7 against the Cowgirls in Austin.
Outscored the Cowgirls 15-1 on Saturday and Sunday to win the 3-game series.
Texas is 22-0 when holding opponents to less than three runs.

Brejae Washington

Beat out a bunt-single in the first inning to become the all-time hits leader in Texas Softball history with 246 career hits.
Went 2-for-2 with an RBI and leads the team with 20 multi-hit games.
Continues to lead the Big 12 in batting average, hitting .452 through 49 games.

Gabby Smith

Threw her third complete-game shutout on the year, improving to 13-4.
Allowed just three hits and has surrendered five hits or less in all 15 starts this season.
Hit an RBI-single to right field to plate Hanzel and stretch the lead to 2-0.
Smith is a perfect 5-for-5 in conference play this season, including 3-for-3 in the OSU series.
Notched her third 2-hit performance of the season.

Mandy Ogle

Collected an RBI-double in the second inning to put Texas up 1-0.
Ogle has three doubles over her last five games and is hitting
Hitting .457 (16-35) over last 12 games.
Leads the team in Big 12 batting average, swinging at a .432 clip.

Kelli Hanzel

Made first career start and played first base.
Drew a walk and scored the first run of the game.

Lindsey Stephens

Reached-base streak of 49 games concluded, as Stephens went 0-for-3.
Stephens' 49-game reached-base stretch was the second-longest in program history.
The sophomore's streak began June 2, 2013 in the season finale when she hit a pinch-hit home run against Tennessee in the Women's College World Series.
Former Longhorn Taylor Hoagland (2010-13) holds the school record with 57-straight games reaching base and her streak also concluded in the third game of the Oklahoma State series in 2013.