The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Softball Preview: vs. Texas Tech [April 4-6, 2014]
04.03.2014 | Softball
The Longhorns welcome the Lady Raiders to McCombs Field this weekend for Big 12 three-game series.
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TEXAS (21-15, 1-0) vs. TEXAS TECH (27-12, 0-3)
Big 12 Conference play
April 4-6, 2014
Red & Charline McCombs Field - Austin, Texas
GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS
• TELEVISION: All three games will be televised nationally on Longhorn Network. Alex Loebb (pxp) and Amanda Scarborough (analyst) will have the call.
• RADIO: Terry Lewis will call the action for the internet radio broadcast on www.TexasSports.com.
TEXAS VS. TEXAS TECH
- The Longhorns hold a 31-6 advantage in the 37-game head-to-head series with the Lady Raiders. UT has won the last three meetings and 12 of the last 13 games between the clubs.
- Texas swept last season's head-to-head three-game series in Lubbock, winning by counts of 8-6, 4-1 and 4-1.
- UT is 12-2 in Austin against Texas Tech and has won each of the last eight meetings played at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
- The Lady Raiders have never won a season series against the Longhorns.
- Texas has won eight straight meetings with Texas Tech in Austin, keeping the Lady Raiders winless at McCombs Field since April 26, 2005.
LAST TIME THEY MET- APRIL 28, 2013
- No. 7/7 Texas completed a three-game series sweep at Texas Tech with a 4-1 victory at Rocky Johnson Field. The Longhorns (42-6, 12-2 Big 12) were helped by two Red Raiders (29-24, 3-12 Big 12) fielding errors, which led to four unearned runs. Senior Torie Schmidt led the offense with three hits and a run batted in while freshman Stephanie Ceo also chipped in with a pair of hits and a run scored.
- In the circle, senior Blaire Luna (24-3) yielded one run on three hits. She struck out 10 in the complete-game performance and walked three. Her 24 victories leave her six shy of her single-season best, set in 2010. Cara Custer (13-14) suffered the setback after throwing four-and-two-thirds innings, surrendering four unearned runs on five hits and a pair of walks. Brittany Talley came in for one out and allowed one hit. Gretchen Aucoin completed the pitching effort, striking out four and issuing two hits in two innings.
DOMINATE THE STATE
Since beginning varsity competition in 1997, UT has posted a 282-67-1 mark (.807 winning percentage) versus foes from Texas, including an 8-2 record in such games during the 2014 campaign.
19-RUN EXPLOSION
The Longhorns manufactured the second-most runs in program history in Wednesday night's 19-7 win against Texas State. 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.
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 three games, Tunning leads the team with an .833 batting average (5-for-6) and is tied with Washington for the most hits during that span. Tunning hit her first career home run against Texas State on Wednesday and went set a season-high in hits in a game with a 3-for-3 night.
PINK AT THE PLATE GAME
On Saturday, both teams will raise awareness for the search for a cure for breast cancer. All attendees are asked to wear pink and support the cause for the annual Pink at the Plate game. Texas will be wearing pink socks, pink belt and pink helmets. Pink at the Plate is part of the Horns for Hope initiative for community enrichment and is proud to help raise breast cancer awareness throughout the campus and community, and, most importantly, in people's hearts.
AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
As of Thursday, Texas' .349 batting average is tied with No. 10/10 Arizona for the third-highest in the nation. Senior Brejae Washington is ranked third in the nation in sacrifice flies (4), eighth in batting average (.481) while sophomore Lindsey Stephens is ranked eighth in the country in triples (4).
ENEMIES OF THE STATE
After this weekend's series vs. Texas Tech, the Longhorns will have completed a seven-game stretch in which they have played against an in-state foe. UT is 8-2 against teams from the state of Texas this season, including a 3-1 mark during the current seven-game stretch.
SETTING THE TONE
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 .465 (100-for-215) and have provided 57 of the team's 119 RBIs during that span.
GETTING ON
Sophomore Lindsey Stephens holds the program's second-longest streak of games reaching base, which currently stands at 37-consecutive games dating back to the final game of last season. Senior Brejae Washington also carries a streak of reaching base in 27-straight games, which is tied for the third-longest in school history.
SLUGGING STEPHENS
Stephens is currently ranked in eight offensive categories in the Big 12 this season, including first in triples (4), RBIs (45) and total bases (97). She is also tied for the league lead in home runs with 11.
ACE OF THE STAFF
After graduates Blaire Luna and Kim Bruins departed from the program last year, it was unclear who UT's go-to pitcher would be in the 2014 season. Freshman Tiarra Davis, who is the first lefthanded pitcher at Texas since three-time National Player of the Year Cat Osterman, has emerged as the ace for the Longhorns. Davis is 9-7 with a 2.33 ERA through 24 appearances. Already, she has 11 complete games and has tossed three one-hitters, including her first shutout on March 17 against Iowa. Opposing teams are hitting just .173 against the southpaw, which is the third-lowest in the Big 12.
STATS OF NOTE:
- Texas is 16-0 when scoring six or more runs and is 16-0 when holding opponents to two runs or less.
- Washington started the season with six runs through the first eight games. Since then, she has had 28 runs over the last 28 games.
- Washington has not been caught stealing since May 4, 2013 at Oklahoma State.
- Texas' .349 team batting average is currently the highest in program history and is ranked tied for third-best in the nation.
QUOTABLE
- Taylor Thom on having two home runs on Wednesday vs. Texas State: "I was seeing the ball very well tonight. We had three days off since last Wednesday and I think we all felt refreshed, refocused and ready to attack the opportunities the Texas State pitchers gave us. It was a lot of fun out there."
- Brejae Washington on her speed on the basepaths: "Speed always kills. I always tell [my teammates], as soon as I get on base, find me a gap and I promise you I'll score. I think that's become a big threat because the pitchers don't really know how to pitch to our next batter because they know if one of our hitters gets a big hit, that's going to score a run."
- Assistant coach Corrie Hill on Brejae Washington: "She brings that outstanding speed. There's only a handful of people that are that fast and have the softball skills to go with it. She has Olympic softball speed, is an excellent slider and an excellent reader on the basepaths."
NEXT UP FOR UT
The Longhorns will continue Big 12 play when they open up a three-game series in Ames, Iowa on Friday, April 11 against Iowa State.
