Softball Preview: vs. Kansas [May 2-4, 2014]

TEXAS (30-19, 9-4) vs. Kansas (29-19, 3-9)

Big 12 Conference play

May 2-4, 2014

Red & Charline McCombs Field

GAMEDAY QUICK FACTS

• TELEVISION: Carter Blackburn (pxp) and Megan Willis (analyst) will have the call for all three games on Longhorn Network.

• RADIO: Terry Lewis will call the action for the internet radio broadcast on www.TexasSports.com

RECENT SUCCESS VS. KANSAS

Texas continues its homestand and hosts the Kansas Jayhawks this weekend at Red & Charline McCombs Field for the first time since 2011. The Longhorns are 25-12 in the all-time head-to-head series and have won the last 13 meetings against the Jayhawks, including last season's three-game sweep in Lawrence.

The Longhorns have posted five-straight wins over the Jayhawks at Red & Charline McCombs Field and are 12-2 against them overall on their home field.
In the middle game of last season's series, Texas put up a program-record 14-runs in the sixth inning, powering itself to a 16-4 run-ruled win. Eleven Longhorns scored at least one run in the contest and nine recorded at least one hit. In the 14-run inning, UT tallied 15 consecutive hits or walks.
In the Longhorns last six games against Kansas, the team has drawn 49 walks (8.2 per contest). UT's record for walks in a game came two years ago (April 14, 2012) against Kansas when it was issued 12 free passes.

SMITH STANDS OUT

Junior RHP Gabby Smith saw action in three of the team's four games last week, helping the Longhorns to victories in all three in which she appeared. Smith collected two wins and posted a 0.60 ERA on the week. Taking over in relief at Texas State on April 23, she threw the final three-and-two-thirds and struck out five hitters. In the rubber match game against Oklahoma State, Smith was the first pitcher besides freshman Tiarra Davis to start a ballgame in 18 games (March 16) and was dominant. The Houston native threw her third complete-game shutout of the season, leading the Longhorns to the series win over the Cowgirls. Smith allowed no runs on three hits on Sunday, helping her improve to 13-4. At the plate, Smith was also productive going a perfect 3-for-3 on the week with a run scored. She is 5-for-5 in her at-bats during Big 12 play.

WINNING ON THE RUN RULE

Twelve of Texas' 30 victories have come courtesy of the eight-run mercy rule after five innings this season. The 12 run rule wins for the 2014 squad is the third-most in a season in school history. Texas claimed wins early in 13 contests last season and had a school record 14 run rule wins in 2011.

EYEING 400

In its 18-year history, Texas has had five seasons in which a player finished the year batting .400 or higher. Currently, Brejae Washington is hitting at a .446 clip. Sophomore Lindsey Stephens has been batting over .400 for a majority of the season, but comes into the weekend hitting slightly under at .397. UT has never had two players bat .400 or higher in the same season.

CEMENTED IN THE RECORD BOOKS

With a leadoff bunt single in the first inning against Oklahoma State last Sunday, senior Brejae Washington passed Lexy Bennett (2009-2012) for the career hits record in school history with her 246th hit. Washington is the program leader in six offensive categories, including: hits (247), triples (20), stolen bases (128), sacrifice hits (31) and sacrifice flies (10).

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

Coming into the week, Texas' .349 batting average was ranked the third-highest in the nation, behind Arizona (.365) and Notre Dame (.359). As a team, the Longhorns are hitting 0.41 triples per game, which leads the nation. Senior Brejae Washington is ranked ninth in the nation in sacrifice flies (5), 14th in batting average (.452) and 17th in on base percentage (.536), while Lindsey Stephens is ranked 10th in the land in RBIs per game (1.21).

A LOOK AT THE RPI

In the latest Rating Percentage Index (RPI) release, Texas is ranked No. 28 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 and is a key factor in determining postseason at-large berths.

HONORING THE NEW RECORD HOLDERS Prior to Friday night's game, seniors Brejae Washington and Taylor Thom will be recognized for breaking Texas' all-time hits and RBIs records, respectively. Both players overtook Lexy Bennett for the top spot in each of the respective statistical record benchmarks. Washington clubbed her 246th hit on Sunday against Oklahoma State and Thom knocked in her 176th RBI on March 19 against Houston.

ABUNDANT APRIL

During the month of April (last 14 games), the Longhorns' offense was potent, leading the team to 10 wins, matching its total from each of the first two months of the season. In the month, it was exceptionally efficient, as it produced 117 runs on 132 hits. The team hit .362 during the month and put up 15 or more runs in a game four times (19 vs. Texas State (April 2), 19 vs. Iowa State, 17 vs. Iowa State and 15 at Texas State (April 23)). Prior to this season, UT had only two games in program history in which it tallied at least 17 runs.

Texas' OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION BY MONTH

STAT	FEB. (19 GMS)	MARCH (16 GMS)	APRIL (14 GMS)
Runs	109	86	117
Hits	178	155	132
Walks	73	51	57
Extra-base hits	38	42	41
RBIs	96	83	101
Batting Avg.	.331	.359	.362
Slugging %	469	.525	.589
On base %	408	.429	.463

Through 13 In Big 12 Play

The Longhorns are 9-4 in league play. A closer look at UT's 14, 15 and 16-game league records the last five years:

14-Game 15-Game 16-Game

Year Record Record Record

2013 12-2 12-3 12-4

2012 10-4 10-5 11-5

2011 13-1 13-2 14-2

2010 12-2 13-2 14-2

2009 10-4 10-5 10-6

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 .433 (141-for-326) and have provided 45 extra-base hits, 91 RBIs and scored 108 runs during that span.

BREAKING DOWN THE BATTING ORDER

In 13 of the last 15 games, Coach Clark has used the batting order laid out below. Coming into the weekend, the bottom-third (hitters 7-9) of the lineup have proven to be the most consistent, while the top-third has produced the majority of the scoring. Since going to this lineup, sophomore Stephanie Ceo (No. 9 hitter) leads the team in hitting at a .469 clip. Senior Mandy Ogle (No. 7 hitter) has also produced significantly in the bottom-third of the order, as she leads the squad with 16 hits. Take a look at how each third of the order compares to the others.

Batting

Hitters Average XBH Runs RBIs

1-3 (Washington – Thom – Stephens) .391 14 46 35

4-6 (Wong – Davis – Kern) .221 4 15 20

7-9 (Ogle – Tunning – Ceo) .434 14 30 22

NEXT UP FOR UT

The Longhorns will have a quick turnaround before its next contest, as they head up I-35 to take on Baylor in Waco on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. The game is the makeup from the March 23rd rainout. Texas and Baylor will close out the season next Sunday at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

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