Stephens’ blast sends Softball to NCAA Regional Final; Defeats Mississippi State, 4-3

Saturday, May 17

Lafayette, La.

6:00 PM

University of Texas

35-22

Mississippi State

39-21

Texas

Mississippi State

Stephens’ blast sends Softball to NCAA Regional Final; Defeats Mississippi State, 4-3

05.17.2014 | Softball

Box Score

Stephens hits three-run home run in seventh inning with two outs; Ties school record for RBIs in a single season at Texas

Box Score (PDF) | NCAA Lafayette Regional Central | Twitter

LAFAYETTE, La. – Down to their final out of the season, sophomore Lindsey Stephens belted a three-run home run to propel No. 2-seed Texas Softball to a 4-3 defeat of the No. 3-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs in an NCAA Lafayette Regional elimination game. The Longhorns advance to the Regional Championship on Sunday, where it will face host and top-seed Louisiana-Lafayette.

Stephens led the offense by going 2-for-4 on the night with two runs scored. The Big 12 Conference home run champion's 16th round-tripper of the season got the Longhorns off the brink and saved their season. The top of the Texas lineup accounted for four of the Longhorns six hits

"I knew I was going to hit," Stephens said. "I wasn't ready to finish this season. I wasn't ready to let my seniors go. I was giving everything I had and putting it all on the table."

Junior Gabby Smith started her first career postseason game in the circle and picked up her 14th win of the season. The Houston native struck out eight en route to her ninth complete game of the season. Smith gave up four hits, two walks and two earned runs in the contest. At the plate, Smith added an RBI to help her cause.

Mississippi State scored single runs in the first and fourth innings. In the opening frame, Julia Echols led off the inning with a double. She scored on a throwing error by Davis to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. MSU added another in the fourth on a lead-off home run by Logan Foulks.

Texas closed the gap to 2-1 by manufacturing a run in the top of the sixth. Stephens knocked a base hit to right field to start off the inning. After senior Taylor Thom walked, sophomore Devon Tunning advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Smith's sacrifice fly to left field scored Stephens for UT's first run of the game.

Mississippi State matched the Texas run in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Smith hit Katie Anne Bailey. Sam Lenahan hit a double down the left-field line to score Bailey and push the Bulldogs lead to 3-1.

Stephens' heroics were set up with two outs by sophomore Stephanie Ceo and senior Brejae Washington. On a 0-1 count, Ceo dropped a ball in between two fielders in no-man's land out in right-center field for a base hit to bring the tying run to the plate. Washington, UT's all-time hits leader, slapped a single up the middle to put two on for Stephens. The three RBIs on the play running Stephens to 66 on the season, tying the record for RBIs in a single season at Texas. Stephens matched Thom, who had 66 last season. The single season RBIs has been broken in each of the last two seasons.

Texas looks to extend its season tomorrow against Louisiana-Lafayette at Noon CT. The Longhorns will play as the home team in Game 6 of the Lafayette Regional. Should they be victorious, they will play a second game against the Ragin' Cajuns 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game to determine the Lafayette Regional champion. All games in the Lafayette regional are web streamed at ESPN3.

POSTGAME NOTES

Texas improves to 5-0 all-time against Mississippi State, including a 4-0 mark in postseason play.
The Longhorns also defeated the Bulldogs twice in the NCAA Regionals during their 2005 WCWS run.
Texas is 5-3 in games played at Lamson Field (all this season).
UT will play in the NCAA Regional Championship for the third straight season.
The last time Texas won the NCAA Regional Championship when coming out of the loser's bracket was in 2012.
The Longhorns have been involved in five-straight one-run games. UT is now 4-11 in those situations this season.
When Texas scores four or more runs, it is 28-7, including a 23-0 mark when manufacturing six or more.

Gabby Smith

Earned a complete game win in her first career postseason start in the circle.
Allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out eight battrers.

Marlee Gabaldon

Made first career postseason start.

Kelli Hanzel

Made first career postseason start as the designated player.

Lindsey Stephens

Went 2-for-4 on the night and scored the game-winning run.
Hit three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning with two outs.
Home run was her second career postseason blast (last vs. Tennessee in 2012 WCWS Semifinal).
Finished with 3 RBIs, giving her 66 on the season, which tied the school record for most in a single season.

Stephanie Ceo

Finished with a 2-for-3 night, including the two-out base hit into right field in the top of the seventh inning to begin the comeback rally.
Leads the team with a .400 batting average through the first 3 postseason games.

Brejae Washington

Went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Base hit up the middle in the top of the seventh inning moved Ceo into scoring position and put game-tying run on base before Stephens hit the home run.