The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Louisiana - Lafayette
Louisiana-Lafayette’s two-run seventh inning drops Softball, 3-2
05.17.2014 | Softball
Thom hits 10th home run; Longhorns to play winner of Mississippi State and Texas Southern tonight at 6 PM CT.
Box Score (PDF) | NCAA Lafayette Regional Central | Twitter
LAFAYETTE, La. – Lafayette Regional host and top-seed Louisiana-Lafayette scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to hand No. 2-seed Texas a walk-off, 3-2 loss in the second game of the NCAA Lafayette Regional at Lamson Park. The Longhorns fall to 34-22 on the season and will play the winner of the Texas Southern-Mississippi State game in an elimination matchup at 6:00 p.m. this evening.
Texas broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning when senior Taylor Thom crushed a leadoff home run into left-center field. The Longhorns held the 2-1 lead until the final frame when the Ragin' Cajuns scored two runs to beat the Longhorns. ULL loaded the bases to start the inning and used a single and bases-loaded walk to advance to the Lafayette Regional final.
Freshman Tiarra Davis threw her second consecutive complete game but was saddled with the loss to drop her record to 19-13 in her rookie season. The southpaw surrendered eight hits while striking out five and walking six. Davis gave up three earned runs in her second postseason start.
The Texas offense only mustered three hits on the afternoon with the big knock coming from Thom, the Big 12 Player of the Year. The senior went 1-for-2, hitting a home run in the fourth inning to put Texas ahead, 2-1. The home run was the senior's 10th home run of the season and fourth career postseason round tripper. Sophomore Lindsey Stephens recorded an RBI in the contest, giving her 63 on the season, which puts her four shy of the single season record at Texas
Texas got on the board first and manufactured run in the third inning. Freshman Stephanie Wong led off the inning with an infield single to the shortstop. After a strikeout, Wong stole her 12th base of the season. A fielding error on the first baseman allowed senior Brejae Washington to reach first base and put Wong on third for Stephens. Stephens hit into an inning-ending double play but scored Wong from third to give UT the 1-0 advantage.
Lafayette tied the game at one in the bottom of the frame. With one out, the Ragin' Cajuns loaded the bases behind two singles and a walk. After Davis was able to induce a fly ball to center field for the second out of the inning, Davis hit Shellie Landry to plate Louisiana's first run of the game. Davis struck out Shelbi Redfearn, swinging, to record the third out of the inning and leave the bases loaded.
Texas will look to keep its season alive this evening when it takes on either Texas Southern or Mississippi State at 6 p.m. CT. Louisiana advances to the Lafayette Regional final at Noon CT on Sunday afternoon against the winner of Saturday's 6 p.m. CT game. All games of the Lafayette Regional are web streamed on ESPN3.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Texas falls to 10-3 all-time against Louisiana-Lafayette, including a 1-2 mark in postseason play. The Longhorns hold the edge in the 2014 season series, with a record of 2-1 over the Ragin' Cajuns.
- Texas will play in the consolation game of an NCAA Regional for the first time since 2011.
- Texas is 4-3 in games played at Lamson Field (all this season).
- UT is now 6-6 all-time when playing in the winner's bracket on Day 2 of the NCAA Regionals.
- The Longhorns have been involved in four-straight one-run games. UT is now 3-11 in those situations this season.
- The Longhorns have scored three runs or less in seven of their last nine games. On the season, UT is 7-15 when scoring three or less runs. When it scores four or more, the Horns are 27-7, including a 23-0 mark when manufacturing six or more.
- Threw fifth-straight complete-game. Now has 24 complete games..
- Struck out five hitters, marking the 15th time she fanned away at least five batters.
- In four appearances at Lamson Park this season, she has allowed three runs in 21.2 innings of work.
- Hit leadoff solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to give Texas, 2-1 lead.
- The HR was her 10th of the season, 38th career and fourth career in the postseason
- Drove in Stephanie Wong for her 63rd RBI of the season, placing her four away from taking the school record for most in a single season. (Thom holds record with 66 back in 2013).
- Had first career postseason hit and scored a run on a hit by Stephens in the top of the 3rd inning.
