The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
St. Mary's
Softball knocks off St. Mary’s (TX) in fall action, 5-1
10.29.2015 | Softball
Senior Holly Kern and junior Tiarra Davis each knock in a pair of runs to power the Longhorns offense
AUSTIN, Texas – On a gorgeous Thursday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, senior first baseman/outfielder Holly Kern and junior pitcher Tiarra Davis each registered a pair of RBIs to lead the offense as Texas improved to a perfect 5-0 in fall play with a 5-1 victory over St. Mary's (TX).
Kern was 1-for-1 at the plate with a double, two walks and a pair of runs batted in, while Davis was 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and two RBIs. Junior infielder Kelli Hanzel went 1-for-1 at the dish and knocked in Texas' fifth tally of the night during the fourth inning. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens, freshman outfielder Reagan Hathaway, sophomore catcher/utility player Randel Leahy, senior outfielder Rachel Scott, senior catcher Erin Shireman and junior infielder Celina Felix all managed single hits in the match-up.
In the circle, sophomore Kristen Clark started for the Longhorns, tossing two no-hit innings with one strikeout. Davis allowed one run on two hits and struck out six over 3.0 frames of relief, while sophomore Paige von Sprecken permitted a single hit while tossing the final two innings to seal the triumph.
After Clark rolled through the Rattler line-up in order in the top of the first, Texas' offense got a two-out rally ignited against St. Mary's (TX) starter Jorden Russell. Stephens started the assault off with a clean single back up the middle. A single to second base from Hathaway set the stage for a two-RBI double into the left center field gap by Kern as the Longhorns nabbed a 2-0 lead. Davis followed immediately by chopping a RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring Kern from second to make it a three-run advantage.
A fielding miscue on UT's infield granted the Rattlers a lead-off base runner to christen the top of the second. That was all St. Mary's (TX) could get off Clark, however, as a strikeout looking, a fielder's choice and a pop-up to Davis at first ended the half-inning with no damage.
The Longhorns offense tried to get right back to work during the bottom of the second as Leahy and Shireman started the frame with consecutive singles. Unfortunately for Texas, a pair of fielder's choices and a fly ball to center conspired to leave a pair stationed at the corners.
In her first inning of relief work, Davis rolled through the Rattler line-up in order in the top of the third with two strikeouts.
The hurler then helped her own cause in the bottom half of the third by cashing in a Kern walk on a RBI single to right center as the advantage expanded to 4-0.
St. Mary's (TX) finally managed its first hit of the contest with two retired in the top of the fourth. The runner was erased immediately, however, on a caught stealing as Leahy made a strong throw from behind the plate.
Texas added another run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as Hanzel knocked in Felix via a single through the left side to make it 5-0.
The Rattlers got their best scoring threat going in the top of the fifth, loading the bases against Davis with no outs on the strength of a hit batter, a walk and a single to third. A wild pitch brought home a runner from 60 feet away allowing St. Mary's (TX) to cut its deficit to 5-1. After consecutive K's, a walk re-loaded the bags with two down, but Davis struck out her sixth of the contest as the Rattlers missed a big chance by leaving a trio stranded.
After the Burnt Orange & White left a pair aboard in the sixth, St. Mary's (TX) tried to get another rally going in the top of the seventh on a one-out double into the left field corner. Texas reliever von Sprecken kept the base runner stranded where she stood, though, coercing a pop-up to the circle and getting a sharp liner to short to end the threat.
