The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
St. Edward's
Softball blasts past St. Edward’s on Tuesday, 11-0
11.10.2015 | Softball
Texas pitchers Paige von Sprecken and Tiarra Davis allow two total hits while combining for nine strikeouts
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas softball squad improved to 6-1 during its 2015 fall campaign by blasting its way past St. Edward's on Tuesday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 11-0.
The Longhorns will conclude their fall slate on Wed., Nov. 11, by hosting a special Veterans Day contest with the Sun City Veterans at 6 p.m. CT. Admission and parking are free, while the special match-up will also be broadcast live on Longhorn Network.
Senior first baseman/outfielder Holly Kern led the offensive charge by going 1-for-2 with a tone-setting, three-run triple during UT's seven-run first inning. Senior catcher/third baseman Erin Shireman was 1-for-1 with a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBIs, senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and was also hit by a pitch, senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens was 1-for-1 with a double and two walks, junior infielder Kelli Hanzel was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and a stolen base and both freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway (0-for-2, run scored, walk) and junior first baseman Mickenzi Krpec (1-for-3) each knocked in a run.
In the circle, sophomore right hander Paige von Sprecken started and tossed the first three innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. Junior left hander Tiarra Davis was also outstanding, striking out six Hilltoppers over four one-hit frames of relief work.
After von Sprecken retired St. Edward's in order with a K in the top of the first, Texas wasted no time putting together a massive outburst in the bottom half. With junior shortstop Devon Tunning stationed at first on a lead-off single to left, Stephens and Hathaway each walked to load the bases with one down. That set the stage for Kern to clear the bases on a triple to the wall in left center as the Longhorns roared to a 3-0 lead. Junior first baseman/outfielder Taylor McAllister stepped to the plate and ripped a ball right between the first baseman's legs to plate UT's fourth run. A Shireman sac fly and a two-run single up the middle by Ceo pushed the advantage to a commanding 7-0 as the Burnt Orange & White eventually sent 10 batters to the plate in the opening frame.
A sharp liner off von Sprecken to start the second granted St. Edward's its initial base runner of the contest via a single. That was all the Hilltoppers would get, however, as the Texas hurler retired the next three in order.
Texas' offense got back to it in the bottom of the third as McAllister got things underway with a long drive to right that was dropped for two bases. After Hanzel singled to deep short, a throw on a steal escaped into center allowing McAllister to score easily from 60 feet away to make it 8-0. The advantage hit double figures soon after as Shireman laced a RBI double down the left field line and Krpec delivered a RBI base knock just inside third base.
A lead-off Stephens double into the left field corner, a wild pitch and a RBI groundout from Hathaway expanded the lead further to 11-0 in the bottom of the fourth.
With no mercy rule in play and Texas needing three outs to secure the victory in the top of the seventh, Davis struck out the lead-off batter, got a great diving catch of a liner by Hanzel and K'ed the final hitter as Texas prevailed, 11-0.
