The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
Softball loses to Texas State in fall action
11.06.2015 | Softball
Longhorns will continue their fall slate on Tues., Nov. 10, in a make-up game vs. St. Edward’s at 7 p.m. CT
AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas suffered its first loss of the 2015 fall campaign by dropping a 6-0 decision to Texas State.
Three Longhorns managed hits in the contest as senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo went 1-for-1 with a double, while freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway and junior third baseman Celina Felix each posted 1-for-2 efforts.
In the circle, sophomore Paige von Sprecken started the match-up, allowing one hit and striking out three over two shutout innings. Sophomore Kristen Clark gave up six runs on seven hits with two walks and a K over 1.1 frames of relief, while junior Tiarra Davis permitted just two hits, walked two and struck out four in 3.2 shutout frames.
After a quick first inning that saw pitchers von Sprecken and Texas State's Randi Rupp retire the side in order with a pair of K's, the Bobcats managed the game's first hit in the top of the second on a lead-off single to left by right fielder Taylor Webb. The runner eventually reached scoring position on a two-out stolen base, but advanced no further as von Sprecken punched out her third TSU batter of the contest to end the threat.
Texas got its initial base runner leading off the bottom of the second as Hathaway ripped a single past first base. Unfortunately, a fielder's choice, a pop-up to shallow left center and a grounder to short left a runner stranded.
The Bobcat offense got a threat started in the top of the third against Clark, placing a pair in scoring position via a one-out single and double. UT's hurler responded to the threat with a big K and got some defensive help to escape the jam as Ceo leapt high to snag a inning-ending liner and save a pair of runs from scoring.
Texas State erupted for all six of its runs during the top of the fourth. With runners stationed at the corners, on a one-out walk and a single up the middle, catcher Sara Rupp stepped to the plate and drove a three-run HR over the wall in left to give the Bobcats a 3-0 advantage. Three consecutive singles and a hit-by-pitch forced in a run to make it 4-0. With the bags packed and Davis in for a relief appearance, TSU added two more tallies on a RBI single to center and an error to take a six-run lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Needing a rally, Texas got a lead-off single from Felix to start the bottom of the sixth. Texas State reliever Paige Williams refused to allow UT to string anything together, however, inducing a fly ball to left and getting a 6-4-3 double play to clear the base paths.
Facing one last chance to rally in the bottom of the seventh, Texas got off to a good start with a one-out double from Ceo that dropped just inside the right field line. After a walk was issued to senior pinch-hitter Rachel Scott, a bouncer to second advanced the runners into scoring position with two retired. Unfortunately, a ground ball to second was handled routinely allowing TSU to complete its fall victory.
