Wichita State’s seventh-inning rally downs Softball, 6-4

Friday, February 13

Austin, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Texas

4-3

Wichita State

5-2

Wichita State

Texas

Wichita State’s seventh-inning rally downs Softball, 6-4

02.13.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Texas returns to action at McCombs Field on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT against Colorado State

AUSTIN, Texas – Wichita State's five-run, seventh-inning rally led the Shockers to a 6-4 victory over Texas on Friday night in Texas Classic action at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Freshman pitcher Erica Wright (2-2) took the tough loss in the circle, allowing six earned runs on three hits with four walks and a career-best eight strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.

At the plate, junior first baseman Holly Kern continued her impressive day by going 1-for-4 with two RBIs (eight RBIs combined on the day), while sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong posted a 2-for-2 effort with a run scored and a RBI. Junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens was also credited with a RBI, giving her a team-high 14 for the season.

The pitchers were in early control of the contest as each team managed a hit over the opening two frames, but couldn't string together any sort of sustained offensive attack.

Texas' first base knock of the contest came with two down in the bottom of the second as sophomore Mickenzi Krpec bounced a single through the left side of the infield. Senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon immediately followed with a promising liner, but it was snagged in more of a self-defense posture by Wichita State third baseman Mackenzie Wright to end the frame.

The scoreless dead-lock was eventually broken up on a Wichita State long ball during the top of the third as right fielder Cacy Williams drove a 3-2, two-out pitch over the right center field wall to make it 1-0.

The Longhorns offense mounted a serious threat against WSU's Katie Malone in the bottom of the third. A single by junior third baseman Stephanie Ceo, a walk issued to sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning and a base knock to center from Wong loaded the bags with just one retired. Stephens stepped to the plate and earned her 14th RBI of the season the hard way, getting struck by a Malone pitch to force in the tying run.

Wichita State got its leadoff aboard starting the top of the fifth, but a great play helped keep the Shockers from making anything of the threat. On a popped-up sacrifice bunt attempt by left fielder Layne Greenlee, Ceo raced in from her defensive position and flashed the leather with a diving grab for an important first out. Wright followed with consecutive strikeouts, giving her seven in the contest to tie her career high for K's.

Texas' chance to break the dead-lock came in the bottom of the fifth as a Tunning base hit to short and a Wong single back to the circle put the first two aboard in the frame. That set the stage for more Kern heroics as the Plano, Texas, native stroked a two-RBI single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.

The Longhorns added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to nab a 4-1 advantage. With the bases loaded and one down, Wong hit a fly ball into foul ground down the left field line. Greenlee raced over from her defensive position and made a terrific diving grab. That was the wrong decision for WSU, however, as freshman pinch runner Alyssa Angel was given chance to scamper home from third on the sacrifice fly.

Wichita State wouldn't go quietly in the seventh, however, as the Shockers strung together a pair of walks and a single down the right field line to load the bags with no one retired. That set the stage for a five-run outburst as a hit batter, a run-scoring walk and a bases-clearing double off the bat of catcher Melanie Jaegers did the damage.

With one last chance to tie or re-take the lead, Texas received a one-out single down the left field line from junior catcher Erin Shireman but that was all as WSU wrapped up its comeback victory.

Texas Team Notes:

Series - The Longhorns are now 3-2 against the Shockers in their series. The teams last played in 2008. They will play again on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Drive for Five - The Longhorns are out-scoring the opposition 16-2 in the fifth inning this season after scoring two runs in the frame against the Shockers.

Player Notes:

Devon Tunning – The Montgomery, Texas, native drew three walks in the contest. Tunning has drawn 11 free bases this season after only registering 16 all of last season. She has reached base in eight of her last 10 plate appearances, including six walks. She is currently on a streak that has seen her reach safely in seven straight games.

Lindsey Stephens – The junior was hit-by-a-pitch in the third inning that knotted the game at one. She has reached base in 13 straight games dating back to last season and has registered at least an RBI in four straight. In the four-game stretch, she has accumulated 10 RBIs. Stephens is hitting .429 (8-for-21) with three home runs (two grand slams) and 14 RBIs this season.

Holly Kern – The junior managed two RBI in the fifth inning which gave the Longhorns a 3-1 lead . It was the second straight game in which the first baseman provided the go-ahead runs. In two games at the Texas Classic, Kern has eight RBIs with three hits and a run scored. She is now two hits away from the 50-hit milestone for her career.

Erica Wright – The freshman righty had a career-high eight strikeouts over 6+ innings of work. She surrendered six runs on three hits, while walking four in the losing effort.

Stephanie Wong – The sophomore went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. She is now hitting a team-high .500 (9-for-18) for the 2015 campaign.