No. 25 Softball’s stirring rally comes up short in 8-7 loss to Fresno St.

Friday, February 20

Cathedral City, Calif.

2:30 p.m.

University of Texas

9-4

Fresno State

8-3

Texas

Fresno State

No. 25 Softball’s stirring rally comes up short in 8-7 loss to Fresno St.

02.20.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Longhorns score three runs in the top of the seventh and advance tying run to third before falling

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Trailing by four runs heading to the top of the seventh, No. 25 Texas (9-4) managed a stirring rally that came up just 60 feet short of tying the game as the Longhorns lost a tough one to Fresno State (8-3) on Friday afternoon at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, 8-7.

Junior first baseman Holly Kern led a 12-hit UT offensive output by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a HR and three RBIs, junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens was 2-for-4 with her fourth HR of the year and a RBI, senior designated player Gabby Smith was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and sophomore second baseman Kelli Hanzel knocked in a tally as part of a 1-for-3 effort.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Slatten started the match-up for the Longhorns, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and five K's over 4.0 innings. Freshman Kristen Clark took a tough loss in relief, issuing a walk to the player that became the eventual go-ahead run during a decisive four-run FSU fifth, to fall to 1-1 in her career.

Texas' offense was prepped and ready to go from the start against Fresno State, putting up three runs on four hits in the top of the first inning against FSU starter Jill Compton. Sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong got things started with one down in the frame as her single down the left field line was misplayed for an error allowing the speedster to cruise into scoring position. With two retired, Kern stepped into the batter's box and drove a two-run shot down the left field line as the Horns nabbed a quick 2-0 lead. Consecutive doubles from junior catcher Erin Shireman and Smith plated another tally as the advantage expanded to three.

Fresno State fought right back in the bottom half with a little UT assistance. Consecutive slap singles to open the game put the Bulldogs in immediate business against Slatten. On a ball in the dirt, the lead runner strayed too far off second and was cut down on a catcher to third baseman to second baseman pick off. That play proved large as a walk, a single and a Longhorns throwing error to third trying to get the lead runner brought home Fresno State's first run. Slatten soon got herself out of the threat, handling a pop-up to the circle before registering her first strikeout to leave a pair stranded.

Stephens got the run back for the Longhorns in the top of the third, driving a high pitch off Compton to center field for her fourth HR of the season as the lead improved to 4-1.

Putting the leadoff on base to start the bottom half of the third came back to hurt Texas. A lead-off single was cashed in on a one-out triple into the right center gap, while a two-out RBI double into the right field corner cut the Fresno State deficit to just one.

A leadoff double to left from by the Bulldogs started a decisive bottom of the fifth for Fresno State and signaled the end of Slatten's stay in the circle. Not long after, a walk and a RBI single finally brought Fresno State even at 4-4, while a hit batter loaded the bases with one down. A subsequent bases loaded walk, a wild pitch and another RBI single brought home three more as FSU nabbed a 7-4 advantage.

Suddenly trailing for the first time all weekend, Texas looked to mount an immediate rally in the top of the sixth. Smith got the Longhorns off to a promising start with a lead-off single up the middle. Unfortunately, a pair of promising liners to center were tracked down and a fielder's choice to short left a runner stranded.

After Fresno State added one more to its advantage in the sixth to make it 8-4, Texas came to the plate with one final chance in the seventh. Things couldn't have gotten off to a better start as sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning, Wong and Stephens managed consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. Kern walked to force in a run as UT cut its deficit to 8-5.

Following a fly out to right, Smith hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice, senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon singled and Hanzel knocked in a run on a hot shot to third as Texas drew within a single tally. With senior third baseman Stephanie Ceo at the plate, Compton uncorked a wild offering that ricocheted off the backstop but didn't escape far enough away to score Smith from third and tie the contest. That proved the Longhorns' last gasp as a ground ball to short was handled to secure Fresno State's 8-7 win.