No. 25 Softball falls to No. 2 Oregon, 9-0 (5 inn.)

Friday, February 6

Tempe, Ariz.

7:30 p.m.

University of Texas

1-1

Oregon

2-0

Oregon

Texas

No. 25 Softball falls to No. 2 Oregon, 9-0 (5 inn.)

02.07.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Texas will return to action on Sat., Feb. 7, against Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. CT

TEMPE, Ariz. – On Friday night at the Kajikawa Classic, Texas fell to 1-1 on the young season with a 9-0 (5 inn.) loss to No. 2 Oregon (2-0).

UO All-American hurler Cheridan Hawkins limited the Longhorns to just two hits, singles by UT All-American center fielder Lindsey Stephens and sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning. With her hit, Stephens has now reached base safely in eight consecutive contests dating back to the end of the 2014 campaign.

Sophomore hurler Tiarra Davis took the loss in the circle for Texas, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with four walks and five K's over 3.0 innings. In her first career collegiate action, freshman Kristen Clark permitted one earned run on five hits with a walk and a strikeout over 2.0 frames of relief.

Texas was victimized early on by the long ball as Oregon's Janie Takeda and Jenna Lilley each blasted solo HR's to christen the first and second innings, respectively.

The Longhorns managed a single base runner during each of the first two frames against Hawkins but couldn't string enough together for a concerted threat. Stephens continued her impressive opening day effort with a single in the first, and Davis was struck by a pitch starting the second.

Up 3-0 through two complete, the Duck offense got another threat started in the third as a leadoff single by Janelle Lindvall, a bloop base knock by Geri Ann Glasco and a single from Nikki Udria filled the diamond full of Ducks. Davis refused to budge, however, striking out Koral Costa and inducing a routine "can of corn" to right from Danica Mercado to conclude the threat.

Junior catcher Erin Shireman granted the Burnt Orange & White offense some life in the bottom of the third by earning a lead-off free pass off Hawkins. Following a popped-up Texas sacrifice attempt, Tunning delivered a sharp single through the right side. Unfortunately, Hawkins responded to the threat with back-to-back K's as UO maintained its three-run advantage.

With the bases full in the top of the fourth, Oregon's Janelle Lindvall delivered the decisive hit with a three-run triple into the left field corner, plating a trio of Ducks as UO nabbed a 6-0 advantage. Koral Costa soon expanded Texas' deficit to eight on a two-run single back up the middle.

The Longhorns continued to battle in the bottom of the fourth. Davis walked, a long drive to left center by senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon was dropped for an error and Shireman drew a free pass to pack the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, a strikeout ended the scoring chance as Texas' left-on-base count grew to six.

Oregon would later add to its advantage in the top of the fifth as a two-out Glasco RBI single plated Lilly to make it 9-0.

With one final chance to extend the contest, the Longhorns went down in order against Hawkins in the bottom of the fifth.

Game Notes

-- In suffering the loss, Tiarra Davis still needs just one more win for 20 in her brief Texas career.

-- Texas is now 178-185-1 all-time against ranked teams, 67-97 versus Top 10 foes and 7-14 against squads rated No. 2.

-- With a first inning single, junior Lindsey Stephens has now reached base in eight straight games dating back to the end of the 2014 season.

-- UT is now 223-78-2 all-time in the month of February and 9-3 all-time at the Kajikawa Classic.