No. 25 Softball cruises past Dartmouth, 7-1

Sunday, March 1

Austin, Texas

10 a.m.

University of Texas

12-7

Dartmouth

2-7

Dartmouth

Texas

03.01.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman pitcher Erica Wright strikes out a career-high 10 in the victory.

AUSTIN, Texas – A five-run first inning set the right tone for the Longhorns and freshman starter Erica Wright struck out a career-high 10 as No. 25 Texas (12-7) powered past Dartmouth on Sunday in Texas Invitational action, 7-1.

Junior catcher Erin Shireman knocked in four runs while going 2-for-3 at the dish with a double and her first career grand slam, while junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and her team-leading sixth HR of 2015. Sophomore second baseman Mickenzi Krpec was also credited with a RBI as part of a 1-for-2 effort with a walk.

Wright (5-3) was again solid from the circle, allowing one earned run on six hits with two walks and a career-high 10 K's during her sixth complete game. The Huntington, Texas, native had a streak of 28 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run broken up via a Dartmouth HR in the top of the fourth.

Dartmouth threatened right from the start of the contest, putting a pair aboard in the top of the first on singles from center fielder Megan Averitt and first baseman Madeline Damore. With runners stationed at the corners and two outs, UT's rookie hurler proved up to the task, striking out second baseman Madison Smith to end the threat with no damage.

Texas' offense was ready for action on a chilly and damp Sunday morning as sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning and sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong started off the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles. A Stephens free pass loaded the bases, setting the stage for Shireman to blast her first career grand slam over the 220 mark in center to make it 4-0.

The advantage soon grew even larger as a Gabby Smith hit-by-pitch and walks to sophomore first baseman Kelli Hanzel, freshman third baseman Randel Leahy and Krpec forced in Texas' fifth run. Wong nearly added to UT's advantage on a bouncer that threatened to slide through the right side of the infield. Dartmouth's Smith made a great diving play, however, throwing from her knees to just catch the Longhorns speedster for the final out.

The Big Green finally broke up Wright's streak of 28 straight innings without allowing an earned run starting the fourth as Damore hit a solo HR to center to cut the deficit to 5-1.

DC got two more on base in the top of the sixth as a Damore double and a Chloe Madill single put runners at the corners with two down. Wright made the pitch she needed to leave them stranded by getting designated player Morgan McCalmon to pop up routinely to second.

The long ball made another appearance for the Longhorns in the bottom of the sixth as Stephens hammered her team-leading sixth HR of the season over the wall in right to make it 7-1.

From there it was left to Wright to close the deal, and she did just that by striking out pinch hitters Claire Bird and Karen Chaw back-to-back to end the contest.

Team Notes

Series: This marked the second-ever meeting between the teams, with UT now leading the series 2-0. Texas won the first one with a late run in the bottom of the 7th on Friday at the Texas Invitational, 1-0.

No holding back: The Burnt Orange and White wasted no time getting on the board as they scored five runs during their first inning. The Horns are now 3-0 when they score five or more runs during the first inning this season.

Grand Slam away! The Horns registered their third grand slam of the season through 19 games, tying for the third-most grand slams in a single season in Texas Softball history.

Texas knocking it out of the park: The Longhorns offense was in full swing as it homered twice, setting UT's record to 6-1 when the hit 2+ home runs in the game in 2015.

Take the lead and don't look back: Texas improved to 10-2 this season when scoring the first run.