Softball wins thrilling extra-inning affair over Arkansas, 8-7 (9 inn.)

Saturday, March 14

Fayetteville, Ark.

6 p.m.

University of Texas

16-8

Arkansas

13-12

Texas

Arkansas

Softball wins thrilling extra-inning affair over Arkansas, 8-7 (9 inn.)

03.14.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Junior pinch hitter Holly Kern delivers clutch, game-tying RBI single with two outs in the seventh

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – On Saturday night at Bogle Park, Texas (16-8) fought back from numerous deficits, got clutch plays from all over the diamond and tied a season-high with 15 total hits in winning a slugfest over Arkansas (13-12) during the two teams' series opener, 8-7 (9 inn.).

Junior pinch hitter Holly Kern delivered the biggest hit of the contest with a clutch, two-out RBI single to center in the seventh to tie the game at 7-7, while sophomore first baseman Kelli Hanzel came through with a vital double and scored the winning tally in the ninth. Senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon saved the Longhorns defensively with a huge diving catch near the foul line in the bottom of the eighth to stop the potential winning run from scoring.

With six innings of scoreless relief, senior pitcher Gabby Smith extended her career-best shutout-inning streak to 21.0 consecutive frames. The Houston, Texas, native allowed three hits, walked three and struck out 10 in improving to a perfect 4-0 in 2015.

Junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens led the Longhorns attack at the plate by going 3-for-5 with her team-leading seventh HR, a steal and four RBIs. Freshman third baseman Randel Leahy posted a career-high 3-for-5 effort with a RBI, Hanzel was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and junior second baseman Stephanie Ceo went 2-for-3 with two tallies. Sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong (1-for-5) and Kern were each credited with a RBI in the victory.

Thanks to a terrific and arguably very fortunate Arkansas defensive play, Texas missed a golden chance to nab an quick lead in the top of the first. Consecutive one-out singles from Wong and Stephens as well as a two-out Smith walk loaded the bases against UA starter Grace Moll. Hanzel stepped into the batter's box and likely couldn't have hit a line drive any harder. Unfortunately for the Horns, her liner was snagged in an almost defensive posture by Moll as UT left the bags packed.

Having escaped the first inning jam with no damage, Arkansas immediately struck first in the bottom half of the opening frame against Texas freshman starter Erica Wright. With catcher Shelby Hiers stationed at first via walk, center fielder Stephanie Canfield power-slapped a two-run shot that just cleared the wall in center to make it 2-0. Despite permitting a base knock to shortstop Jessica Harrison, Wright rebounded to induce a pop-up and record a K to end an eventful opening inning for both offenses.

The fireworks continued into second as Texas fought back to tie the match-up at 2-2. Gabaldon got things started with a leadoff base knock to short and was soon joined on the base paths via an infield hit off Ceo's bat. That set the stage for a crucial Razorback miscue as sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning's bouncer to short was misplayed, loading the bases full of Longhorns for the second straight inning. With two outs, after what likely would have served as an inning-ending fielder's choice, but instead plated a run, Stephens ripped a RBI single to right to dead-lock things at two apiece.

Third baseman Madison Yannetti's lead-off double to start the bottom of the second set the stage for Arkansas to re-take the lead. With two retired, first baseman Devon Wallace ripped a single past her counterpart at first, plating Yannetti easily from 60 feet away to make it 3-2.

Arkansas' defense again saved the Razorbacks a run during the top of the third. With Smith in scoring position and two down after opening the frame with a single, Leahy blooped a promising base hit to right. Unfortunately for the Horns, UA's Autumn Russell came up throwing, nailing Smith at the plate to conclude the threat.

The Longhorns' offense got back in business starting the fourth as Ceo christened the frame by hustling hard to beat out a bunt single. Tunning immediately followed with a double into the left center gap, placing a pair aboard with the heart of the Texas order stepping to the dish. Stephens soon powered the Longhorns to their initial lead of the night at 5-3 as the Beaumont, Texas, product blasted a Moll offering the other way to left for her team-high seventh HR of the season.

Opening the bottom of the fourth by issuing a walk and hitting a batter quickly came back to haunt Texas. With two Razorbacks on, a perfect Russell bunt found a hole between charging infielders for a single as pinch runner Kylie Smith scored from second to make it 5-4. The damage soon got worse for UT as a ball that got away behind the plate and a two-run Canfield single off reliever Smith moved Arkansas back into the lead at 7-5.

Things settled down during the fifth and sixth innings as Smith and UA reliever Sydney Wright kept things under control from the circle.

Facing one final chance to extend the contest, Smith got Texas off to a great start by drawing a lead-off walk. Hanzel, who had been robbed of two potential hits on line drives earlier in the contest, finally got a break by ripping a single through the left side. Leahy stepped to the dish with one down and hit into a RBI groundout to short as UT clawed within a run. With Hanzel representing the tying score at third and two outs, Kern delivered her clutch RBI single to center, dead-locking the scoreboard at 7-7.

The Razorbacks threatened with one out in the bottom of the seventh as designated player Kate James singled and Yannetti walked. Smith again proved up to the task, however, striking out pinch hitter Sierra Bronkey before inducing a pop-up to short as the teams ventured to extra frames.

The slugfest nearly ended with two down in the bottom of the eighth as Harrison drove a dangerous shot down the line in right. With an Arkansas runner on the move, Gabaldon raced over and dove fully extended to make an amazing game-saving grab.

That play seemed to ignite the Longhorns in the ninth as UT plated a run to nab an 8-7 advantage. Hanzel did the hard work for Texas, doubling to left with one down, advancing to third on a crucial passed ball and racing home after delaying briefly on a grounder to short.

UA had one final opportunity to tie or win the match-up in the ninth, but Smith refused to allow the Razorbacks to get anything going. She registered consecutive strikeouts before getting a pop-up to first to end a thrilling victory.