Softball walks off with Clark’s 750th victory in 2-1 win over UTSA

Tuesday, March 24

Austin, Texas

5 p.m.

University of Texas

19-9

UTSA

21-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UTSA	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	1
Texas	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	7	0

Softball walks off with Clark’s 750th victory in 2-1 win over UTSA

03.24.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Junior Lindsey Stephens delivers seventh-inning RBI double to seal UT’s third walk-off win of 2015

AUSTIN, Texas – On Tuesday night during the opening game of a doubleheader at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas (19-9) again summoned the dramatics for the home crowd as junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens laced a walk-off RBI double down the right field line in the seventh inning to lead UT past UTSA (21-10), 2-1.

The victory marked the 750th all-time for both head coach Connie Clark and the Texas varsity softball program dating back to the start of the 1997 campaign.

Stephens (2-for-4) and sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong (2-for-3) each managed two hits, a double and a RBI to power the offense. Freshman third baseman Randel Leahy (1-for-2, run, double), senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon (1-for-2) and sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning (1-for-4, run), who started the decisive seventh-inning rally via a lead-off single, all managed hits in the contest.

In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, senior Gabby Smith (6-1) got back in the win column, scattering six hits and allowing one earned run with a walk and seven strikeouts over a complete-game effort.

Both teams registered offensive threats during the initial inning as UTSA and Texas each left runners stranded at first and second in the opening frame. Wong managed the Longhorns' first hit of the contest on a perfect one-out bunt single, stretching her career-long hitting streak to seven games and her skein of reaching base safely to a career-best 11 contests.

The story of the early-going was definitely missed opportunities as each team left four on base over the opening two-and-a-half innings.

That number grew even larger for the Longhorns in the third. Wong kept her hot streak at the plate going by christening the frame with her first double of the season. Stephens attempted to sacrifice but hustled down the line to beat out a single, putting two on with still no one retired. Unfortunately for Texas, UTSA hurler Kacy Freeze tight-roped out of danger, inducing a pop-up to short, a strikeout and a liner to third to end the frame with no damage.

The Roadrunners stationed a pair of base with two outs in the top of the fourth on singles by catcher Tess Soefje and right fielder Taylor Oberg. Smith again proved up to the challenge from the circle, however, by getting left fielder Jade Smith to ground out harmlessly to first.

Texas finally broke the scoreless dead-lock in the bottom of the fourth by grabbing a 1-0 advantage. A Gabaldon single, a Leahy double and a Stephanie Ceo hit-by-pitch set the stage by loading the bases with no outs. After a fielder's choice cut down the lead runner at the dish, Wong finally knocked in a Horns' first score on a RBI groundout to second base. With two still in scoring position, Stephens hit a promising blooper to left center, but UT was denied more on the scoreboard on a tough Smith diving catch.

The Texas lead lasted exactly three batters as first baseman Megan Low drove a two-out solo HR over the left field wall in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1.

UTSA earned a one-out base runner in the seventh on a Smith single, but Texas' defense quickly erased her from the base paths. Center fielder Kendall Burton hit a sharp liner that was snagged by Tunning, and the UT shortstop fired quickly to first for an inning-ending double play.

With one final chance to end the contest before requiring extra inning, Texas came through with a walk-off victory. As she so often does, Tunning started the frame with a lead-off infield single. Following a perfect Wong sacrifice bunt, Stephens delivered a clutch, walk-off RBI double down the right field line as the Longhorns prevailed, 2-1.

Texas Notes

The Longhorns are now 35-5-1 against the Roadrunners in the all-time series
Connie Clark, who is the only coach in program history, picked up her 750th career win.
The Horns are now 750-325-3.
Texas is 4-1 after being tied after six innings and has outscored its opponents, 22-13, in the seventh inning or later.

Stephanie Wong