The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
20-9
UTSA
21-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTSA | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Texas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
Softball gets second Tuesday walk-off in sweeping UTSA, 3-2
03.24.2015 | Softball
Sophomore pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec delivers a clutch two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh
AUSTIN, Texas – Make it a two-walk-off Tuesday at Red & Charline McCombs Field as Texas softball improved to 20-9 overall after sophomore pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec laced a two-RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete a doubleheader sweep of UTSA (21-11), 3-2.
Freshman Randel Leahy (1-for-3, run) made the rally possible by fighting diligently over a 12-pitch at-bat before singling to begin the UT seventh. Junior pinch-hitter Erin Shireman followed with a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away at first, putting two Longhorns in scoring position and setting the stage for Krpec's heroics.
In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, freshman Erica Wright struck out a career-high 13 batters in improving to 8-4 on the season. The Huntington, Texas, product permitted four hits, two earned runs and walked a pair while firing her eighth complete game.
A Devon Tunning lead-off double got Texas off to a quick start against UTSA hurler Nicole Merrill in the top of the first. With the UT sophomore stationed just 60 feet from pay dirt after a groundout, a wild pitch allowed Tunning to race home with the game's opening run.
Meanwhile from the circle, Wright was in firm control early on, striking out six of the first seven batters she faced over the initial two innings.
The Longhorns' lead lasted until the top of the third when UTSA shortstop Courtney Buchman launched a two-run HR to left field allowing the Roadrunners to nab a 2-1 advantage.
UT's hurler rebounded from giving up a long ball to keep UTSA in check over the next two innings, improving her K total to an impressive 10 strikeouts over the opening five frames.
Her counterpart in the circle was doing her best to keep up with Wright as far as K's were concerned as Merrill managed eight strikeouts through five complete.
Texas mounted its most serious threat to that point in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong walked and junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens beat out a bunt single for a hit. With two aboard and no outs, a strikeout and a fielder's choice, that cut down the lead runner at third, got UTSA closer to escaping the jam. Sophomore first baseman Kelli Hanzel hit a chopper to short that Courtney Buchman misplayed for an error to load the bases. Unfortunately for Texas, Merrill registered an inning-ending strikeout as UT missed a big opportunity by leaving the trio stranded.
Bidding for some insurance in the top of the seventh, the Roadrunners got a one-out double off the bat of catcher Tess Soefje. Right fielder Taylor Oberg hit a shot in the hole between first and second that looked as if it might plate a UTSA run, but first baseman Kelli Hanzel made what turned into a huge run-preventing stop even while allowing a single. Wright soon got out of the inning with no damage done by getting left fielder Jade Smith to chop out to Tunning at short.
Leahy battled exceptionally hard leading off UT's last chance in the bottom of the seventh, fouling off pitch after pitch against Merrill over a 12-pitch at-bat before delivering a crucial lead-off single through the right side. Entered into the game as a pinch hitter, Shireman dropped a perfect bunt up the line that was thrown wide of first for an error as Texas quickly boasted two in scoring position with no one retired. That set the stage for more pinch-hit heroics from Krpec as the Fulshear, Texas, native ripped a two-RBI single up the middle to set off Burnt Orange jubilation.
Postgame Quotes
Freshman P - Erica Wright
On career-high 13 strikeouts: "It was really good. I've been doubting myself a little bit lately, so to go out there and have that good of a night before conference is hopefully going to be good and positive moving forward."
On UT's pitching in both games vs. UTSA: "I think Gabby (Smith) pitched an awesome game earlier tonight. Just having her on and confident is definitely going to help us during the conference season. It'll take everybody to win three games in a weekend."
Sophomore Pinch Hitter - Mickenzi Krpec
On her walk-off: "Erica was pitching a great game of course and kept momentum on our side the majority of time. It felt good. I did what I could and did my job. That's all I could do."
Texas Head Coach - Connie Clark
On momentum headed into conference: "I thought we competed well. That's what we talked about all week – just keep competing and good things will happen. I thought we did a really nice job with that one single focus tonight. We got the results as well. I think there's something to be said about that as you just get to the next pitch. It was good to get the results, and its good timing as we head into conference."
On the pitching performance tonight: "I think both Gabby and Erica competed just pitch to pitch and really trust their stuff. That's something that gets into their heads, especially with Erica being a freshman. She starts overthinking a little bit but both she and Gabby have really worked hard. I think they are both at a good place as we head into conference to just go in and compete. We're hoping to have Tiarra (Davis) back as well."
On win No. 750 (earned in the UTSA DH opener): "It's great, but all it means is that I've had great players in the program, and I've been here awhile. It was nice. The best part is that we got to 751 really quick."
Texas Notes
Texas has won five out of the last six doubleheaders (same opponent on same day)
Recorded consecutive walk-off wins for the first time since April 2 and April 4, 2009 (Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Iowa State). In Texas softball history, there have been two other instances of back-to-back walk-off wins in a doubleheader (vs. Florida on March 1, 2003 and vs. Oklahoma State on April 17, 1999)
After trailing 2-1, Texas rallied back to win for the seventh time this season (fourth walk-off) and is now 2-5 after trailing after six innings.
Set a new career high with 13 strikeouts and her third double-digit performance on the year. Her 13 were a team-high on the season and most since Tiarra Davis whiffed 13 batters against North Texas on March 11, 2014.
Struck out the side for two straight innings. Leads the team with four occurrences this year. (Also struck out the side twice against Charlotte on March 7.) (Gabby Smith has struck out the side three times: against Texas Southern on Feb. 27, against Ohio on March 6 and vs. UTSA on March 24; Tiarra Davis has struck out the side three times this year: twice against IPFW on Feb. 13 and once vs. Oregon on Feb. 6)
Walked two batters tonight. When pitching seven innings or more, Wright has walked three or less batters five times out of seven tries.
When leading off the game, Tunning has reached base four out of the last five games, or seven out of the last nine games.
Blasted her fifth double on the year to extend her reached base streak to a career-best 14 games
Has now reached base in a career-high 12 straight games after drawing two walks (her two walks matched a season high)
Reached base for her eight-straight game after a leadoff single in the seventh inning
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wright, Erica (8-4)
L: MERRILL, Nicole (6-5)
Batting:
2B: SOEFJE, Tess 1
HR: BUCHMAN, Courtney 1
RBI: BUCHMAN, Courtney 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BURTON, Kendall 1 ; BUCHMAN, Courtney 1
Batting:
2B: Tunning, Devon 1
RBI: Krpec, Mickenzi 2
SH: Shireman, Erin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tunning, Devon 1 ; Leahy, Randel 1 ; Ceo, Stephanie 1
