Softball completes Big 12 series sweep at No. 22 Kansas, 7-5

Sunday, March 29

Lawrence, Kan.

12 p.m.

University of Texas

23-9, 3-0

Kansas

29-5, 0-3

Texas

Kansas

Softball completes Big 12 series sweep at No. 22 Kansas, 7-5

03.29.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Lindsey Stephens goes 4-for-5 with a HR and three RBIs to lead Longhorns’ 14-hit output

LAWRENCE, Kan. – How sweep it is for Texas softball (23-9, 3-0 Big 12 Conference) as the Longhorns finished off a series sweep over No. 22 Kansas (29-5, 0-3 Big 12) on Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark, 7-5.

Junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens led a 14-hit UT offensive attack, going 4-for-5 with her team-leading ninth HR and three RBIs. Sophomore first baseman Kelli Hanzel went 2-for-3 with a run scored, a double and two RBIs, while sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong (2-for-5, two runs, triple, RBI) and sophomore designated player Mickenzi Krpec (2-for-4, run) each registered a pair of hits. Freshman catcher Randel Leahy also knocked in a run as part of a 1-for-4 effort.

In the circle for the Horns, freshman Erica Wright (10-4) picked up her 10th victory of the season, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs with a walk and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Fellow rookie hurler Kristen Clark earned her first collegiate save after permitting a hit, two walks and striking out one over 0.2 of a frame.

The Longhorns grabbed a first-inning advantage for the third consecutive day by taking a 1-0 lead against starter Sophia Templin. Wong continued her torrid hitting, getting the threat started by driving a one-out triple off the wall in right. The Austin, Texas, product didn't have to loiter long at third as Stephens chopped a RBI single through the right side of the infield. The lead could have been even larger after hits by Krpec and Hanzel loaded the bags with two outs. Unfortunately, a pop-up to short left the trio stranded on the base paths as UT missed a chance to blow the contest open.

The Texas lead didn't last long as Kansas used the long ball to secure its first lead of the series at 2-1. Lead-off batter Lily Behrmann hit a solo HR to right starting the bottom of the first and third baseman Chanin Naudin added a solo shot that just scraped over wall in left center during the second.

Texas' offense was hitting starter Sophia Templin to the tune of five base knocks over the opening two frames, so it was just a matter of time before more scoreboard damage would be done. The rally got started with one down in the top of the third as a Krpec walk and a Gabby Smith single put two aboard for Hanzel. The Houston, Texas, native delivered in the clutch with a two-RBI double to left center as the Horns swiped back the advantage at 3-2. The decision was made to summon KU ace Alicia Pille into the contest in relief of Templin. She immediately induced a fly out to center, allowing Hanzel to advance 60 feet, but gave up a RBI single to Leahy as the UT lead expanded to 4-2.

KU cut into its deficit on another HR during the bottom of the third as designated player Daniella Chavez hit a drive that squeezed inside the right field fair pole to make it 4-3.

The base runners continued almost unabated for the Horns as a Stephens single and a Smith hit-by-pitch put two more aboard with one down in the fourth. The left on base total grew to nine, however, as consecutive ground balls left the duo stranded in scoring position.

The Jayhawks played a little small ball to get another threat underway in the bottom of the fourth as center fielder Briana Evans and second baseman Taylor McElhaney managed consecutive one-out bunt singles. That brought up the top two hitters by average in the KU line-up in the form of Behrmann and shortstop Chaley Brickey. Wright got Behrmann to fly out harmlessly to left, but Brickey followed with a sharp liner to right center. Gabaldon raced over from her defensive position in right and made a run-saving leaping catch to preserve Texas' one-run advantage.

What proved to be the decisive Kansas miscue with two down in the fifth opened the door for the Burnt Orange & White to add three more tallies. After left fielder Shannon McGinley dropped sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning's fly ball that should have served as the third out, Texas took full advantage. With Tunning at second, Wong blooped a RBI single just inside the right field line to make it 5-3. Stephens followed immediately with a two-run blast to right center, her team-best ninth HR of the season, expanding the advantage to four scores.

The Jayhawks continued fighting, however, as Chavez hit her second HR of the game in the fifth and Brickey added a solo shot in the seventh as KU clawed within 7-5.

With one retired in the seventh and Clark in the contest in relief, a Chavez single and walks to Jessie Roane and Naudin put the winning run on base. The freshman hurler responded to the pressure of the huge spot by striking out Evans on a 3-2 pitch to complete the sweep.