No. 25 Softball’s stirring comeback tops Houston, 13-12

Wednesday, April 1

Houston, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

24-9

Houston

17-18

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	2	0	1	0	4	4	2	13	14	3
Houston	2	0	3	5	0	1	1	12	12	1

No. 25 Softball’s stirring comeback tops Houston, 13-12

04.01.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Longhorns rally from seven-run deficit in the fifth and hit four total HR’s in victory

HOUSTON, Texas – It proved a rally for the ages as Texas (24-9) blasted four HR's and battled back from a seven-run, fifth-inning deficit to outlast a tough Houston (17-18) team in front of a crowd of 1,501 on Wednesday night at Cougar Softball Stadium, 13-12.

With the victory the Longhorns have now won seven-straight road games, and at 8-1 in true road match-ups this season, are now tied for the second-best road record after nine games in program history (2011, 2012, 2013). UT has also won six-consecutive games overall, marking the squad's longest winning streak of the 2015 campaign.

Junior designated player Holly Kern led Texas' 14-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, her first career grand slam (UT's fourth of the season) and a team-leading five RBIs. Sophomore left fielder Stephanie Wong was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a clutch go-ahead two-run single in the top of the seventh, a HR and three RBIs. Junior catcher Erin Shireman was 1-for-3 with a three-run HR (her eighth), junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens was 2-for-5 with two tallies, her team-best 10th HR and two RBIs, sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of doubles and junior second baseman Stephanie Ceo was 2-for-4 with two tallies.

In the circle freshman Kristen Clark improved to 3-1 overall by tossing 4.0 innings in relief of fellow rookie starter Erica Wright.

With a stiff wind blowing straight out of the Cougar Softball Stadium, Texas' often precocious offense took full advantage from the start by scoring in the opening inning for the fifth-consecutive contest. Tunning started the game by driving a shot to center that cleared the fielder and bounced off the wall for a lead-off double. Following a strikeout, Stephens blasted a pitch to right field as Houston's Tiffani McKnight drifted back in an attempt to make a play. The UH defender appeared to catch the ball at the very top of the fence, but her collision with the railing knocked the ball out of her glove for a two-run HR.

Houston wasted no time tying the contest in the bottom of the first as a lead-off walk to center fielder Katie St. Pierre was quickly cashed in on shortstop Selena Hernandez' two-run shot to right center to make it 2-2. The threat continued as third baseman Shelby Miller followed with a double off the wall in left. A miscommunication on the Texas infield allowed pitcher Julana Shrum to reach on a single as the Cougars stationed runners at the corners with one retired. Wright battled to avoid any further damage, however, by striking out first baseman Courtney Klingler and getting McKnight to line out to second.

The long ball made another appearance starting the top of the third as Wong hammered a Shrum offering well over the wall in center for a solo HR to give Texas back the advantage at 3-2.

A dropped foul ball during Hernandez' at-bat opened the door for a one-out walk in the bottom of the third as the Cougars threatened again. A single to the outfield was misplayed for an error as the runner raced all the way around from first to tie the contest. Shrum immediately stepped to the dish and hit a two-run shot to center as UH secured its first lead of the night at 5-3.

The Cougars threatened again in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases against reliever Clark with one down. A bases-loaded walk forced in Houston's sixth run of the contest, while Shrum followed with the major damage on a grand slam to right center as UH's lead expanded to 10-3.

Ceo got Texas' offense off and rolling in the fifth, leading off the frame with a perfect bunt single out in front of the plate. Tunning followed by driving a double the other way off the wall in left and suddenly the Longhorns had two in scoring position. After an error on Hernandez at short loaded the bases, Kern stepped to the plate with one out and blasted her first career and Texas' fourth grand slam of the season to draw UT within 10-7. A strikeout/wild pitch combo and consecutive walks to sophomore pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec and freshman third baseman Randel Leahy loaded the bags again with two retired. Unfortunately for the Horns, a bouncer to second ended the outburst, but not before Texas got within three on the scoreboard.

Texas' amazing comeback reached its zenith during the sixth as consecutive one-out singles up the middle from Wong and Stephens started off the key scoring threat. Kern delivered a RBI single to pull UT within a pair of runs. Shireman followed by driving a three-run shot to center, handing the Longhorns a stunning, 11-10 lead.

Again the UT advantage wouldn't last as Houston got a Hernandez HR to tie things up at 11-all in the bottom of the sixth.

Wong continued her amazing night at the plate with two on in the seventh, following Leahy and Ceo singles with a clutch two-RBI base knock to left as the Longhorns edged in front again, 13-11.

Houston refused to quit as a two-out St. Pierre double to left and a RBI single from left fielder Kaylin Crumpton drew UH within one tally. A base knock through the right side of the infield from the dangerous Hernandez put the winning run on base for Miller. She hit a bouncer that threatened to escape through the right side of the infield. Ceo raced over and made a grab on the run, however, settling herself and tossing on to first to complete Texas' stirring comeback.