Softball drops series opener to No. 5 Oklahoma, 8-0

Friday, April 10

Austin, Texas

4 p.m.

University of Texas

27-10, 3-1

Oklahoma

34-5, 7-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Oklahoma	2	0	0	1	2	1	2	8	17	0
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0

Softball drops series opener to No. 5 Oklahoma, 8-0

04.10.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning led Texas with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate

AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 5 Oklahoma (34-5, 7-0 Big 12 Conference) banged out 17 hits in taking the opening game of a doubleheader from Texas (27-10, 3-1 Big 12), 8-0.

Sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning led the UT offense by going 2-for-3 at the dish, while junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens went 1-for-3 against Oklahoma freshman starter Paige Parker.

In the circle for the Longhorns, freshman Erica Wright fell to 11-5 for the year after allowing five earned runs on 13 hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work (season-high 157 pitches). Sophomore hurler Lauren Slatten permitted three earned runs on four hits with two walks and two K's in 2.1 frames of relief.

The powerful Sooner offense made an early statement in the top of the first as a Lauren Chamberlain lead-off double was immediately cashed in on a two-run HR to left by shortstop Shelby Pendley. Despite a single from right fielder Erin Miller, Wright settled in from the circle, striking out both second baseman Georgia Casey and center fielder Nicole Pendley to end the frame.

Tunning got the Longhorns off to a promising start in the bottom of the first against Parker, singling on the infield to stretch her streak of reaching base safely to 22 consecutive games. Unfortunately, the next three in UT's line-up went down in order to leave a runner stranded.

Wright danced her way out of more danger during the Sooners' third after giving up consecutive singles to christen the frame. With runners at the corners and no outs, Miller hit a bouncer to second. Junior second baseman Stephanie Ceo charged to corral the ball and fired a strike to the plate where junior catcher Erin Shireman expertly blocked Shelby Pendley from scoring while applying a run-saving tag. UT's hurler followed with a strikeout of Casey before allowing Nicole Pendley to walk to load the bases. Left fielder Kady Self stepped to the dish facing a big opportunity but was forced to pop-up to Tunning at short.

Texas' best scoring chance of the game came during the bottom of the third as Tunning's two-out single down the left field line and a Wong walk stationed a pair of Longhorns on the base paths. Stephens tried to surprise the Sooners with a quick bunt up the first base line, but was retired by a step to conclude the threat with no damage.

The OU lead expanded starting the fourth as a walk and consecutive singles from designated player Tori Nirschl and Chamberlain plated Oklahoma's third tally.

RBIs from Ellis and Nirschl pushed the Sooners' advantage to 5-0 in the top of the fifth. The lead could have been more with two on and two outs except for a tremendous defensive play by the Longhorns. Shelby Pendley lined a dying quail to right field that threatened to drop in for at least a single. Senior Marlee Gabaldon charged in quickly, however, and made another in her line of great diving catches this season to keep OU from adding anymore on the scoreboard.

After the Sooners tacked on another in the top of the sixth, Stephens tried to get the UT offense going on a one-out single to right. With two down following a K, Shireman absolutely ripped a promising liner to first, but right to Chamberlain as she made the inning-ending grab.

Shelby Pendley and Miller RBIs finalized OU's offensive output in the top of the seventh at eight runs.

With one last offensive chance, Texas went down in order against Parker in the seventh to wrap up OU's 8-0 triumph.