No. 25 Softball powers past Texas State, 10-2 (5 inn.)

Friday, April 3

San Marcos, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

25-9

Texas State

22-16

Texas

Texas State

No. 25 Softball powers past Texas State, 10-2 (5 inn.)

04.03.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Longhorns blast three HR’s in win, while Wright throws first career one-hitter

SAN MARCOS, Texas – On a blustery Friday night in front of the second-largest crowd (986) in Bobcat Softball Stadium history, Texas' bats remained red hot as the Longhorns (25-9) blasted three more HR's in blowing past Texas State (22-16), 10-2 (5 inn.).

With the victory, UT has now won a season-best seven consecutive games and eight straight road contests. At 9-1 overall this year away from the friendly confines of McCombs Field, the Longhorns have also equaled the best 10-game road start in school history (2011, 2014).

Sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning (2-for-2, three runs scored, two walks, two HR's, two RBIs) led the 12-hit team offensive charge by posting her first career two-HR game and the first multi-HR effort for any Longhorns player since Lindsey Stephens turned the trick at Iowa State back on April 11, 2014.

Stephens was 2-for-2 with a pair of tallies, her team-leading 11th HR of 2015, and three RBIs. Junior catcher Erin Shireman went 2-for-3 with a run, a double and two RBIs, sophomore first baseman Kelli Hanzel was 1-for-4 with a score and a RBI, junior second baseman Stephanie Ceo doubled as part of a 1-for-3, run, RBI performance and freshman third baseman Randel Leahy knocked in a tally while going 1-for-2 at the dish.

For UT, freshman Erica Wright tossed her first career one-hitter, allowing two runs, walking three and striking out four.

Texas' offense picked up where it left off on Wednesday in Houston as the Horns struck for four runs while batting around in the top of the first. Tunning wasted no time getting UT on the board in the opening frame for the sixth consecutive game by blasting a lead-off solo HR over the wall in left center. A one-out Stephens walk was soon cashed in by Shireman on a double into the gap at left center. After a wild pitch moved the runner within 60 feet of pay dirt, three straight singles by Hanzel (RBI), senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon and Leahy (RBI) pushed the Horns advantage to 4-0.

After Wright rolled through the Bobcat line-up in order during TSU's initial at-bat, the Longhorns offense got the bats going again during a three-run second. Tunning christened the frame with another long ball to left, sealing her first career two-HR game and the first multi-HR game of the season for any Longhorns player, as the lead expanded to five runs. Stephens soon followed a Stephanie Wong walk with her team-leading 11th HR of the season, on a shot to right, as the lead grew to 7-0.

The Bobcats cut their deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of the second as a lead-off walk was cashed in on a two-run HR down the right field line by first baseman Kendall Wiley.

The Longhorns quickly restored their seven-run advantage in the third as Ceo followed a lead-off Gabaldon free pass with a RBI double to the wall in right center. With the bags packed via a Tunning walk and a Wong hit-by-pitch, Stephens hammered a towering shot to left. TSU's Lexi Fryar drifted back and battled a gusty wind to make a catch at the base of the wall as UT just missed a grand slam. Ceo did race home on the lengthy sacrifice fly, however, to make it 9-2.

After Texas State left a pair stranded in the bottom of the fourth, the Burnt Orange & White pushed its offensive output into double figures. A Tunning walk and consecutive singles from Wong and Stephens through the right side loaded the bases with no one retired. After a sharp liner to short, Shireman stepped to the plate and laced a sacrifice fly to right, plating Tunning from 60 feet away to improve the lead to 10-2.

Suddenly faced with having to score to avoid the run-rule, Texas State managed a one-out walk against Wright. That was all the Bobcats could manage, however, as UT's freshman hurler finished off her first collegiate one-hitter.