Softball takes series over No. 16/14 Baylor with 5-0 shutout

Sunday, May 10

Austin, Texas

11 a.m.

University of Texas

37-15, 12-6

Baylor

38-15, 12-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Baylor	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Texas	0	3	0	2	0	0	X	5	5	0

Softball takes series over No. 16/14 Baylor with 5-0 shutout

05.10.2015 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman Erica Wright tosses three-hitter, while senior Gabby Smith homers for second straight day

AUSTIN, Texas – A three-hit shutout by freshman hurler Erica Wright and another homer from senior designated player Gabby Smith powered Texas (37-15, 12-6 Big 12 Conference) to a key series victory over No. 16/14 Baylor (38-15, 12-6 Big 12) and a second-place tie with the Bears in the final league standings.

Smith homered for the second straight game during her "Senior Weekend" as part of a 2-for-3, two runs, double, two-run HR, three-RBI effort, while sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning went 1-for-2 with a two-RBI single. Junior center fielder Lindsey Stephens (1-for-2, walk) and senior right fielder Marlee Gabaldon (1-for-1) each managed single hits in the victory.

Wright was dominant from the circle, allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out four in her 14th complete-game win of the campaign while improving to 18-7.

"I think this win was huge for our momentum heading into the postseason," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "We talked a lot this week about having a quality opponent to finish out the season with and a quality pitching staff to face. Both of Baylor's pitchers did a nice job. It's all about the importance of making adjustments, because that's what it's going to be like when we get into postseason. The need to have to do that this weekend was exceptional for us.

"I tell Gabby often that I'm her biggest fan. I'm not sure she believes me all the time. It kind of depends on the day. I just want to see her do it. She's such an emotional athlete. To be able to get her engaged this weekend and have her just stay even keeled and stay on the attack and have great significant at bats made me grin ear-to-ear. I know she can do that for us."

The first offensive fireworks of the match-up came from the Texas offense in the bottom of the second as the Longhorns struck for three runs on three hits against Baylor starter Heather Stearns. It all started, as it so often has in 2015, with two outs as Gabaldon ripped a single through the right side of the infield. Fellow senior Smith stepped in and blasted a ball to deep left center that ricocheted off the base of the wall. On the play, junior pinch runner Rachel Scott raced around third and arrived at the plate at the same time as the throw in from the outfield. In a big collision, Baylor catcher Robin Landrith lost hold of the ball allowing Scott to score UT's initial run. With runners stationed at the corners after junior second baseman Stephanie Ceo was struck by a pitch, Tunning laced a two-run single to right to grant the Longhorns a 3-0 advantage.

Baylor threatened for the first time in the contest during the top of the fourth as a lead-off hit-by-pitch, a one-out walk and a double steal put two in scoring position with two down. Designated player Linsey Hays came to the dish facing a big chance to power BU right back into the contest but lifted a foul pop-up behind the plate that was caught by Shireman for the third out.

The Texas advantage continue to expand in the bottom of the fourth as a one-out Scott walk was cashed in on Smith's second HR of the weekend, a two-run blast to center to make it 5-0.

Starting the top of the fifth, the Bears finally managed their first hit of the contest as shortstop Jordan Strickland drove a double to the wall in center. Wright refused to allow Baylor to string anything together, however, as consecutive fly outs to center and a strikeout of right fielder Kaitlyn Thumann left the runner stranded in scoring position.

Hays got BU off to a positive start during the Bears' final offensive chance in the top of the seventh with a single off the glove of diving third baseman Randel Leahy. That was all BU could manage, though, as a foul out behind the plate, a fielder's choice that cut down the lead runner at second and a liner back to the circle wrapped up a Texas series victory.