Softball wins a heart-stopper over Arkansas, 6-5 (8 inn.)

Saturday, February 13

Austin, Texas

3:30 p.m.

University of Texas

4-0

Arkansas

1-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Arkansas	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	5	5	0
Texas	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	3	6	12	0

Softball wins a heart-stopper over Arkansas, 6-5 (8 inn.)

02.13.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel completed another late-game UT rally on a walk-off infield single

AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday night in Texas Classic action at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas improved its overall record to a perfect 4-0, on the strength of another stirring rally, as the Longhorns battled past Arkansas (1-3) in an extra-inning heart-stopper, 6-5 (8 inn.).

Demonstrating their propensity for late-game heroics, the Longhorns have now trailed in three of their four 2016 match-ups and have rallied to win each time. In all, 20 of UT's 23 combined team runs this season have been scored in the fourth inning or later.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, after the Razorbacks battled their way out of a 2-0 hole during the top half, Texas utilized a key two-out sacrifice fly from junior left fielder Stephanie Wong to tie the game and force extra innings.

Facing a two-tally deficit in the bottom of the eighth with the international tiebreaker rule in effect (runner placed at second to begin each half inning), the Horns loaded the bags with no outs, From there, a run-scoring wild pitch and consecutive RBI singles from senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo and junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel completed the stirring comeback to win.

"What a great day for our team and what exciting finishes to today's games," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "Our players really came together. What a great team effort. We used everybody in the line-up, and it took everybody in the line-up to get a pair of wins."

Ceo led the Texas offense via a 2-for-3 effort with her second triple of the young campaign and two RBIs, while freshman third baseman Christina Bardwell added a 2-for-4 performance. Wong (1-for-3), Hanzel (1-for-3, run) and senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens (1-for-3) all managed single RBIs in the triumph. Junior shortstop Devon Tunning went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, sophomore Kristen Clark was very impressive in earning her initial win of 2016, allowing one earned run on only two hits with four walks and a strikeout over a career-high 8.0 innings of work.

Texas broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, taking a 1-0 lead via a two-out outburst against Arkansas starter Grace Moll. Senior catcher Erin Shireman got things underway by driving a single the other direction to right. The Pearland, Texas, native soon kicked it into overdrive, racing all the way around to score from first on Ceo's RBI triple down the right field line.

Tunning got the Longhorns offense going again in the bottom of the fifth by lacing a two-out double into the left field corner. Wong followed immediately by ripping a base knock up the middle, taking second on a preventative throw to the plate as the lead runner improved within 60 feet of pay dirt. That set the stage for Stephens as the Beaumont, Texas, product blooped a RBI single just over third base and onto the outfield grass to make it 2-0.

Looking for some valuable insurance, the Burnt Orange & White put two more on base in the bottom of the sixth via a Celina Felix walk and a Christina Bardwell base knock. Unfortunately, a strikeout and an unassisted fielder's choice at second left the duo stranded.

Facing one final opportunity to extend the game, Arkansas did major damage via the long ball as an Autumn Russell lead-off single was cashed in on a two-run blast to left off the bat of first baseman Nicole Schroeder. Ashley Diaz followed immediately with a solo shot of her own down the left field line and suddenly the Razorbacks owned their first lead of the night at 3-2.

Needing even more of their early-season, late-game heroics, the Horns got off to the right start as junior pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec blasted a lead-off single through the right side. After a perfect Tunning sacrifice bunt and a passed ball advanced the runner to third, Wong drove a sac fly down the left field line, scoring Hanzel from 60 feet away to tie the contest at 3-3.

Having started the eighth with a runner at second via the international tiebreaker rule, Arkansas utilized three walks and a hit batter to force in a pair of one-out tallies and grab a 5-3 advantage.

As usual, Texas refused to go down without putting up a fight, loading the bags with no outs on the strength of the runner starting the frame at second, a Felix walk and a sharp single to left by freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway. With two quick outs on a K and a fielder's choice force at the plate, a wild pitch scored Felix from 60 feet away to make it 5-4 Arkansas. Ceo followed with a clutch single to right field, Hathaway to tie things up at 5-all. That set the stage for Hanzel as the Houston, Texas, native completed another Longhorns rally on a sharp single to second base as senior pinch runner Rachel Scott raced home to seal a 6-5 victory.