No. 24 Softball knocks off Houston, 4-1

Sunday, February 21

Houston, Texas

2 p.m.

University of Texas

10-0

Houston

6-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	4	10	0
Houston	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	1

02.21.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Longhorns improve to 10-0 to start the season for the sixth time in school history; first time since 2013

HOUSTON, Texas – For the sixth time in school history, the Longhorns have opened a season a perfect 10-0 as No. 24 Texas got a complete game from junior pitcher Tiarra Davis and single RBIs from junior shortstop Devon Tunning, junior left fielder Stephanie Wong and freshman third baseman Christina Bardwell in downing Houston (6-4) on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,674 fans at the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational, 4-1.

During the five-game event, Texas batted a remarkable .403 overall as a team, outscored its opponents by a 48-8 count, blasted 19 extra-base hits, including 11 HR's, swiped 11 bases and posted a team OPS of 1.267.

Davis was solid from the circle against the Cougars, allowing one earned run on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings of work while improving to 6-0 this season. The Henderson, Texas, native also helped her own cause at the plate with a double and a run scored during a seventh-inning insurance outburst as part of a 2-for-4 effort.

Tunning (2-for-4, RBI) and junior designated player Celina Felix (2-for-3, run, walk) each posted two of Texas' 10 total hits in the match-up, while Bardwell was 1-for-2 with a run scored and a RBI.

"It was a great weekend," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "We love that we're getting some practice for what will happen in conference, seeing the same opponent twice like we did with Toledo and Ball State and having to make adjustments the second time we face them. Houston was a great exclamation point today, having that as the final game after a long weekend and playing on their home turf with a lot of red in the stands. I thought we battled well. Even though we had some trials today, it took us a little time to solve the pitching, we made the adjustments. There were some good conversations going. All weekend we were able to use our entire (available) bench. It's been nice to be able to try to match up our pinch hitting with the pitching we're seeing at the moment. Overall, it was a good team effort this weekend."

After leaving the bases loaded in the top of the first, Texas didn't waste its next opportunity in the top of the second by jumping on Houston starter Savannah Heebner in securing a 2-0 lead. A Bardwell single to left got things underway while junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (1-for-3, run) soon added a base knock to center and a steal as the Longhorns boasted two in scoring position with one down. A Tunning bloop single down the left field line plated Bardwell, while Wong followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Hanzel.

Houston designated player Julana Shrum attempted to get the Cougar offense started in the bottom of the second by leading off the frame with a single. Davis continued to prove she was in firm control from the circle, however, by retiring the next three batters she faced with two strikeouts.

The Horns missed big chances to add to their lead in the third and fourth innings. Consecutive Reagan Hathaway and Davis base knocks and a two-out Hanzel walk loaded the bases in the third before a routine grounder to third left the trio stranded. With two more on the base paths during the fourth, Hathaway stepped in with two outs and lifted a promising drive to the warning track that was tracked down as the Texas left-on count grew to nine through four innings.

Still looking for a scoreboard breakthrough, the Cougars got a hit batter and a two-out single through the left side off the bat of left fielder Maya Thomas to place a pair aboard in the bottom of the fourth. Facing a big spot, UH first baseman Courtney Klingler hit a bouncer to second that senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo handled routinely to end the threat with no damage done.

A Heebner single and a walk by center fielder Katie St. Pierre got UH's offense in business again with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Davis responded to the threat with her seventh K of the contest before coercing a bouncer that Hanzel took care of unassisted at first as the Cougars left two on.

Looking for insurance in the top of the seventh, Texas plated an important pair of runs to grab a 4-0 lead. Following a Felix lead-off single, Davis helped her own cause by driving a double the other way into the left center field gap. With a pair in scoring position, Bardwell lifted a fly ball into foul ground down the right field line that was caught for a sacrifice fly. Up by three runs, Ceo hit a chopper to second that was misplayed for an error, allowing Davis to cross from 60 feet away to make it 4-0.

Down to its final opportunity, Houston put together a spirited rally. Klinger broke up the shutout with a leadoff solo HR to center. With one retired, Heebner laced a double to right, but that's all the Cougars could get as Davis retired the last two she faced to secure the win.