The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Abilene Christian
No. 21 Softball preview: the Texas Invitational [Feb. 25-28, 2016]
02.24.2016 | Softball
The Longhorns host Abilene Christian, Tulsa, Illinois and Weber State at this weekend's home event
Texas Game Notes - the Texas Invitational - Feb. 25-28, 2016
Texas hosts the Texas Invitational | Feb. 25-28 | McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Thursday, February 25
7 p.m. CT Abilene Christian at TEXAS – NOT ON LHN
Friday, February 26
9 a.m. Tulsa vs. Weber State
12 p.m. Abilene Christian at TEXAS – LINK TO WATCH
2:30 p.m. Tulsa at TEXAS – LINK TO WATCH
5 p.m. Illinois vs. Abilene Christian
7 p.m. Illinois vs. Weber State
Saturday, February 27
10 a.m. Tulsa at TEXAS – LINK TO WATCH
12:30 p.m. Illinois at TEXAS – LINK TO WATCH
3 p.m. Abilene Christian vs. Tulsa
5:30 p.m. Weber State vs. Abilene Christian
7:30 p.m. Weber State vs. Illinois
Sunday, February 28
10 a.m. Weber State at TEXAS – LINK TO WATCH
12 p.m. Tulsa vs. Illinois – Tape Delayed on LHN; Follows Texas Baseball broadcast at 3:30 CT
**ALL Texas games during the Texas Invitational are slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network or through the WatchESPN app; second team listed is the home team
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: Available for every game here: LINK
Television: Each Texas game of the Texas Invitational is slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network. Tyler Denning (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (analyst) will handle the call for the LHN broadcasts.
Radio: Texas' games are slated for radio broadcast via web stream with Terry Lewis on the call via this LINK. ALL Texas broadcasts can also be heard locally this weekend in Austin on 105.3 FM in the local and surrounding areas, part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- The last time Texas started a season with at least 10 straight wins was 2013 when the Burnt Orange & White opened with a 13-0 record. The team that ended UT's streak that season? The Tulsa Hurricane, who just happen to be in town for this weekend's Texas Invitational. The Longhorns could potentially be 12-0 entering their match-up with Tulsa on Fri., Feb. 26.
- Texas has gotten off to some impressive starts throughout its storied program history. This year's 10-0 opening currently ties the 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 squads for the BEST 10-game start in the school record book and is tied for the fourth-longest unbeaten start in UT history. If the Longhorns were to sweep through the upcoming six-game Texas Invitational with a perfect record, they would equal the 2003 squad for the BEST UNBEATEN START TO A SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY at 16-0!
- An interesting stat has developed during the early season as the Longhorns enter this weekend's Texas Invitational having OUT-HIT ALL 10 OF THEIR 2016 OPPONENTS. Of course, to this point, UT is a perfect 10-0 when posting more hits in a contest.
- Newcomers are truly making their presence felt for the Longhorns in 2016. Junior third baseman Celina Felix was just named the Big 12 Conference's Co-Player of the Week for her efforts at last weekend's Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational and currently leads the Longhorns in batting average (.448), hits (13), HR's (four) and RBIs (12). Freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway is second on the team with a .440 mark, three HR's and 10 RBIs, while having already combined twice with Felix on back-to-back HR's this season. Rookie infielder Christina Bardwell rates third on the squad in average at .412 thus far, while sophomore pitcher Paige von Sprecken owns a perfect 3-0 record to begin her Texas career with a 2.53 ERA, two complete games and 17 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.
- The Longhorns have always had a tremendous amount of success against programs from the "Lone Star State," as UT holds a 300-72-1 (.806) overall record versus a combined 19 Texas teams. The Burnt Orange & White leads the all-time series over 18 of those 19 programs with the lone blemish being a 20-20 series tie against longtime rival Texas A&M. The Horns beat Houston (W, 4-1) on Feb. 21 to get this year's "Lone Star State" match-ups underway and still have contests scheduled against Abilene Christian, Texas State, UTSA, North Texas, UTA, Baylor, UTEP, Texas Tech and Texas Southern to go in 2016.
- Texas is getting remarkable production thus far this season from its pinch hitters as six different players that have been summoned off the bench have combined to go 7-for-15 overall for a sterling .467 average. Longhorns junior Mickenzi Krpec put on a clinic during the Texas Classic, pinch-hitting four times and reaching all four times by going 3-for-3 with a walk.
