No. 21 Softball gets back in the win column by beating Illinois, 8-1

Saturday, February 27

Austin, Texas

12:30 p.m.

University of Texas

13-2

Illinois

7-5

Illinois

Texas

No. 21 Softball gets back in the win column by beating Illinois, 8-1

02.27.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens powered the offense with a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance

AUSTIN, Texas – Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens went 3-for-4 at the plate and junior pitcher Tiarra Davis tossed a complete-game two-hitter as No. 21 Texas softball (13-2) climbed back into the win column behind a commanding 8-1 victory over Illinois (7-5) on Saturday afternoon in Texas Invitational action at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Stephens was outstanding at the plate, bashing her team-leading sixth and seventh doubles of the season while scoring twice and knocking in a pair of runs. Junior third baseman Celina Felix was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a RBI, while freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway (1-for-3), junior designated player Taylor McAllister (1-for-2, double), junior shortstop Devon Tunning and freshman pinch hitter Bekah Alcozer (1-for-1) all contributed single RBIs.

In the circle Davis improved to 8-1 overall by allowing one unearned run on two hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings of work.

With Davis in control early, having retired six of the first seven Illinois batters she faced, Texas managed base runners in each of the first two innings but couldn't string enough together to break in front on the scoreboard. Felix managed a two-out single through the right side of the infield during the opening frame, while McAllister and senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo were each struck by second-inning Jade Vecvanags pitches.

Illinois left fielder Kylie Johnson registered the Fighting Illini's first hit of the contest by beating out an infield single to begin the top of the third. With two retired, a chopper got through the Texas infield for an error, putting two aboard with one occupant in scoring position. That set the stage for a RBI single through the right side from second baseman Allie Bauch as UI took a 1-0 advantage.

Stephens got something going for the Longhorns in the bottom of the third by starting the frame with a double to the wall in deep left. Felix followed soon after with a one-out, RBI single straight through the middle, plating Stephens to tie the count at 1-1. With two down, Illinois catcher Stephanie Abello tried to pick the runner off first, but threw wide down the right field line as Felix raced all the way around to third. McAllister stepped to the dish and drove a RBI double the other way into the right field corner to grant Texas a 2-1 lead.

A two-out Kelli Hanzel walk in the bottom of the fourth set the stage for more fireworks as Stephens followed with a run-scoring double off the wall in left to extend the Longhorns advantage to 3-1.

The Fighting Illini managed to advance a runner into scoring position with two outs in the top of the fifth on a hit-by-pitch and a steal. Davis wouldn't allow anything else, however, by posting her fifth strikeout of the contest via a swinging K of first baseman Alyssa Gunther to conclude the frame.

Looking for more, Ceo got Texas going again in the bottom of the sixth by beating out a bunt single to start the frame and moving to second on a subsequent throwing error. Stephens followed with a base knock up the middle to score Ceo and make it 4-1. From there a muffed fielder's choice play at second and a Hathaway RBI base knock through the right side plated two more for a 6-1 advantage. Consecutive walks to McAllister and Tunning combined to force in the seventh run of the contest. The five-run inning was finalized on a scoring single to right off the bat of Alcozer as the Horns blew the contest wide open at 8-1.

Illinois had one final opportunity to try to get back into the game in the top of the seventh. A lead-off hit batter ended up at third with two down after a groundout and a swipe of third. She would be left stranded 60 feet from pay dirt as Davis struck out Johnson to end the game.