The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Softball preview: the Rainbow Wahine Classic [March 16-19, 2016]
03.15.2016 | Softball
Texas returns to action with five combined match-ups this week against Iowa and Hawai'i
Texas Game Notes - the Rainbow Wahine Classic - March 16-19, 2016
Texas (16-4) at the Rainbow Wahine Classic | March 16-19 | Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, Honolulu, Hawai'i
Schedule:
Wednesday, March 16
8:30 p.m. CT Iowa vs. TEXAS
Thursday, March 17
8:30 p.m. CT Iowa vs. TEXAS
11 p.m. CT TEXAS at Hawai'i
Friday, March 18
12 a.m. CT TEXAS at Hawai'i
Saturday, March 19
7 p.m. CT TEXAS at Hawai'i
**Because Honolulu doesn't utilize Daylight Savings Time, the actual game times will be one-hour later in the Central Time Zone from what was originally released online and on various printed schedules
Location: Honolulu, Hawai'i (Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: Available for every game here: LINK
Television: No TV will be available but live web streamed video is expected to be available through HawaiiAthletics.com.
Radio: Every Texas game during the Rainbow Wahine Classic is slated for radio broadcast via web stream with Terry Lewis on the call via this LINK. They can also be heard locally 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:
- Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens is on pace to set a couple of impressive single-season Texas records if she continues her torrid hitting pace. The Beaumont, Texas, native is currently hitting .470 overall, well ahead of Lexy Bennett's school record of .438 set back in 2011. With nine doubles already through just 20 games, Stephens also needs just eight more two-baggers to surpass the program mark of 16 done by both Taylor Thom (2013) and Nadia Taylor (2012).
- Texas is currently on a pace to break the school single-season walk total of 211 set back during the 2013 campaign. This year, the Longhorns have walked 79 times in 20 games (3.95 walks-per-game). If that pace continues over 54 scheduled regular season contests (not even including any postseason play), UT would walk approximately 213 times. Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong currently rates second in the Big 12 in free passes with a team-high 14.
- Since the decision was made to move senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens into the lead-off spot in the line-up prior to the Illinois game on Feb. 27, the Beaumont, Texas, native has hit at a ridiculous .773 (17-for-22) clip with nine runs scored, four doubles, two triples, two HR's and eight RBIs to go along with a 2.192 OPS while posting at least two hits in all six contests. That's certainly not to take away from what UT's usual lead-off hitter Devon Tunning did in that spot over the opening 14 games of this season, a .366 mark (15-for-41) with a .458 on-base percentage while reaching base safely by hit or walk in 12 of 14 contests.
- Who scores first has played a major role to this point in whether Texas or its opposition wins games in 2016. Thus far through 20 contests, the Longhorns are a perfect 10-0 when putting a run on the scoreboard first and just 6-4 when the opposition crosses the plate initially.
- Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens continues her quick ascension up the Texas career charts in numerous categories. She's now fourth in career batting average (.362), third in triples (12), tied for third in HR's (36), fifth in RBIs (138), FIRST in slugging percentage (.711), tied for 10th in runs scored (120) and sixth in on-base percentage (.435). She also sits just outside the career Top 10 in doubles (29 - needs sixth for 10th).
- Texas is obviously comfortable playing close games as the Longhorns currently boast a 6-1 record in one-run games in 2016. UT also owns five walk-off wins and eight come-from-behind victories this year.
- UT head coach Connie Clark is closing in on a milestone victory during her impressive career on the Forty Acres. With her 2016 team currently sitting at 16-4, Clark's overall record stands at 785-337-3, meaning the 20th year varsity coach needs just 15 more victories to reach the 800-win mark in her career.
