Softball rallies past Iowa at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, 4-3 (8 inn.)

Thursday, March 17

Honolulu, Hawai'i

8:30 p.m.

University of Texas

17-5

Iowa

7-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	4	9	0
Iowa	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	3

Softball rallies past Iowa at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, 4-3 (8 inn.)

03.18.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Three runs over the seventh and eighth innings combined to lead Texas to its ninth comeback victory of 2016

HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Make it nine come-from-behind victories for Texas softball (17-5) this season as the "Cardiac Longhorns" rallied out of a 3-1 hole, via a clutch two-run seventh inning outburst, to defeat Iowa in extra frames on Thursday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, 4-3 (8 inn.).

With the triumph, UT improved to a sterling 4-1 this year in extra-inning contests and now owns an amazing 22 combined come-from-behind wins over the last two campaigns.

Senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo led the nine-hit Longhorns offensive charge by going 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI, while senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens went 1-for-4 with a RBI. Senior pinch hitter Holly Kern was 1-for-1 at the plate after blasting a clutch two-out RBI double during the top of the eighth that provided Texas the lead for good in the match-up.

In the circle for the Horns, junior Paige von Sprecken improved to 6-1 on the year after allowing one earned run on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 4.2 innings of relief. Junior Tiarra Davis picked up her first save of the season through a no-hit, eighth inning of work, while sophomore starter Kristen Clark permitted two runs on one hit with two K's over 2.1 innings.

After a quiet opening frame for both teams, Texas' offense broke in front on the scoreboard in the top of the second with some assistance from the Iowa defense. A pair of fielding errors on Hawkeye shortstop Katy Taylor stationed Longhorns on the corners with two down in the inning. That set the stage for Ceo, who stepped into the box and ripped a RBI single up the middle, plating junior designated player Devon Tunning from 60 feet away for a 1-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, Clark was cruising from the circle through two complete, retiring all six Iowa batters she faced in the contest.

An infield single from right fielder Cheyenne Pratt granted Iowa its first hit of the contest with one down in the bottom of the third. Clark, who was on a pitch count as discussed prior to the game, then struck shortstop Katy Taylor with an offering, putting two aboard and ending the right hander's stay in the circle. In relief, von Sprecken induced a fielder's choice on a force at third for the second out. Unfortunately, first baseman Kaitlyn Mullarkey followed with a triple just inside the first base line that plated two and handed the Hawkeyes a 2-1 lead. With runners at the corners after a walk, a throw to second on a stolen base allowed Mullarkey the opportunity to race across from third and make it 3-1.

Texas tried to respond right back in the top of the fourth as freshman shortstop Christina Bardwell and Ceo each managed singles to put two on with two outs. The big hit wouldn't materialize, however, as a chopper turned into an inning-ending fielder's choice as Mallory Kilian stepped on the third base bag for the force.

Iowa starter Shayla Starkenburg continued to keep the Longhorns hitters off balance by retiring all six batters she faced during the fifth and sixth innings.

Bidding for insurance, the Hawkeyes boasted runners at second and third with one retired in the bottom of the sixth. That's when things got a bit strange as Erin Erickson hit a ball that was turned into a fielder's choice play at the plate with senior catcher Erin Shireman making the tag for the second out. Erickson attempted to head to second on the play at home and was summarily thrown out to Stephens covering the bag as the once promising threat ended with no damage.

That proved a huge wasted opportunity for UI, because the Longhorns rallied strongly in the top of the seventh, putting up two runs to tie the score at 3-3. Consecutive singles leading off the frame from Shireman and Ceo started the outburst. Junior Taylor McAllister stepped in to pinch hit and beat out an infield base knock of her own as the throw to first got away for an error allowing senior pinch runner Rachel Scott to score and cut the deficit to 3-2. Stephens ripped a single through the left side of the infield, plating Ceo to tie the contest at three apiece. That's when some bad luck struck for the Horns on a single to left by then-pinch hitter Davis. With a chance to score the go-ahead tally, a UT runner raced around third and tripped, preventing her from scoring as Iowa recovered to throw her out while trying to scamper back to the base. That effectively killed the rally as a fielder's choice and a pop-up sent the two squads into extra innings.

With freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway stationed at second to begin the eighth as part of the international tiebreaker rule, Tunning successfully moved the runner over via a sac bunt. Following a strikeout, Kern stepped into the box facing a huge spot for Texas. The senior pinch hitter delivered in the clutch, driving a two-out double to the wall in right center as Hathaway crossed to hand the Longhorns back the lead at 4-3.

The Hawkeyes boasted runners at first and third with two down in the bottom of the eighth as center fielder Sammi Gyerman drew a walk off reliever Davis. That was all the Henderson, Texas, native would allow, however, by striking out catcher Katy Hoffman to pick up a big save.