Softball fights off Hawaii on Saturday, 3-2

Saturday, March 19

Honolulu, Hawai'i

7 p.m.

University of Texas

19-6

Hawai'i

16-17

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

03.19.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Senior right fielder Holly Kern led the Texas offense by going 3-for-3 at the plate with a RBI

HONOLULU, Hawai'i – It all came down to the final pitch but Texas softball (19-6) successfully fought off a tough challenge to defeat Hawai'i on Saturday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, 3-2.

Senior right fielder Holly Kern led the Longhorns' eight-hit offensive output by going a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with a RBI. Junior third baseman Celina Felix added a RBI as part of a 2-for-4, run scored effort, while senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

In the circle for UT, sophomore Paige von Sprecken improved to 7-1 overall, allowing two earned runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Sophomore Kristen Clark permitted just one hit over 1.1 innings of relief, while junior Tiarra Davis (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K) picked up her second save of 2016 by tossing the seventh.

Kern managed the first hit for either team in the contest by lacing a two-out single to left off UH starter Jennifer Iseri in the top of the second. That was all the Hawai'I hurler would allow as a bouncer to short ended the frame.

Hawai'I got a two-out threat started against von Sprecken in the bottom of the second as a fielding error and an infield single from first baseman Rachael Turner put two aboard for the Rainbow Wahine. The Texas right hander refused to allow anything on the board, however, as the Yorba Linda, Calif., product struck out designated player Heather Morales swinging to leave the duo stranded.

Texas broke in front in the top of the third as Ceo got things started with a lead-off double into the right field corner. With a runner at third after a sacrifice bunt, senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens got the RBI on a sacrifice fly to deep left center as Ceo trotted home with a 1-0 lead.

The Rainbow Wahine got a lead-off infield single from Iseri starting the bottom of the third. Left fielder Sarah Muzik was called upon to bunt her teammate over, but popped it up towards third. Felix leapt to her left and made a nice catch, turned and doubled Iseri off at first to kill any thoughts UH had of a rally.

The Longhorns immediately followed by doubling their advantage in the top of the fourth as a Felix lead-off single was cashed in eventually on an infield hit to deep short from Kern to make it 2-0.

Walks to right fielder Keiki Carlos and shortstop Breanna Ojala got UH's offense in business with one out in the fourth. With a pair in scoring position after a groundout, a wild pitch allowed Carlos to cross from 60 feet away to cut the Rainbow Wahine deficit to 2-1. Things got bizarre after that as Turner walked and Ojala just for some reason began strolling home to cross the plate on the free pass. UT sophomore catcher Randel Leahy raced up the line and made an inning-ending tag to preserve Texas' one-run advantage.

With two retired in the top of the fifth, Felix followed a two-out Davis double to the wall in right with a RBI single through the left side of the infield to restore the Longhorns' two-run advantage.

UH loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth without the benefit of a base knock via a hit batter, a Texas fielding error and a walk. Another hit batter forced in Hawai'i's second run of the contest and ended von Sprecken's stay in the circle as Clark was called on facing a tough spot in relief. The sophomore right hander's first offering got away behind the plate, but the Rainbow Wahine didn't send the runner from third. That proved a costly decision as Courtney Hiruko lifted a fly ball to Kern in right to leave the trio on the base paths.

A Kern infield single that ricocheted off the third base bag, an error at first and a Hanzel walk packed the bags full for the Burnt Orange & White with two retired in the sixth. Unfortunately, the Horns left-on-base total expanded to seven as a bouncer to second finished off the half-inning with no scoring as UT missed a chance for valuable insurance.

Second baseman Tayana Mata christened Hawai'i's half of the sixth with a bloop single into left center and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. UH's left stranded count also grew to seven as a grounder to third and a fly ball to left center sent the teams to the final frame with Texas clinging to a one-tally advantage.

Down to one last chance to extend or potentially win the game, Hawai'i's Muzik opened the frame against reliever Davis with a shot back up the middle. The Rainbow Wahine soon boasted two on with one down as Carlos bounced a base knock through the left side of the infield. The potential tying and winning runs were soon both in scoring position as a wild pitch moved the duo up 60 feet. Davis came through with a huge strikeout of center fielder Ulu Matagiese before walking Kanani Aina Cabrales to load the bases with two down. With the situation growing more tense by the second, the Henderson, Texas, native finished the victory off in style by K'ing Mata on a 3-2 pitch to earn her second save of the weekend.