No. 25 Softball walks off again in 3-2 (8 inn.) win over UTSA

Tuesday, March 8

Austin, Texas

4 p.m.

University of Texas

15-3

UTSA

6-16

UTSA

Texas

No. 25 Softball walks off again in 3-2 (8 inn.) win over UTSA

03.08.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Randel Leahy’s RBI single finished off Texas’ fifth walk-off triumph of the 2016 campaign

AUSTIN, Texas – Make it five walk-off victories for No. 25 Texas softball (15-3) this year as sophomore pinch hitter Randel Leahy's RBI single to right center during the bottom of the eighth inning completed a comeback as the Longhorns knocked off UTSA on Tuesday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 3-2 (8 inn.).

UT has now managed seven come-from-behind wins during the 2016 campaign and three-straight walk-off triumphs over UTSA dating back to last season's doubleheader sweep on March 24, 2015. Over the past two seasons, Texas has combined for 10 true walk-off wins with nine of those occurring within the friendly confines of McCombs Field.

Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens powered the UT offense from her lead-off position in the batting order, going 3-for-4 with a key sixth-inning triple and two runs scored. Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong was 1-for-3 with a RBI, Leahy was 1-for-1 with the walk-off RBI and freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway started the decisive eighth-inning rally with a double as part of a 1-for-3 effort with a run scored.

In the circle for the Horns, junior left hander Tiarra Davis earned the win in relief, allowing just two hits and no runs with four K's over 2.2 innings in improving to 10-2 this year. Sophomore Kristen Clark started the contest and permitted just a single hit with two walks and three strikeouts over 1.2 frames. Sophomore reliever Paige von Sprecken allowed two unearned runs on two hits with five walks and five K's in 3.2 innings.

UTSA wasted no time manufacturing the first offensive threat of the contest, stationing a pair aboard in the top of the first with two outs on a walk and a double to left. With a pair of runners standing in scoring position, Clark registered an important early strikeout of catcher Tess Soefje to leave the duo stranded.

Stephens got the Longhorns off to the right kind of start in the bottom of the first by driving a lead-off single to center and quickly swiping second. Following a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner within 60 feet of pay dirt, a pitch from UTSA starter Chelsea Parker got away behind the plate. Stephens made the decision to hold up on attempting to score, but Roadrunner catcher Soefje tossed the ball towards home assuming a play was coming. With the ball rolling around between infielders, Stephens scampered across to make it 1-0.

An infield single from center fielder Kendall Burton handed the Roadrunners a one-out base runner in the top of the third. She didn't remain on the base paths for long, however, as a von Sprecken strikeout and a subsequent caught stealing quickly concluded the inning.

UTSA managed a pair of base runners with two down in both the fourth and fifth innings, but each time von Sprecken recorded an inning-ending K to prevent any damage.

With Parker keeping the Longhorns offense in check, UTSA shortstop Kaley Pyles earned the first of what eventually became three walks for the Roadrunners during the sixth, loading the bases with one retired. Facing the largest UTSA threat of the game, the decision was made to bring Davis in for a relief appearance. The move paid off for the moment as the new hurler K'ed pinch hitter Madison Kinley for the second out. Unfortunately, on first baseman Angelica Nino's bouncer, an error on the Texas infield allowed two to score as the Roadrunners nabbed a 2-1 advantage.

As she has so often during her career on the Forty Acres, Stephens got the Texas offense untracked by hustling out a lead-off triple to the wall in left center to open the bottom of the sixth. On the very next pitch, Wong ripped a RBI single through the right side of the infield allowing Stephens to cross from 60 feet away with the tying score. After a UTSA fielding error on a Celina Felix chopper and a sacrifice bunt, Texas boasted two in scoring position with one out. Senior designated player Holly Kern and freshman shortstop Christina Bardwell each made solid contact but hit fly balls to left and right field, respectively, to leave the duo stranded.

Roadrunner designated player Randee Crawford christened the top of the seventh by blasting a Davis offering off the wall in center for a lengthy single. With the runner moved over to third on a passed ball and a grounder to second, Soefje hit a little pop-up over the circle. As the potential go ahead run raced to the plate, UT senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo charged in strongly from her defensive position, fielded the ball and tossed on to junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel to end the threat.

With a chance to end the game in the bottom of the seventh, Texas' offense gave itself a two-out chance on back-to-back singles from Hanzel and Stephens. Unfortunately, a Wong liner traveled right to Pyles at short to send the game to extra innings.

After UTSA left the potential go-ahead run at second in the top of the eighth, Hathaway blasted a one-out double to the wall in right to get the decisive outburst started in the bottom half. Junior pinch hitter Taylor McAllister followed with a bloop single down the left field line and freshman third baseman Christina Bardwell was intentionally walked to set up the force play at every base. The decision didn't matter as Leahy blasted the walk-off RBI single to right center, scoring Hathaway to finish the 3-2 (8 inn.) win.