Softball falls in its series opener against BYU, 3-1

Friday, April 1

Austin, Texas

5 p.m.

University of Texas

20-9

BYU

20-12

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

Softball falls in its series opener against BYU, 3-1

04.01.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead UT against the Cougars

AUSTIN, Texas – On a chilly Friday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball (20-9) dropped the opener of its three-game weekend series to BYU (20-12), 3-1.

Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong led the Longhorns offense by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, while junior shortstop Devon Tunning knocked in UT's lone tally as part of a 1-for-3 effort. Senior catcher Erin Shireman was 1-for-3 at the dish to extend her career-long hitting streak to seven games and junior third baseman Celina Felix added one base knock over a trio of at-bats.

In the circle for the Horns, sophomore Kristen Clark (1-1) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits with six walks and three strikeouts over 7.0 innings of work.

BYU center fielder Gordy Bravo opened the top of the first by blooping Clark's initial offering of the contest into left center for a lead-off single. Following a fielder's choice that advanced the runner 60 feet, first baseman Ashley Thompson wasted no time providing the Cougars with an early lead by driving a two-run HR the other way over the right field wall to make it 2-0.

Hoping to answer right back in the bottom half of the first, senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens got the Longhorns' offense off to a positive start by earning a walk off BYU starter McKenna Bull. Wong followed with a sharp single through the left side of the infield and suddenly UT boasted a pair of base runners with still no one retired. Bull would settle down from the circle, however, as a strikeout, a pop-up to second and a grounder to short combined to leave the duo stranded.

Clark bounced back from the opening frame by setting the Cougars down in order in the second with a pair of strikeouts.

BYU would get back in business during the top of the third as consecutive singles from Bravo and shortstop Lauren Bell to begin the inning, a sacrifice bunt and a walk packed the bags with just one out. A free pass to right fielder Madison Merrell soon forced in another tally as the Cougars expanded their lead to 3-0.

With one down in the bottom of the third, Wong and Felix got another UT scoring opportunity underway by singling to station Longhorns at the corners. That set the stage for Tunning, who soon followed with a RBI single through the left side of the infield to get Texas on the scoreboard trailing 3-1.

The Burnt Orange & White got a lead-off single from Shireman to christen the bottom of the fourth, but again couldn't string anything together against Bull as a fielder's choice, a K and a fly out concluded the frame with no damage.

Neither offense seriously threatened again until BYU loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one retired in the top of the seventh. Bidding for some valuable insurance, Merrell stepped to the dish facing a big opportunity and lifted a fly ball down the left field line. Wong charged over into foul territory, made the catch and fired an absolute strike to the dish to nail shortstop Lauren Bell trying to score from 60 feet away for an inning-ending double play.

Facing one last chance to rally in the bottom of the seventh, the Longhorns went down in order against Bull on a foul out, a fly ball to center and a liner to third.