Softball rallies late but loses series finale at #12/9 Oklahoma, 5-3

Saturday, April 16

Norman, Okla.

2 p.m.

University of Texas

27-13, 2-6

Oklahoma

34-7, 9-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	4	0
Oklahoma	0	0	2	3	0	0	X	5	10	0

Softball rallies late but loses series finale at #12/9 Oklahoma, 5-3

04.16.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel blasted a three-run HR during the top of the seventh

NORMAN, Okla. – A three-run HR from junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel during the top of the seventh pulled Texas softball (27-13, 2-6 Big 12 Conference) close, but not quite close enough as No. 12/9 Oklahoma (34-7, 9-1 Big 12 Conference) completed a weekend sweep of the Longhorns on Saturday afternoon at Marita Hynes Field, 5-3.

The HR marked Hanzel's second of the season as part of her 1-for-3 effort with a run scored. Senior right fielder Holly Kern (1-for-4), junior shortstop Devon Tunning (1-for-2, run) and senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo (1-for-2, walk, run) each managed single hits in the contest.

In the circle for the Horns, junior starter Tiarra Davis dropped to 16-9 on the season after allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three walks over 3.2 innings of work. Sophomore Kristen Clark was effective in relief, permitting just two hits and walking three in 2.1 frames.

Texas' offense attempted to get something going against OU starter Kelsey Stevens during the top of the first as a Celina Felix hit-by-pitch and a Kern infield single to deep short stationed a pair of Longhorns on with one down. Unfortunately for UT, Stevens responded to the situation with consecutive strikeouts to leave the pair stranded on the base paths.

The Sooners got a lead-off single from right fielder Erin Miller to christen their half of the opening frame, but the Burnt Orange & White defense made a big play to prevent anything from brewing. First baseman Shay Knighten ripped a liner directly to Tunning at short. UT's shortstop made the catch and tossed across the diamond to Hanzel at first for a threat-killing double play.

Singles off the bats of left fielder Kady Self, designated player Fale Aviu and center fielder Nicole Pendley set Oklahoma up with a major scoring opportunity via a bases loaded, one-out situation against Davis in the bottom of the second. Catcher Lea Wodach stepped to the dish and hit a slow bouncer that was fielded by Ceo. The senior second baseman quickly fired a strike to the plate allowing catcher Erin Shireman to get the force for a vital second out. The Longhorns soon escaped the jam as pinch hitter Tori Nirschl popped up into foul ground outside of third with Felix making a running back-handed grab for the final out.

OU loaded the bases with no one retired in the third on a pair of walks and a bunt single. Once again, the Texas defense delivered a big play as Hanzel caught a Self liner, turned and raced to step on the bag to complete the second UT double play of the contest. The breakthrough would finally come for the Sooners one batter later, however, as second baseman Caleigh Clifton drove a two-RBI single the other way to right to grant OU a 2-0 advantage.

Hoping to answer right back, the Longhorns received a lead-off walk from freshman left fielder Reagan Hathaway to begin the fourth. That ended Stevens' stay in the circle as Oklahoma ace Paige Parker entered from the bullpen. The new pitcher registered a strikeout before walking junior pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec to put two aboard with still just one down. Unfortunately, Texas couldn't string together anything else against the reliever as a foul out near third and a K raised the left on base count for the Horns to five through the opening four frames.

OU expanded its lead to 5-0 via a two-out outburst in the bottom of the fourth. Miller drove a RBI double off the top of the center field wall, third baseman Sydney Romero followed with a RBI single up the middle and first baseman Shay Knighten then blooped a RBI base knock into left center.

Parker did her job for the Sooners from the circle, retiring six straight over the fifth and sixth innings before running into trouble in the top of the seventh. Tunning and Ceo each reached on perfect bunt singles to place a pair of Longhorns on the base paths. Things could have gotten even more interesting between the two bunts as Shireman lined a ball to left that traveled directly to Self for an out. Hanzel soon stepped in and blasted a three-run shot over the wall in left to cut the OU advantage to 5-3. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens immediately followed with a walk and suddenly Texas had the tying run standing at the plate. That was close as the Horns could get, though, as a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the spirited rally a couple of runs short.