Softball completes doubleheader sweep over BYU, 7-0

Saturday, April 2

Austin, Texas

8:30 p.m.

University of Texas

22-9

BYU

20-14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
BYU	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Texas	1	2	0	1	3	0	X	7	12	0

Softball completes doubleheader sweep over BYU, 7-0

04.02.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore Paige von Sprecken goes 3-for-3 at the plate while tossing a two-hit shutout

AUSTIN, Texas – In front of a season-high 1,062 fans on Saturday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, sophomore hurler Paige von Sprecken tossed a two-hit shutout and also went 3-for-3 at the plate to help lead Texas softball (22-9) to both a doubleheader sweep and series victory over BYU (20-14), 7-0.

In the circle, von Sprecken improved to 8-1 on the season by allowing just two hits, walking three and striking out three over 7.0 innings of work. The Yorba Linda, Calif, product also had the three hits including a double and a triple to go along with a pair of RBIs.

Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens also helped power Texas' 12-hit offensive onslaught by going 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two walks, her team-best 11th double, her seventh HR of the season and three RBIs. Junior designated player Tiarra Davis added a 2-for-4 effort with a tally, her third HR of 2016 and two RBIs.

A single from BYU shortstop Lauren Bell and a walk issued to catcher Libby Sugg got the Cougars in some two-out offensive business during the top of the first. Facing some early adversity, von Sprecken managed to escape the jam by registering a key strikeout of first baseman Ashley Thompson.

Stephens' lead-off walk in the bottom of the first quickly came back to hurt BYU. Following a stolen base and a groundout that combined to move the runner within 60 feet of paydirt, Davis drove a RBI single through the left side to hand the Horns a quick 1-0 lead.

With Texas looking to add more on the scoreboard during the bottom of the second, von Sprecken helped her own cause at the plate by lacing a two-out triple into the right field corner. Stephens followed immediately by stepping into the box and launching her seventh HR of the season, a two-run shot to dead center, to push the Longhorns' advantage to 3-0.

Free passes to left fielder Lexi Tarrow and first baseman Ashley Thompson got the Cougars in some business with one down in the top of the fourth. Designated player Alexa Strid came to the dish with a huge chance to get BYU back in the game but lined right back to von Sprecken in the circle. The hurler turned and doubled the runner off first for an inning-ending double play.

A perfect bunt single from senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo and a base knock through the left side from von Sprecken put two more on for the Longhorns during the bottom of the fourth. Once again, Stephens delivered the key hit by driving a RBI double to center, allowing Ceo to race around to score easily for a 4-0 advantage. Texas thought momentarily that it had two more runs as junior third baseman Celina Felix hit a liner to center. BYU's Gordy Bravo dove and had the ball ricochet around in her glove as she hit the ground. Originally called a two-run double, a conference among the umpires resulted in a change of the call to represent the final out of the frame.

The lead did expand in the bottom of the fifth as Davis christened the frame by blasting her third HR of the season over the right field wall. The onslaught continued as senior right fielder Holly Kern followed with a double to center and senior catcher Erin Shireman chopped a base knock through the left side of the infield to put runners at the corners. A two-RBI double from von Sprecken to the wall in left center soon cleared the bases as Kern and senior pinch runner Rachel Scott scored easily to push the advantage to 7-0. With two on, junior left fielder Stephanie Wong almost ended the contest via run-rule but her drive to center was caught on the run by Bravo near the warning track.

Bravo managed just the Cougars' second hit of the contest on a base hit up the middle beginning the top of the sixth. That was all BYU could manage against von Sprecken, however, as a chopper to second, a pop-up to third and a long fly ball to center left the runner stranded in scoring position.

In the top of the seventh, von Sprecken finished off her two-hit gem by getting BYU to go down in order on a fly ball, a strikeout and a bouncer back to the circle.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Sophomore Pitcher Paige Von Sprecken

On the comeback from Friday's loss to win tonight: We played really well last night. Kristen (Clark) pitched a great game. We were on a lot of BYU's pitches, and we were hitting it well, but we just weren't getting them in the gaps. I think that we had a good look on her, so coming back in today, we were just able to square up and get the gaps.

On the importance of seeing the offense back you up: It definitely makes me able to play a lot freer. It gives us a lot more freedom to work on certain pitches. It just makes it a lot less stressful.

On your offensive performance: It felt great to be able to help myself. I knew that my team was going to get it done, but the fact that I could participate in it was cool.

Senior Outfielder Lindsey Stephens

On performance tonight: I felt like I was seeing the ball, and I was making good contact with it. We were excited for the second game to see who they were going to have pitch. We looked at what she had and what her stats were. We approached it aggressively. I think we did very well and came out successful. We were happy to see the first pitcher come back out from the previous day. I think we all hit her solid, but the softball gods weren't with us (on Friday). So today the balls were falling, and we knew what she had, she wasn't getting anything past us. It was real exciting for all of us to get back at it.

On the series win: It is so comforting, because I think that it is almost impossible for any team to go undefeated throughout the entire season. A lot of our games are in three-game series, so the fact that you can drop one and then learn from that and then take the take two as wins is extraordinary.

Texas Head Coach Connie Clark

On coming back from the loss: It is tremendous for us to get two of three, to just win the series. The wins were significant. I actually thought we played well last night. We hit the ball well. We saw the ball well. We got a really good outing from Kris [Kristen Clark]. We played solid defense, but the balls just didn't drop. Then today we hit the ball hard and found some gaps. Things went our way, and I am just real happy to see production out of all three pitchers that started and finished.

On the performance of the pitchers: It is nice to get Kristen Clark back. She has been on that pitch count and really working back. We are still trying to manage her, and our docs and athletic trainers have done a really nice job. She got a pretty high pitch count last night in the 115-120 range. She felt strong and felt good. We could have utilized her today if we needed her. But I think that it bodes well for their confidence. I think we know without Erica [Wright] in the mix, we are a little thin there on experience. I think with Kristen getting healthy and Paige [Von Specken] just building confidence. Paige's outing tonight and one night in Hawai'i, those last two outings have been tremendous.