Softball shuts out BYU in doubleheader opener, 5-0

Saturday, April 2

Austin, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

21-9

BYU

20-13

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

Softball shuts out BYU in doubleheader opener, 5-0

04.02.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior hurler Tiarra Davis scatters four hits and strikes out five in tossing her 15th complete game

AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday evening at Red & Charline McCombs Field, sophomore catcher Randel Leahy and junior left fielder Stephanie Wong each knocked in two runs while junior pitcher Tiarra Davis tossed a four-hit shutout as Texas softball (21-9) blanked BYU (20-13) in the opener of a doubleheader, 5-0.

Davis was superb from the circle in firing her 15th complete game of the campaign, allowing just four hits, walking only one and striking out five in improving to 13-7 overall.

At the plate, Stephens was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, both her team-leading 10th double and third triple of the season and a RBI, Leahy was 1-for-3 with a tally and a two-run double and Wong was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

After Texas left a runner stranded during the bottom of the first, BYU boasted a pair of two-out base runners in the top of the second. Catcher Libby Sugg opened the frame with a single past third and was joined by designated player Emilee Erickson on a hit-by-pitch. Third baseman Coco Bond stepped to the dish and popped a bunt up to the left of home plate. Leahy raced over near the fencing and made a great diving catch to leave the duo stranded.

Junior shortstop Devon Tunning got the Longhorns off to a positive start in the bottom of the second by lacing a single into left field to begin the frame. Davis lined a promising ball up the middle, but Cougar shortstop Lauren Bell was perfectly positioned to make the grab as Tunning hustled back into first base to avoid being doubled off. A ball to short off the bat of senior designated player Erin Shireman was thrown wide of second for an error as Texas suddenly boasted runners at the corners with still only one down. Unfortunately, a pop-up out in front of the plate and a strikeout brought and end to the threat with no damage.

With Davis handling things from the circle, Stephens christened UT's half of the third with a fly ball to left that dropped in between two outfielders for a lead-off triple. That set the stage for the Longhorns to grab a 1-0 lead as a Wong RBI groundout plated the runner from 60 feet away.

Bidding for an immediate answer in the fourth, BYU got its best scoring chance to that point going on a lead-off single into right center from first baseman Ashley Thompson. A dropped pop-up by the Horns defense put the pressure on as the Cougars boasted a pair of base runners with still no one out. A bouncer to junior third baseman Celina Felix was fired to a covering Tunning for a vital fielder's choice force play at third. Davis then took it upon herself to end the threat from there with consecutive strikeouts of left fielder Alexa Strid and Erickson.

The Texas bats caught fire with two down in the bottom of the fourth after a BYU error extended the inning. With senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo and Shireman at first and second, respectively, Leahy ripped a two-RBI double down into the left field corner to make it 3-0. From there, a RBI double off the left field wall by Stephens and a Wong RBI single through the right side of the infield expanded the advantage to 5-0 on four very costly unearned runs.

BYU got the leadoff on to begin the top of the fifth, but the Texas defense again refused to let the Cougars string anything together to cut into its deficit. With one retired, center fielder Gordy Bravo hit a sharp liner to third. Felix somehow made the catch at ground level and tossed across the diamond to complete an inning-ending double play.

Looking for anything on the scoreboard, a Bell walk and a Thompson single through the left side put BYU a pair on the base paths to begin the sixth. Sugg lifted a fly that dropped into right center for what could have been a single. A heads-up effort from freshman Reagan Hathaway to corral the ball and toss quickly to second earned a big force out as Thompson was cut down at the bag after having to briefly hold up on the play. The Cougars threat completely fell apart from there as a bouncer back to the circle and a liner to third left the pair standing in scoring position.

BYU couldn't get anything going against Davis during the top of the seventh as a pair of pop-ups on the infield and the UT hurler's fifth and final strikeout completed the shutout victory.