Softball rallies past Oklahoma State on Saturday, 5-3

Saturday, April 23

Austin, Texas

1 p.m.

University of Texas

29-13, 4-6

Oklahoma State

22-21, 4-8

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

Softball rallies past Oklahoma State on Saturday, 5-3

04.23.2016 | Softball

Box Score

The win marked the 12th comeback victory for the Longhorns during the 2016 campaign

AUSTIN, Texas – Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Texas softball (29-13, 4-6 Big 12 Conference) got key RBI singles from sophomore pitcher Paige von Sprecken, junior pinch hitter Tiarra Davis and junior third baseman Celina Felix, as well as two perfect innings of relief from sophomore Kristen Clark, to rally past Oklahoma State (22-21, 4-8 Big 12 Conference) on Saturday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 5-3.

The come-from-behind victory marked the 12th of the season for the Burnt Orange & White with 10 of those having occurred within the friendly confines of McCombs Field.

At the plate, von Sprecken helped her own cause as the starting pitcher by going 1-for-3 at the dish with two tone-setting RBIs. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native also worked the first five innings from the circle, allowing two earned runs on six hits with six walks and three strikeouts.

Felix was 2-for-4 with a run scored and delivered the go-ahead RBI base knock during Texas' two-run sixth-inning outburst. Davis was 1-for-1 with a RBI single that tied the contest at 3-3 in the fifth, while senior pinch hitter Rachel Scott knocked in UT's final tally of the day on a fielder's choice. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens drew three walks and scored twice, freshman left fielder Reagan Hathaway was 1-for-3 and senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo was 1-for-2 while scoring the go-ahead run during the sixth.

After each team left a pair stranded in the first, Oklahoma State nabbed the lead on a two-out rally during the top of the second. Back-to-back infield singles from shortstop Randee O'Donnell and center fielder Maddie Holcomb set the stage. Catcher Vanessa Shippy immediately followed by driving a two-RBI double into the right center gap to make it 2-0.

With Texas hoping to answer right back in the bottom of the second, Hathaway registered the Longhorns' initial hit of the contest on a one-out single up the middle. Ceo followed by getting struck with a pitch and for the second consecutive inning, UT boasted a pair on the base paths. Unfortunately, a fly out and a foul out raised the left stranded count to four for the Burnt Orange & White through the initial two frames.

OSU's offense got back in business during the top of the fifth as an error on the Texas infield and a Madi Sue Montgomery single placed two Cowgirls on to open the frame. With one retired on a foul out to first, OSU boasted a pair in scoring position after a wild pitch. First baseman Darcy Taylor ripped a line drive, but right to Felix at third for the second out of the inning. Texas got close to escaping the jam with no damage but consecutive walks to right fielder Michaela Patton and pinch hitter Jessi Haffner conspired to force in a run, expanding OSU's advantage to 3-0.

As she so often does, Stephens got something going for the Horns starting the bottom of the fifth by walking and stealing second. Felix followed with a single back up the middle putting two in scoring position with none out. That set things up for von Sprecken, and she helped her own cause by bouncing a single through the right side of the infield to plate two and cut the Texas deficit to just 3-2. With junior pinch runner Stephanie Wong standing just 60 feet from pay dirt with two outs in the frame, Davis drove a RBI single the other way to left as Wong scored easily to dead-lock the count at 3-3.

Starting the top of the sixth, the decision was made to bring on Clark in a relief appearance. The decision paid immediate dividends for the Longhorns as the new hurler quickly set the OSU line-up down in order on three fly balls to center.

Texas took its momentum into the bottom of the sixth, putting together the decisive scoring outburst to secure a 5-3 lead. Ceo got the rally started with a perfect bunt single up the third base line, and was soon joined on the bases by Stephens via walk. Felix stepped into the batter's box and delivered in the clutch with a RBI single to grant the Horns their first lead of the afternoon at 4-3. Following a Stephens and Felix double steal, pinch hitter Scott reached on a fielder's choice and earned a RBI to extend the advantage to two runs.

From there Clark shut the door on OSU, finishing off two perfect innings of work by getting three straight fly ball outs to complete the comeback victory.

TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES

Head Coach Connie Clark

On the change in the fifth and sixth inning: Well obviously they made a pitching change, but we were trying to make some adjustments. Obviously, we had to turn to our bench today. We got some people some opportunities to make a difference offensively. Rachel Scott was big in being able to put the ball on the ground there when we needed it and help tack on a run. Tiarra Davis, we didn't have her in a pitching role today, but at that point, we thought that she was our best option. Some of our hitters were not making the adjustments quite honestly that we needed them too. It was nice to have the opportunity to turn to the bench and have some production.

On the pitchers' performance: It was really nice to be able to get production from them. Paige [von Sprecken] and Kristen [Clark] did a nice job for us coming out to the bullpen last weekend at OU. We just got back to work this week. Those two are competing really well for us. They are eliminating so many free passes, and they are just on the attack and letting us play defense. As we get down the stretch every win matters for RPI for us, first and foremost. Then secondly pushing into post season, we are going to need all three of them. We are trying to get them ready, and obviously they did a great job today.

On the importance of trying to sweep tomorrow: It is huge. Usually when you are talking about winning conference, more often than not when you are winning the series, each opportunity is crucial. You are going to have the opportunity right there to win the Big 12 championship. I know with OU being so far out in the front right now, it comes down to RPIs, and you cannot be satisfied with two wins. We have to come out and really take care of business tomorrow.

On Paige's mentality: She just competes. She turns her brain off and just goes out and competes, and doesn't over-think. She and Kristen are doing that, and that's why we need to give them more opportunities down the stretch.

Sophomore Pitcher Paige Von Sprecken

On keeping the rhythm throughout the game: I just had to settle down at the beginning of the game. I wasn't really finding my strike zone, so once I just relaxed and thought to just pound strikes and that your defense is going to work for you, it let me get in a better rhythm.

On the two-RBI single in the fifth inning: I told myself "don't think Paige!" I just need to go up there and have a good quality at bat. If I get the runners in, then that's icing on top of the cake.

On her pitching performance today: I struggled a little at the beginning in finding my strike zone, but then I really think I found my rhythm. We were coming up to the top of the line-up again, and they brought in Kristen, which I think was a really good move bringing in someone that they hadn't seen. I think that we worked well together that game.

Junior Infielder Celina Felix

On the Texas hits in the last two innings: I think we kept it simple. See the ball, hit the ball. After that, I think it was contagious for the rest of us.

On minor adjustments at the plate: My adjustments, I was just trying to get a deeper count. I did that and it helped out a lot. I was able to see everything (reliever Kacy Freeze) had and see where it was. I was able to pick which [pitch] I wanted to go after.