Softball defeats Kansas in Saturday doubleheader opener, 3-1

Saturday, April 30

Austin, Texas

12 p.m.

University of Texas

32-13, 6-6

Kansas

27-17, 4-6

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

Softball defeats Kansas in Saturday doubleheader opener, 3-1

04.30.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior pitcher Tiarra Davis strikes out seven in her 20th complete game of the season

AUSTIN, Texas – Freshman left fielder Reagan Hathaway and junior third baseman Celina Felix combined to knock in three runs and junior pitcher Tiarra Davis allowed just three hits in tossing her 20th complete game of the season as Texas softball (32-13, 6-6 Big 12 Conference) took game one of a league doubleheader over Kansas (27-17, 4-6 Big 12 Conference) on Saturday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 3-1.

The Burnt Orange & White have now won five consecutive games overall and four straight contests in Big 12 play.

Hathaway was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs, Felix was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI and sophomore designated player Paige von Sprecken posted a perfect 2-for-2 effort at the dish. Sophomore catcher Randel Leahy (1-for-3) and junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (1-for-2) also contributed base hits in the triumph.

In the circle, Davis improved to 18-9 overall after allowing one unearned run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 7.0 innings of work.

For the 15th time in the 2016 campaign, Texas managed to get on the scoreboard during the very first inning. As she so often does, senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens proved the catalyst, walking and stealing second to open the contest. Felix then stepped to the plate and bounced a RBI single up the middle to grant the Longhorns a quick 1-0 lead. With two in scoring position after a von Sprecken base knock, Hathaway lifted a fly ball to left that was deep enough for a sacrifice fly as Felix crossed with UT's second tally.

Attempting to answer right back in the top of the second, the Jayhawks got the lead-off runner on via a strikeout/passed ball combination. A sacrifice bunt and a grounder moved right fielder Erin McGinley within 60 feet of pay dirt, but that was as far as she would get as Davis struck out designated player Taylor Dodson.

Shortstop Chaley Brickey managed KU's first hit of the match-up on a two-out double to center in the third, but Davis got left fielder Shannon McGinley to fly out harmlessly to center to leave the runner stranded.

After Texas left a pair aboard in the bottom of the third, Kansas got its most serious threat of the game going in the fourth as a Daniella Chavez walk and an Erin McGinley single put two on to start the frame. Third baseman Jessie Roane stepped to the dish with one out and lifted a blooper to shallow right. Senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo raced out and tried to make a diving catch but came up just short as the ball dropped in for a single. On the play, an attempt to cut down the runner going to second proved wild as pinch runner Emily Bermel raced home to cut the Texas advantage to 2-1. With the bags packed full of Jayhawks following another walk, second baseman Taylor McElhaney popped up harmlessly to shortstop to limit the damage.

The Longhorns got the run back in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. A single from von Sprecken got things started, and a stolen base from junior pinch runner Stephanie Wong set the stage. Hathaway soon followed with a RBI single to left to restore UT's two-run advantage.

From there it was left to Davis to slam the door, and the Henderson, Texas, native did just that by retiring all six KU batters she faced over the last two innings to secure the win.