Softball falls to Kansas in second game of Saturday’s doubleheader

Saturday, April 30

Austin, Texas

30 mins. after

University of Texas

32-14, 6-7

Kansas

28-17, 5-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kansas	1	0	7	0	1	9	14	0
Texas	0	0	0	1	0	1	7	2

Softball falls to Kansas in second game of Saturday’s doubleheader

04.30.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior shortstop Devon Tunning knocked in Texas’ run on a RBI double in the 9-1 (5 inn.) loss

AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, three home runs helped power Kansas (28-17, 5-6 Big 12 Conference) to a 9-1 (5 inn.) victory over Texas softball (32-14, 6-7 Big 12 Conference) and a split of the two teams' league doubleheader.

Freshman left fielder Reagan Hathaway led the way offensively with a 2-for-3 effort, while junior shortstop Devon Tunning went 1-for-2 with a double and a RBI. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens (1-for-3), junior third baseman Celina Felix (1-for-2), senior catcher Erin Shireman (1-for-2) and junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (1-for-2) all added base hits for the Longhorns.

In the circle, sophomore Kristen Clark took the loss, falling to 4-2 on the season after allowing five earned runs on seven hits over 2.2 innings of work.

Kansas jumped to an early 1-0 lead as shortstop Chaley Brickey started the contest with a lead-off solo HR to left. A walk issued to first baseman Daniella Chavez and a single from catcher Harli Ridling put two more on for KU with two down in the frame. Designated player Lily Behrmann stepped to the plate and lifted a blooper to shallow center. Tunning raced over from her defensive position at shortstop and made an on-the-run, back-handed catch to prevent any further damage.

Texas managed base runners in each of the first two innings on one-out singles from Felix and Shireman, but could only advance Felix as far as scoring position during the opening frame.

The Jayhawk offense got completely untracked in the top of the third as Brickey and left fielder Shannon McGinley began the frame with a double and a single, respectively. With runners stationed at the corners, Chavez lifted a pop-up behind third that was dropped for an error. On the play, Brickey attempted to score from third and was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Unfortunately for the Horns, Ridling followed with a three-run HR, third baseman Jessie Roane added a two-run blast and left fielder Shannon McGinley contributed a two-run single to left as KU's advantage expanded to 8-0.

Needing a spark, the Longhorns put together a threat in the bottom of the third as Stephens singled and Felix was hit by a pitch. With two down in the frame, sophomore designated player Paige von Sprecken hit a promising bouncer into the hole on the right side of the infield. KU second baseman Taylor McElhaney managed to make a diving stop, however, tossing on to first to end the inning and prevent a Texas run from crossing the plate.

A lead-off single from Hathaway and a sacrifice bunt moved another Texas runner into scoring position during the bottom of the fourth. This time the Longhorns delivered the needed hit as Tunning blasted a RBI double off the wall in left to cut the deficit to 8-1.

With runners on the corners and two down in the top of the fifth, a Chavez bloop single to right field plated Brickey to restore KU's eight-run advantage.

The Longhorns kept fighting in the bottom of the fifth as pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec walked and Hathaway singled through the right side with two outs. Unfortunately, a fielder's choice play forced the lead runner at third to end the contest via run-rule.

TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES

Texas Head Coach Connie Clark
On Paige von Sprecken's injury (fouled a ball up under her helmet): I think she's going to be okay. We're a little thin in the pitching department, so I think she's going to be okay. It was a little scary.

On Tiarra Davis' pitching performance in the first game: I thought she did a really nice job. She really had to grind it out, too. It's the same thing. She's working through some things physically, but she really wanted to stay in there, she really wanted the ball, and I thought she gave us tremendous fight today.

On what to tell the pitchers following the 9-1 loss in game two: You know, it's tough. I know Kristen [Clark] will be hard on herself, of course, because she wants a better outing than that. But she left some stuff sweet over the plate and obviously we couldn't get out of that inning and had to make a pitching change. You just want to have them keep fighting, and that's what we talked about. We weren't our best in the circle that second game.

On Reagan Hathaway's hot hitting and getting back into the rhythm: It's good to see her building a lot of confidence, because obviously she went through a period of time where she was scrapping a little bit. But she's really worked. She's really put the time and effort in, trying to get her mind right, and knowing how to make an adjustment that this is a game of failure, especially hitting. Working through that as a freshman, I'm really proud of her, and I think that's going to set her up for some of the things she's going to do in her career. It's good to see her heating up, and you can just see her: she's a lot more confident and really quieting her mind once she steps in.

On Devon Tunning getting her confidence up: I think so. She's been working through things as well and just really trying to take possession of the box. I thought she was a little more assertive and kept it simple today. She's also starting to see the ball better, but yeah, it's been a struggle for her. You're wanting to see her build confidence and get back in there and get the job done. So it's good to see her get some action today.

On coming out strong in the final game of the series: That's all we'll focus on. We have to put it away quickly and come back out. It's on our turf, and we need to finish strong.

Freshman Left Fielder Reagan Hathaway

On getting her confidence rolling: Yeah. Things are kind of just falling when I make contact. I'm just in that groove where everything's working for me now.

On defensive struggles and the second game: We just kind of act like that's (the second game) over. Tomorrow's a new day, and we can come out, start all over and just play our game, and it should work out well.

Junior Third Baseman Celina Felix

On how to approach the final game of the series: I think we'll approach it like we've approached every game. You know, wanting to score some runs, getting ahead first, and kind of holding it down on defense. Just taking care of the small things.