The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
24-9
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UTEP
17-23
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTEP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Texas | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | X | 8 | 9 | 0 |
Softball sweeps its doubleheader over UTEP, 8-0 (5 inn.)
04.05.2016 | Softball
Longhorns offense bangs out nine hits, with four of the extra-base variety, in the commanding victory
AUSTIN, Texas – On Tuesday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball (24-9) banged out nine hits and got a two-hit shutout from sophomore pitcher Paige von Sprecken in completing a doubleheader sweep over UTEP (17-23), 8-0 (5 inn.).
The Longhorns offense was led by senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens, who went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, her team-leading 12th and 13th doubles of the season and her squad-high 29th RBI. Junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel was 2-for-2 with a pair of tallies, her first career triple and a RBI while von Sprecken continued her hot hitting by going 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI. Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong, junior third baseman Celina Felix, junior shortstop Devon Tunning (1-for-2, run), freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway (1-for-2, run) and sophomore catcher Randel Leahy (1-for-2) each managed single RBIs in the triumph.
With the two-hit shutout, von Sprecken improved her overall record this season to 9-1 and stretched her scoreless inning streak to a career-best 12 consecutive frames. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native didn't walk a Miner during the win and struck out four on just 68 total pitches.
After von Sprecken worked a quick one-two-three top of the first with two strikeouts, the Horns offense wasted zero time breaking in front on the scoreboard during the bottom half. Back-to-back walks to open the inning from Stephens and Wong started the Burnt Orange & White outburst, while RBI singles soon followed off the bats of von Sprecken and Tunning to provide the Longhorns with a quick 2-0 advantage.
Hoping to respond immediately, UTEP right fielder Taylor Sargent began the top of the second by driving a lead-off double into the gap in right center. A hit batter put two on, while a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position with just one retired in the frame. Catcher Linda Garcia stepped to the plate and chopped a ball to third. Felix corralled the bouncer, turned and fired a strike to the plate as Leahy made the tag to prevent a run from scoring. A called strike three on a beautiful change-up by von Sprecken froze shortstop Cortney Smith as the Miners left a pair stranded.
The Longhorns offense got back in business in the bottom of the second as a Hanzel single to right center and a Stephens double into the left field corner put two in scoring position with no outs. From there, consecutive sacrifice flies off the bats of Wong and Felix brought the runners home to expand Texas' advantage to 4-0.
With von Sprecken in control from the circle, an error on a Tunning bouncer, a Hathaway walk and a wild pitch put two more in scoring position with no outs in the third. Leahy stepped to the dish and lifted a sacrifice fly into left center to plate Texas' fifth run of the contest. A Hanzel RBI triple and a Stephens RBI double stretched the advantage out to 7-0 as the Burnt Orange & White pushed across three runs in the frame.
The run-rule was brought into play during the bottom of the fourth as Hathaway followed up a von Sprecken double with a RBI single to left center to make it 8-0.
Needing at least one tally to avoid an early night, UTEP got off to a promising start with a lead-off infield single from center fielder Kawehiokalani Netane. That was all the Miners would get off UT's hurler, however, as a pop-up, a strikeout and a fielder's choice ended the contest.
TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES
Texas Head Coach Connie Clark:
On the team performance today: I thought we were pretty sharp. Monday is a recovery day, and we don't play many games on Tuesdays, so Tuesday continues to be a recovery day mainly because of the academic layout. We didn't practice yesterday, so I was happy to see that we were sharp and had good energy. Even several of our athletes have classes until later so they had to catch up on the hitting because we had the 4:30 start. So you always look at those things as being little distractions, but I thought we were very focused tonight.
On the sacrifice flies in the second game: I think we were right on. We did a great job whether it was hitting behind runners and getting them the opportunity to get to second or third and delivered with the sac flies. I thought we did a nice job with that because, specifically, their pitching staff likes to keep the ball low in the zone, so we made some adjustments moving around in the box and made them elevate it just a little bit just enough so we could get it to the outfield. There were some good looks and some good execution with that.
Sophomore Pitcher Paige Von Sprecken
On her performance at the plate: The ball is looking real big. I am keeping it simple. I am just seeing it and hitting it.
On the importance of having the entire lineup working: It takes a whole roster to beat a team, and we can't just rely on a couple people hitting. So it is great that everyone is getting at-bats right now and that we can produce runs throughout the whole line up.
On how the pitchers are feeling right now: It is a big confidence booster that we are able to pound the strike zone like that and not give up free passes. Ultimately, the free passes are what kills us, so it is a real big confidence booster that we have thrown so well.
On looking at the game against UTSA: We want to just keep the momentum and keep playing Longhorn softball. Just keep it up the way that we have been playing.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: von Sprecken, Paige (9-1)
L: Pearson, D (6-6)
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Batting:
2B: Sargent, T 1
SH: Netane, K 1
Base Running:
HBP: Moreno, H 1
Batting:
2B: Stephens, Lindsey 2 ; von Sprecken, Paige 1
3B: Hanzel, Kelli 1
RBI: Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Wong, Stephanie 1 ; Felix, Celina 1 ; von Sprecken, Paige 1 ; Tunning, Devon 1 ; Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Leahy, Randel 1 ; Hanzel, Kelli 1
SF: Wong, Stephanie 1 ; Felix, Celina 1 ; Leahy, Randel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stephens, Lindsey 2 ; Wong, Stephanie 1 ; Krpec, Mickenzi 1 ; Tunning, Devon 1 ; Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Hanzel, Kelli 2
SB: Stephens, Lindsey 1
