Softball takes game one of its doubleheader over UTEP, 4-1

Tuesday, April 5

Austin, Texas

4:30 p.m.

University of Texas

23-9

UTEP

17-22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UTEP	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	8	0
Texas	0	0	2	2	0	0	X	4	6	0

Softball takes game one of its doubleheader over UTEP, 4-1

04.05.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore designated player Paige von Sprecken goes 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the offense

AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore designated player Paige von Sprecken and junior third baseman Celina Felix each managed two hits and combined to knock in three runs to help lead Texas softball (23-9) to a victory over UTEP (17-22) in game one of a Tuesday doubleheader at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 4-1.

Junior pitcher Tiarra Davis (14-7) earned her 14th win by allowing one earned run on eight hits with a walk and seven K's over her 16th complete game effort of the season.

Felix was 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI, von Sprecken was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens was credited with a RBI on a groundout.

Following a quiet first inning for both teams, UTEP right fielder Taylor Sargent ripped the first pitch of the top of the second into left field for a single. Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong nearly made a terrific shoe-string catch on the play, but the ruling by the third-base umpire was that the ball hit the ground before the grab. The base hit didn't affect Davis at all in the circle, as the junior left hander struck out a pair of hitters and induced a foul out to first to end the inning.

Texas managed its initial base runner during the bottom of the second as senior right fielder Holly Kern walked with two retired. Unfortunately, the scoreless dead-lock continued as a strikeout brought the frame to a close.

The Miners managed the first serious threat of the contest in the top of the third as a hit batter to start the inning, a sac bunt and a single from second baseman Courtney Clayton put runners at the corners with one out. Following a strikeout of designated player Kaitlin Ryder, third baseman Kiki Pepi walked to load the bases. Davis fought her way out of the jam by inducing a Sargent fly ball to right that Kern squeezed for a big third out.

A lead-off walk and stolen base by senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo got the Horns in business with a runner in scoring position and no one down in the bottom of the third. A single from von Sprecken and a steal by junior pinch runner Kelli Hanzel set the stage for a RBI groundout off the bat of Stephens to give Texas a 1-0 lead. Felix followed immediately by driving a Kaitlin Fifield pitch into center to plate Hanzel from 60 feet away and double UT's advantage.

Junior shortstop Devon Tunning opened a new threat by christening the bottom of the fourth with a bunt single and quickly moving to second as Kern reached via a fielder's choice. After a K and a force at second threatened to derail the inning, von Sprecken delivered a clutch two-RBI double off the wall in center, plating a pair of two-out runs for a 4-0 lead.

In need of a rally, UTEP got consecutive one-out singles from Sargent and first baseman Hope Moreno in the top of the sixth. Once again, the Miners couldn't get on the board against Davis as a fly out to left and the Texas hurler's fifth K concluded the threat with the shutout still intact.

The Miners managed a lead-off base runner to start the top of the seventh as pinch hitter Danielle Pearson blooped a ball just over third and inside the left field line. With one down, things got a little more interesting as Clayton and Ryder managed consecutive base hits to pack the bags and bring the potential tying run to the plate. Pepi drilled a ball up the middle that ricocheted off Davis' glove and over to Ceo. The UT second baseman corralled the bouncer and tried for the force at second but proved just late as UTEP cut its deficit to 4-1. That was all UTEP would get, however, as Davis struck out Sargent and Moreno to end the contest.