Softball battles past UTSA on Wednesday, 3-2

Wednesday, April 6

San Antonio, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

25-9

UTSA

13-23

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

04.06.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior third baseman Celina Felix blasted the go-ahead solo HR in the top of the seventh

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Sophomore pitcher Kristen Clark struck out a career-high nine batters and junior third baseman Celina Felix hit the go-ahead solo HR during the top of the seventh inning to help lead Texas softball (25-9) to a 3-2 victory over UTSA on Wednesday night at Roadrunner Field.

The Longhorns have now won five consecutive games heading into this weekend's Big 12 Conference series against Texas Tech at McCombs Field.

Felix was a team-best 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, her fifth HR of the season and a pair of RBIs, while senior right fielder Holly Kern knocked in UT's other run via a sacrifice fly. Senior catcher Erin Shireman (1-for-3, walk) and junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (2-for-2, walk, run) managed Texas' other hits in the match-up.

Clark improved to 2-1 on the season after allowing two earned runs on six hits with three walks and the career-best nine strikeouts over a complete-game effort.

The Longhorns had an early opportunity to break in front during the top of the first as a Stephanie Wong walk, a stolen base and a Felix base knock to left stationed runners at second and third with just one out. Unfortunately for UT, UTSA starter Nicole Merrill settled down and escaped the jam on a K and a bouncer back to the circle.

The Roadrunners offense got some business started with one retired in the bottom of the first as center fielder Kendall Burton drove a double the other way to the wall in left center. Clark responded to the threat in style, however, by registering consecutive strikeouts of designated player Randee Crawford and third baseman Chelsea Thomas.

Texas threatened again with two outs in the top of the second as a Shireman walk, a fielder's choice and a Hanzel single to right placed runners at the corners. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens stepped into the box and drove a ball the other way but directly into the glove of left fielder Jade Smith to end the frame with still no damage on the board.

UTSA catcher Tess Soefje christened the bottom of the second with a clean single through the left side of the infield. Clark again refused to allow the Miners to string anything together, though, by registering her third and fourth K's and getting a frame-concluding pop-up to second.

A pair of Miner infield miscues by shortstop Erica Sanchez opened the doors to another Longhorns scoring chance in the third as Felix and Wong ended up on second and third with no outs, respectively. With the bags packed on a one-out Tunning free pass, Kern lifted a 3-2 Merrill offering to deep left, scoring Wong from third on the sacrifice fly to grant Texas a 1-0 lead.

Meanwhile Clark continued dealing from the circle for the Horns, posting two more K's to give her six strikeouts through three innings of work. She also received a little defensive help as Stephens saved extra bases via a tremendous diving catch on a Burton blast into the left center gap.

The Longhorns doubled their lead in the top of the fourth as senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo and Hanzel's walks opening the frame got the opportunity underway. With the door on the scoring chance closing after two quick outs, Felix delivered the clutch hit on a bloop single to right field as the UT advantage expanded to 2-0.

UTSA's Soefje quickly cut the deficit in half during the bottom of the fourth on a one-out solo HR to center.

Another solo blast for the Miners, this one off Burton's bat to right field in the bottom of the sixth, drew the teams even at 2-2.

The long ball finally made an appearance for the Longhorns in the top of the seventh, and it couldn't have come at a better time as Felix crushed a solo HR to left to make it 3-2. The lead could have perhaps been more, but a runner was thrown out at the plate on a Shireman single up the middle to conclude the frame.

With one final chance to extend or win the contest, UTSA pinch hitter Chelsea Parker started a major two-out threat by drawing a walk off Clark. A bunt single from Smith and a Burton walk soon loaded the bases and moved the winning run into scoring position. Crawford stepped to the dish facing a huge spot and hit a chopper to short. Tunning corralled the ball and tossed to Ceo covering the second base bag to end the late drama.