Softball drops its series opener to Texas Tech, 3-2

Friday, April 8

Austin, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

25-10, 0-3

Texas Tech

19-19, 4-0

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

Softball drops its series opener to Texas Tech, 3-2

04.08.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Junior pitcher Tiarra Davis and senior right fielder Holly Kern knocked in Texas’ runs

AUSTIN, Texas – Single runs in the fifth and seventh innings helped Texas Tech (19-19, 4-0 Big 12 Conference) complete a late rally past Texas softball (25-10, 0-3 Big 12) on Friday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 3-2.

Senior right fielder Holly Kern (2-for-3, double) and junior pitcher Tiarra Davis (1-for-3, double) led the UT offense with single RBIs, while junior third baseman Celina Felix (1-for-4), senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens (1-for-2, two walks) and sophomore catcher Randel Leahy (1-for-4) all contributed hits.

In the circle, Davis took the tough defeat to fall to 14-8 on the season after allowing three earned runs on six hits with four walks and seven K's over a complete-game effort.

Texas Tech wasted no time getting on the scoreboard by plating a run in the top of the first. With one down in the frame, left fielder Kiani Ramsey beat out an infield hit to short. Red Raider RBI leader Kierra Miles stepped into the batter's box and did her job, blasting a RBI double to the wall in right center to provide TTU a 1-0 lead.

The Longhorns quickly mounted a threat of their own in the bottom of the first against starter Cheyene Powell as a lead-off walk and a one-out error put two on. Unfortunately, a Davis liner right to second baseman Kirsten Schwirtlich and a K left the duo stranded on the base paths.

With two retired in the bottom of the second, UT put two more on base as a Stephanie Ceo walk and a steal and a Kelli Hanzel free pass stationed runners at first and second. The left on count expanded to four for the Horns through two frames, however, as a strikeout brought the inning to a unsatisfying close.

Texas' offense finally broke through to nab the outright lead in the bottom of the third. Junior left fielder Stephanie Wong got things started by being struck by a Maisel offering to start the frame and quickly stole second. Davis helped her own cause at the plate by registering UT's first hit of the contest on a long RBI double off the wall in center. Tied at 1-1 with two outs, Kern stepped into the box and blasted a RBI double of her own the other way to right center as the Longhorns secured a 2-1 advantage.

The Red Raiders christened the fifth with a double to left center as Wong nearly made a great diving catch on a blooper by shortstop Brooke Scott but had the ball just tip off her glove. The situation grew into a full-blown threat just minutes later as center fielder Jordan Bettiol followed with a single to left and a steal. Ramsey hit a bouncer to short that junior Devon Tunning corralled quickly. Unfortunately, her throw home proved just late as Scott slid in to tie the score at 2-2. After a K, TTU first baseman Brittany Warnecke lifted a fly ball to mid-range center. Stephens made the catch and fired a strike to the plate, nailing Bettiol for an inning-ending double play.

A one-out infield single from Leahy and a walk to freshman pinch hitter Bekah Alcozer got the Horns back in business during the bottom of the sixth. With two runners in scoring position, following a bouncer to third, the decision was made to intentionally walk the dangerous Stephens to load the bases. The decision paid off for the Red Raiders as a fly ball to right field left the Burnt Orange & White trio stranded.

Tech catcher Susan Welborn opened a decisive top of the seventh outburst by drawing a walk to represent the potential go-ahead run. Davis responded to the free pass with her seventh strikeout of the contest on a swinging K of Scott. Bettiol followed with a single to left center, placing two on with still only one retired in the frame. Ceo soon handled a bouncer to second base for out number two as Texas got closer to escaping the jam. Unfortunately, with Miles at the plate, a wild pitch on ball four brought home the go-ahead run as the Red Raiders nabbed a 3-2 advantage.

Down to one final chance to provide some more Longhorns heroics, Felix started things off in a positive direction by driving a lead-off single up the middle. With the tying tally standing at second after a perfect sacrifice bunt and a fly out to center, Kern bounced a base knock through the left side of the infield to station UT runners at the corners. Sixty feet was as close to tying the game as Texas could get, though, as a bouncer to short for a fielder's choice ended the contest.