Softball shuts out Kansas to claim a Big 12 series victory, 6-0

Sunday, May 1

Austin, Texas

11 a.m.

University of Texas

33-14, 7-7

Kansas

28-18, 5-7

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

Softball shuts out Kansas to claim a Big 12 series victory, 6-0

05.01.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens blasted her fifth career grand slam to power the Horns offense

AUSTIN, Texas – The fifth grand slam of senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens' career proved plenty to back junior pitcher Tiarra Davis' fourth solo shutout of the season as Texas softball (33-14, 7-7 Big 12 Conference) sealed a league series victory over Kansas (28-18, 5-7 Big 12 Conference) on Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 6-0.

Stephens made her one hit count, blasting a 3-2 pitch well over the wall in right center for a grand slam during a five-run fifth inning to help the Longhorns take control. Senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish with a run scored, a walk, a stolen base and a RBI, while junior shortstop Devon Tunning doubled as part of a 1-for-2 effort with a free pass and two runs scored.

In the circle, Davis picked up her 19th victory of the season, scattering five hits, walking four and striking out eight over 7.0 innings of work.

After Texas left junior third baseman Celina Felix stranded following a single in the bottom of the first, Kansas got the first major threat by either team underway starting the second. First baseman Daniella Chavez walked and catcher Harli Ridling was struck by the pitch to put two Jayhawks on opening the frame. Designated player Lily Behrmann was called upon to drop the sacrifice bunt, but Davis was quick out of the circle to field the ball and fired to third to cut down the lead runner. From there UT's hurler struck out third baseman Jessie Roane and got center fielder Briana Evans to foul out behind the plate as KU left two stranded.

With two retired in the bottom of the second, the Longhorns put together an outburst to nab the lead. Tunning got things started by driving a double to left center. Ceo stepped to the plate with a chance to get UT on the board and did just that by lacing a RBI single to right center to make it 1-0.

The Jayhawks attempted to answer right back in the top of the third as second baseman Ashley McElhaney walked and shortstop Chaley Brickey reached on an infield single to begin the frame. With both base runners in scoring position after a sacrifice bunt, Davis got the Horns out of the threat by registering back-to-back strikeouts of right fielder Erin McGinley and Chavez.

Consecutive walks to Tunning and Ceo, with one out in the fourth, ended KU starter Monique Wesley's stay in the circle as Alexis Reid was summoned out of the bullpen in relief. The new pitcher immediately locked into an 11-pitch battle with junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel that resulted in another free pass to load the bases full of Longhorns. That set the stage for fireworks as Stephens crushed a 3-2 offering from Reid over the wall in right center for her fifth-career grand slam and a commanding 5-0 advantage. After Texas re-loaded the bases on singles from senior right fielder Holly Kern and sophomore designated player Paige von Sprecken as well as a Reagan Hathaway walk, a wild pitch plated Kern from 60 feet away to boost the Texas lead to 6-0.

Singles from center fielder Briana Evans and Brickey got KU in business with one down in the fifth. Once again, Davis battled her way out of any potential trouble by getting left fielder Shannon McGinley to fly out before catching Erin McGinley looking at a called strike three to conclude the inning.

With KU needing a spark, Chavez christened the Jayhawks half of the sixth by chopping a base knock up the middle. She didn't stay on the base paths long, however, as Texas turned a bouncer to the circle into a threat-killing 1-6-3 double play.

Facing one final chance to get back in the contest in the top of the seventh, Kansas got a two-out rally started, loading the bases on McElhaney and Brickey walks and a Shannon McGinley single up the middle. Davis got the out she needed as Erin McGinley hit a chopper to second that was handled on a scoop from Ceo to Hanzel to complete the shutout victory.

TEXAS POSTGAME QUOTES

Texas Head Coach Connie Clark

On today's win: Every game matters right now. It was another good opportunity RPI-wise. I'm glad we took care of the series, even though we had the split yesterday.

On Tiarra Davis' performance on the mound: She definitely likes to try to keep it interesting. [laughs] She does. But I love that she secured the shutout. Sometimes she seems to be better when the bases are loaded (laughing). She's got that competitor quality. It gives me gray hairs leading into the bases loaded situations sometimes, but she competes, and that was one of her best weekends in regards to back-to-back outings. The training staff has been working through stuff with her physically, but she did a really nice job both days. I thought the velocity was back up and the locations were better and whatnot. Good outings from her.

On looking forward to the rest of the regular season: Just keep doing what we're doing. Obviously we've got the non-conference Wednesday...that's the one you worry about in regards to motivation, and we just talked about that. We had one thought coming into the weekend, and we want to start a little bit better. I think we've had some tremendous finishes this year but just to be able to start better and how we can continue to get better. Today, that's what we talked about pregame. "Hey, it's May," and teams' destinies are decided in May, and that's where we're at right now. So I think we keep that focus in regards to how you start and finish, and I like what we're getting from them right now. They're really coming together at the right time.

Senior Center Fielder Lindsey Stephens

On her third inning grand slam: Yeah, I got a pitch I liked. I liked it a lot. Through that at bat, I just went up there, and I was very happy with that pitching change since we saw her yesterday. I got a pitch I liked and hit it very well.

On her overall performance on the day: I thought I saw the ball well all day and made great contact. The wind was definitely not in my favor today, but I just kept swinging and hopefully tried to find a hole.

On how she approached her at bat before the grand slam: In that situation I just wanted to put the ball in play; just get a couple runs or even one run across. But a grand slam never hurts.

On how her grand slam boosted team confidence: It definitely gives us a confidence booster. It gave us a security blanket; we didn't have to play too tight and just loosened things up so everyone just goes with their swinging and continues doing what they're doing, but it's just a little more relaxed.

Junior Pitcher Tiarra Davis

On her performance today: I just focused on attacking the strike zone and just letting my defense work behind me. I didn't really get too nervous in that situation because I knew that if they did put the ball in play then the defense would have my back.

On her eight strikeouts: I think Coach Clark did a really good job today of calling pitches and keeping them off balance, so I think they were kind of guessing as to what was coming. They never made that adjustment throughout the day.

On Lindsey Stephens' grand slam: Oh, that was awesome. I was like, "Whoo! I can relax." It was awesome.

On stepping her game up when there are runners in scoring position: I just think of it as I don't want runs to score, and at that time we had a 1-0 lead in the situation. So I was just making sure to get out of that jam and let my team and the offense work for me.