The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
35-14, 8-7
Iowa State
20-30, 1-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 0 |
| Iowa State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
Softball blasts its way past Iowa State in series opener, 15-2 (5 inn.)
05.06.2016 | Softball
The Texas offense hammers four HR’s and registers a 10-run third inning during the commanding win
AMES, Iowa – On Friday evening at the Cyclone Sports Complex, Texas softball (35-14, 8-7 Big 12 Conference) blasted four HR's, including the first grand slam of junior first baseman Kelli Hanzel's career, and managed a 10-run third inning in rolling past Iowa State (20-30, 1-12 Big 12 Conference) during the opener of a league series, 15-2 (5 inn.).
The Longhorns offense banged out 13 hits in the triumph, led by Hanzel's 2-for-4 effort with a run scored, her first career grand slam and a career-high five RBIs. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk, her team-leading 19th double and ninth HR's of the year and a RBI. Junior third baseman Celina Felix blasted a two-run shot, her seventh of 2016, as part of a 1-for-3, two-run, two-RBI performance and senior right fielder Holly Kern blasted a three-run HR while going 1-for-3 with a tally. Freshman left fielder Reagan Hathaway (2-for-3, run) and sophomore catcher Randel Leahy (1-for-2, run) each added single RBIs.
In the circle, junior Tiarra Davis improved to 21-9 this season after allowing one earned run on five hits with a walk and a strikeout over 3.0 innings of work. In relief, sophomore Kristen Clark permitted a single tally on three hits with a K in 2.0 frames.
"We've talked so much about starting quick and what are the little tweaks we need to do to start a bit quicker. I think that starts with your preparation in warm-up and challenging yourself a little bit," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "To have to adjust to four different pitchers and continue to have to restart to make adjustments, I loved the way our team did that tonight. Obviously, it was great to get everyone at-bats and utilize the entire team. We were good from an energy standpoint, and Tiarra and the defense did a nice job for us."
Stephens wasted no time handing the Longhorns the advantage, leading off the contest by launching a towering solo drive well over the left field foul pole to make it 1-0.
The Cyclones attempted to answer right back in the bottom of the first as singles from second baseman Brittany Gomez and center fielder Kelsey McFarland set ISU up with runners at the corners and two retired. Shortstop Nychole Antillon hit a ball to third that was bobbled briefly, but Felix recovered quickly, firing a dart to first to conclude the threat.
The long ball made multiple appearances for the Burnt Orange & White in the top of the third as the Longhorns blasted their way to a commanding 11-0 lead. Felix followed up Stephens' lead-off double with a two-run blast to center to start the power show. With two down in the frame, consecutive walks to junior shortstop Devon Tunning and Davis set the stage for a Hathaway RBI single up the middle to plate Texas' fourth tally. After senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo walked to pack the bags full of Longhorns, Hanzel crushed her first career grand slam over the wall in left to make it 8-0. More walks, ones issued to Stephens and Felix, were cashed in just minutes later as Kern crushed a three-run shot to left. When the final out was finally recorded, the Horns had plated 10 runs while sending 13 batters to the plate against three different ISU pitchers.
Looking for a major spark, the Cyclones managed to load the bases with one down in the bottom of the third on a Gomez infield single, a Cathlin Bingham walk and an Aly Cappaert base hit to left. McFarland stepped into the batter's box and lifted a little pop-up just over the circle that dropped in for a single as Gomez crossed with ISU's first tally. Facing a major threat, Davis got Antillon to hit a chopper up the third base line. Felix corralled the ball, stepped on third and fired across the diamond for a vital inning-ending double play.
Texas' offense got back in business during the top of the fourth as an error on a dropped throw at first and consecutive Hathaway and Ceo singles packed the bags with one retired. Hanzel hit a bouncer up the third base line that was nabbed and tossed home. The throw to the plate was dropped as Leahy, who had reached on a fielder's choice, slid in with the Longhorns' 12th run.
Right fielder Kaila Konz got ISU started in the fourth with a double to left center off new Texas reliever Clark. The right hander responded to the threat from the circle by inducing a pop-up, striking out first baseman Hope Scheffert looking and getting a fly to center to leave the runner in scoring position.
RBI singles from Leahy and Hanzel and a bobble in right field combined to add three more runs on the board in the top of the fifth as the Longhorns advantage continued to grow to 15-1.
ISU got the first two aboard in the bottom of the fifth on Gomez and Bingham singles. With runners at the corners and one down, a fielder's choice brought home the Cyclones second and final run of the contest. From there, Antillon popped up to Felix at third base to end the contest via run rule.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Davis, Tiarra (21-9)
L: Sanders, Savannah (8-15)
Batting:
2B: Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Davis, Tiarra 1
HR: Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Felix, Celina 1 ; Kern, Holly 1 ; Hanzel, Kelli 1
RBI: Stephens, Lindsey 1 ; Felix, Celina 2 ; Kern, Holly 3 ; Leahy, Randel 1 ; Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Hanzel, Kelli 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Stephens, Lindsey 3 ; Felix, Celina 2 ; Kern, Holly 1 ; Alcozer, Bekah 1 ; Wong, Stephanie 1 ; Tunning, Devon 1 ; Krpec, Mickenzi 1 ; Davis, Tiarra 1 ; Leahy, Randel 1 ; Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Ceo, Stephanie 1 ; Hanzel, Kelli 1
SB: Ceo, Stephanie 1
CS: Wong, Stephanie 1
Batting:
2B: Konz, Kaila 1
RBI: McFarland, Kelsey 2
SH: Bingham, Cathlin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gomez, Brittany 2
