Softball blows past Colorado State in 2017 season opener, 8-0 (5 inn.)

Friday, February 10

Austin, Texas

4:30 p.m.

University of Texas

1-0

Colorado State

1-1

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

Softball blows past Colorado State in 2017 season opener, 8-0 (5 inn.)

02.10.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Washington hit her first career HR during her initial UT at-bat in the fourth

AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday evening at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball plated four runs in each of the first and fourth innings and improved to a perfect 21-0 all-time in season openers by blasting its way past Colorado State to open the 2017 campaign, 8-0 (5 inn.).

Freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Washington helped power the Longhorns offense by crushing a two-run HR during her first career UT at-bat in the fourth inning. Senior third baseman Celina Felix was 1-for-2 with a tone-setting, two-run single in the opening frame as the Montclair, Calif., reached in her 14th straight game dating back to the end of 2016. Senior designated player Tiarra Davis was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored, a double and a RBI, and junior catcher Randel Leahy was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, a double and a RBI.

In the circle, junior right-hander Paige von Sprecken started and earned her first win of the season by allowing two hits, walking three and striking out six over four innings of work. Junior Kristen Clark permitted one hit and struck out a pair during a scoreless fifth frame of relief.

After von Sprecken struck out a pair of Rams during a quick CSU top of the first, Texas' offense erupted immediately against CSU starter Bridgette Hutton in the bottom half. Senior center fielder Stephanie Wong (1-for-1, two runs, two steals) proved the early catalyst, leading off the frame with walk and stolen base to reach scoring position. RBI doubles off the bats of Leahy and Davis quickly boosted the Longhorns to a 2-0 advantage. With a pair stationed on the base paths and two outs, Felix blooped a two-RBI single to left, plating two more and expanding the gap to 4-0.

The Rams threatened to climb right back into the contest during the second as first baseman Hannah McCorkhill and right fielder Taylor Ward each drew walks. UT's right-hander responded to the two-out threat, however, by ringing up CSU center fielder Madison Kilcrease on a huge strikeout to end the inning.

A leadoff Haley Hutton free pass and a one-out Amber Nelson single got Colorado State back in business in the third. Once again, von Sprecken battled her way out of a jam by coercing a groundout and registering her fifth K of the game.

The Longhorns officially blew the game open during the bottom of the fourth against Hutton. Senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel and Wong got the UT offense untracked with a one-out walk and single, respectively. A sacrifice fly to deep center by Tunning proved plenty to bring home Texas' fifth score. A run-scoring wild pitch and the towering two-run shot to center off Washington's bat completed the offensive outburst.

With two down in the fifth following consecutive Clark K's, Colorado State tried its best to avoid an early night by stringing together a two-out single and walk. UT's reliever finished things off on a chopper to third, however, as Felix corralled the bouncer and fired a strike to Hanzel to end the 8-0 (5 inn.) victory.