Softball drops a 5-2 decision to #16/14 Minnesota

Friday, February 10

Austin, Texas

7 p.m.

University of Texas

1-1

#16/14 Minnesota

2-0

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

Softball drops a 5-2 decision to #16/14 Minnesota

02.10.2017 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns offense left nine base runners stranded in taking their first defeat

AUSTIN, Texas – A three-run first inning set an early tone for No. 16/14 Minnesota (2-0) on Friday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field as the Gophers battled past Texas softball (1-1) in Texas Classic action, 5-2.

The Longhorns offense left nine base runners stranded in the contest, managing four hits, drawing four walks and getting a hit-by-pitch off returning NCAA national co-strikeout leader Sara Groenewegen.

Senior outfielder Stephanie Wong went 1-for-2 at the plate for the Horns with a walk, a run scored, her third stolen base over the opening two games of 2017 and a RBI. Senior third baseman Devon Tunning was 1-for-4 with a RBI, senior designated player Tiarra Davis was 1-for-3 and freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth delivered her first collegiate hit as part of a 1-for-2 effort with a walk.

Returning to the circle for the first time since 2015, Texas redshirt sophomore starter Erica Wright allowed two earned runs on two hits with five walks and a pair of strikeouts over 3.0 innings of work. In her first career action on the Forty Acres, sophomore transfer pitcher Brooke Bolinger permitted a pair of tallies on four hits with three walks in 4.0 frames of relief work.

With Wright starting her first game for the Longhorns after missing all of last season with an injury, the Gophers took immediate advantage of any jitters or adrenaline the hurler might have been dealing with during the top of the first. After right fielder Sam Macken started the frame by drawing a six-pitch walk, third baseman Danielle Parlich singled through the infield. The ball rolled under the glove of a charging Texas outfielder, allowing Macken to score all the way from with Parlich strolling all the way around to third. A bouncer to third by Groenewegen was corralled on a hop and thrown home just a bit late as Parlich slid home with UM's second tally. With the bags packed and still only one retired, first baseman Sydney Dwyer walked to force in a run and improve the Gopher advantage to 3-0.

After leaving a runner stranded in the first, the Burnt Orange & White missed a big early chance to get right back in the contest in the bottom of the second. A wild pitch on a Groenewegen strikeout and an error on the toss to first, while attempting to get the runner, allowed freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Washington to end up standing on third with one down. Walks to freshman shortstop Jade Gortarez and senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel loaded the bases with two retired. Unfortunately, a fielder's choice was handled by Parlich to force a runner at third and conclude the threat.

Texas' offense finally broke through against Groenewegen in the bottom of the third. From her leadoff spot in the order, Wong started things off with a walk, quickly swiped second and raced to third on a throwing error by catcher Kendyl Lindaman. Tunning stepped to the dish and dropped a perfect bunt out in front of the plate for a single as Wong raced home from 60 feet away to trim the UT deficit to 3-1.

The Gophers got the run right back in the top of the fourth as a lead-off Macken walk was cashed in on a one-out RBI double to left center from Maddie Houlihan.

Back-and-forth opportunities continued into the bottom of the fourth as the Horns loaded the bases with one out via an error, an Ellsworth walk and a failed fielder's choice attempt to third on freshman Malory Schattle's bunt. With two retired, Wong hit a chopper to the right side of the infield for a RBI, scoring sophomore pinch runner Bekah Alcozer from 60 feet away to claw UT back within a pair at 4-2.

In the top of the fifth, a walk, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a two-out Houlihan single combined to extend Minnesota's advantage back to three runs.

Ellsworth tried her best to get something going for Texas in the bottom of the sixth by christening the inning with her first collegiate hit on a bouncer off the third-base bag and into left field. Unfortunately, a double play that went pitcher-shortstop-first and a bouncer to second ended the frame with no damage.

With one final opportunity in the seventh, Wong singled up the middle to begin the frame and eventually advanced into scoring position with one out. The Austin, Texas, native was stranded right there, however, as Groenewegen's seventh K of the contest and a pop-up to short, that was squeezed by Allie Arneson, ended the contest.