Softball falls in Texas Classic action to No. 16/14 Minnesota, 11-6

Saturday, February 11

Austin, Texas

4 p.m.

University of Texas

1-2

#16/14 Minnesota

4-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Minnesota	0	0	5	0	1	0	5	11	9	0
Texas	0	1	4	0	0	0	1	6	8	2

Softball falls in Texas Classic action to No. 16/14 Minnesota, 11-6

02.11.2017 | Softball

Box Score

The Golden Gophers took advantage of a pair of UT fielding miscues to plate five unearned runs in the third

AUSTIN, Texas – Five unearned runs in the third and a five-run outburst in the seventh helped power No. 16/14 Minnesota (4-0) to an 11-6 victory over Texas softball (1-2) during Texas Classic action on Saturday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

In the circle, senior pitcher Tiarra Davis (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing one earned run on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work. The Henderson, Texas, native tried her best to help her own cause at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs, improving her season batting mark to an impressive .667 (6-for-9) with a team-leading four RBIs over the opening three contests.

Senior shortstop Devon Tunning was also 3-for-4 at the dish with a career-high-tying two doubles and a RBI, while senior second baseman Mickenzi Krpec went 1-for-3 with a double, a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBIs.

With Davis keeping the Minnesota bats quiet over the opening two frames with three strikeouts, the Longhorns jumped in front of the Gophers during the bottom of the second. After junior catcher Randel Leahy was struck by a Tori Finucane pitch to christen the frame, Davis stepped into the box and laced a single to right center, stationing runners at the corners with one out. That brought Krpec to the plate with the opportunity to grant the Burnt Orange & White an early lead, and the Fulshear, Texas, native delivered by driving a lengthy sacrifice fly to center.

Two crucial errors on the Longhorns infield opened the door for UM to put up five unearned runs in the top of the third. With shortstop Allie Arneson at first on a one-out UT miscue, third baseman Danielle Parlich lifted a ball down the left field line that dropped just inside the chalk and spun away for a double to place runners at the corners. Left fielder Maddie Houlihan hit a chopper to short that Tunning corralled. The Montgomery, Texas, native tried retiring the lead runner at the plate, but her toss proved just late as Arneson slid under a tag attempt to dead-lock the game at 1-1. With two outs after Parlich was cut down at home, another Texas infield miscue loaded the bases for the Gophers. That proved costly as first baseman Sydney Dwyer soon drove a bases-clearing double to the wall in right center, boosting the UM advantage to 5-1.

Looking to answer right back in the bottom of the third, Texas got consecutive walks from senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel and senior left fielder Stephanie Wong to open the frame. With one out via a fielder's choice, Tunning lifted a blooper that dropped just inside the left field line for a single. The hit scored Wong from second to cut the UT deficit to 5-2 with two runners still in scoring position. With the opportunity to help her own cause, Davis drove a two-out, two-RBI base knock through the left side of the infield to trim the Minnesota advantage to just one run. On the very next Finucane pitch, Krpec hammered a double to deep center, registering the game-tying RBI to knot the count at 5-5. Consecutive walks to senior third baseman Celina Felix and freshman center fielder Jade Gortarez loaded the bases and forced a pitching change as UM summoned ace Sara Groenewegen into the contest in for relief facing a huge spot. Hanzel drove a promising fly ball to deep right field, but it was caught on the run by Sam Macken on the warning track to conclude a four-run Texas outburst that brought 10 batters to the plate.

After Texas left a pair stranded in the bottom of the fourth, the Gophers re-took the lead in the top of the fifth at 6-5 as catcher Kendyl Lindaman drove a solo shot over the wall in left center.

Wong came close to tying the contest back up with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but her long fly ball to right center was caught at the base of the wall by center fielder Dani Wagner.

Minnesota added valuable insurance against von Sprecken with two outs in the top of the seventh as a Dwyer two-run double and a three-run Arneson HR set the final UM offensive output at 11 runs.

In need of some late magic, Tunning got the Longhorns off to a promising start with a leadoff double to the wall in left. Davis followed with her third hit of the contest on a chopper just inside the right field line as Tunning scored easily from second to make it 11-6. That was as close as Texas would get, however, as a fly out to right center and a bouncer to short ended any late comeback hopes.