Softball rebounds to run-rule Maryland at the Texas Classic, 10-2 (6 inn.)

Saturday, February 11

Austin, Texas

6:30 p.m.

University of Texas

2-2

Maryland

0-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Maryland	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	3	2
Texas	0	2	3	4	0	1	10	11	0

Softball rebounds to run-rule Maryland at the Texas Classic, 10-2 (6 inn.)

02.11.2017 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns offense banged out a season-high 11 hits in the commanding victory

AUSTIN, Texas – Senior shortstop Devon Tunning and sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer each knocked in three runs to help power an 11-hit Texas softball (2-2) offensive assault as the Longhorns climbed back into the win column, in Texas Classic action on Saturday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, with a 10-2 (6 inn.) victory over Maryland (0-4).

Tunning was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a three-run HR, while Alcozer was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including one on a two-out single in the sixth that ended the contest. Freshman second baseman Kaitlyn Slack made her first collegiate hit count by registering a RBI triple as part of a 1-for-3 effort with a walk and run scored. Freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, senior third baseman Celina Felix was 1-for-4 with a run scored, a double and a RBI, and senior designated player Taylor McAllister managed a double in going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

In the circle, junior Kristen Clark (1-0) started the contest and picked up the victory for the Longhorns. The Richmond, Texas, native allowed two earned runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts over four innings of work. In relief, redshirt sophomore Erica Wright fired two perfect frames with one K to complete the win.

Neither offense seriously threatened until the bottom of the second when Texas struck for a pair of runs and a 2-0 lead. Ellsworth christened the outburst with a single through the left side of the infield. With one out, Felix hammered a double to left to station a pair of Longhorns in scoring position. Granted an opportunity to give UT an early lead, Alcozer soon delivered by driving a two-RBI single up the middle.

With Clark limiting the Maryland bats to just one hit over the opening three frames, the Burnt Orange & White continued adding to their advantage during the bottom of the third. After freshman pinch hitter Kaitlyn Washington and McAllister delivered base hits, Ellsworth made it 3-0 on a sacrifice fly to center. Slack soon followed by driving her first career hit (a triple) into the gap in left center, plating McAllister from third with Texas' fourth run of the contest. A Maryland fielding miscue on the Felix chopper to third soon brought Slack across to improve the Longhorns advantage even further to 5-0.

The Terrapins immediately got a pair of those runs back in the top of the fourth as third baseman Anna Kufta followed a Skylynne Ellazar lead-off single with a two-run blast to left.

The long ball continued to make it presence felt into Texas' half of the fourth. With senior center fielder Stephanie Wong and Washington on base to open the inning after consecutive walks, Tunning stepped into the batter's box and crushed a three-run shot to left for an 8-2 lead. The hit parade continued for the Longhorns as McAllister followed with a two-bagger to right center. Ellsworth followed by knocking her in via a RBI single to left to make it 9-2.

Wright entered the contest in relief of Clark beginning the top of the fifth and was superb, retiring all six Terrapin hitters she faced with one strikeout.

The end came early in the bottom of the sixth as a Tunning bunt single, a Maryland fielding error at short and a Slack free pass loaded the bases. With two outs in the frame, Alcozer laced a Hannah Dewey pitch back up the middle for the game-ending RBI allowing the Longhorns to prevail via the run-rule.