Softball rounds out Texas Classic action with a 7-2 win over Colorado State

Sunday, February 12

Austin, Texas

12:30 p.m.

University of Texas

3-2

Colorado State

2-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Colorado State	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	5	3
Texas	1	2	2	0	2	0	X	7	10	0

Softball rounds out Texas Classic action with a 7-2 win over Colorado State

02.12.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Wong, Gortarez and Krpec guided the Longhorns offense with two hits each in the victory

AUSTIN, Texas – On a gorgeous 75-degree Sunday afternoon in Texas Classic action at Red & Charline McCombs Field, senior left fielder Stephanie Wong, senior second baseman Mickenzi Krpec and freshman center fielder Jade Gortarez each registered two hits of a 10-hit offensive attack as Texas softball (3-2) rolled past Colorado State (2-3), 7-2.

Over the opening five-game weekend, the Longhorns batted .320 overall as a team, scored 33 total runs and managed 11 extra-base hits with standout impressive performances coming from senior pitcher/designated player Tiarra Davis (.538 avg., 7-for-13, four RBIs), senior shortstop Devon Tunning (.400 avg., five runs scored, 6-for-15, two doubles, HR, six RBIs) and Wong (.364 avg., 4-for-11, six runs scored, two RBIs, five stolen bases).

On Sunday against the Rams, Texas sophomore starting pitcher Brooke Bolinger (1-0) earned her first victory on the Forty Acres by allowing just one hit, walking two and striking out three over four scoreless innings of work. In relief, Davis permitted two earned runs on three hits with a walk and two K's in a single frame, while junior Kristen Clark was very effective in giving up only a single hit and no runs while walking two and striking out one in two innings.

Krpec was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish with a run and a RBI, Wong was 2-for-3 with a run scored, two stolen bases, a walk, a run and a RBI, Gortarez managed the first two hits of her collegiate career (2-for-4) with a tally, senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel doubled and knocked in a run via a sacrifice fly, freshman infielder Malory Schattle registered her initial career hit and RBI and sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer was also credited with a RBI.

"It's always a good benchmark during the first weekend to see where we're at and knowing what we really need to continue to work on to get better," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "There were a lot of really good takeaways and folks that really stood out from a competitive edge and grit standpoint. We've been talking about a competitive mindset and really getting after it. I thought some of our athletes really stood out in that regard. The other thing is it was great to get everyone involved this weekend. We got a lot of looks and at-bats for everybody. That will bode well for our experience going forward."

With Bolinger having rolled through the CSU line-up in order in the top of the first, Texas' offense got something underway immediately against Ram starter Larisa Petakoff in the bottom half. As she did so often in the Texas Classic, Wong got UT started by leading off the game with an infield base knock. A fielder's choice from Tunning and a bouncer to second threatened to derail the opportunity. Krpec delivered a clutch RBI single to left, however, plating Tunning for a quick 1-0 advantage.

A little speed helped Texas add to its lead during the bottom of the second. Boasting a pair in scoring position following an Alcozer walk and a Hanzel double, a pair of stolen bases and a wild pitch combined to push two more runs across and make it 3-0.

During the bottom of the third, the Longhorns managed to load the bases via a Krpec lead-off single, an error and a hit batter. An Alcozer walk and a Hanzel sacrifice fly soon brought two more home to stretch the gap to five.

Colorado State's offense finally mounted a serious threat in the top of the fourth as catcher Amber Nelson christened the frame with a double into the right center field gap. She eventually advanced within 60 feet of pay dirt, but was left stranded as third baseman Cori Gamboa bounced out harmlessly to short.

The shutout was eventually broken up against Davis with two retired in the fifth as CSU strung together a pair of singles, a wild pitch and a RBI base knock from second baseman Taryn Arcarese to trim its deficit to 5-2.

The Longhorns quickly got those runs back during the bottom half of the fifth as Schattle and Wong registered consecutive two-out RBI singles to finalize Texas' offensive output at seven tallies.

Down to one final chance to claw back into the contest in the top of the seventh, Colorado State did manage a pair of two-out base runners on an Arcarese single and a Nelson walk. Clark would shut the door on any further rally by coercing a fly ball to center to complete the UT victory.