Softball cranks up offense in blowing past No. 20/22 Missouri, 10-3

Thursday, February 23

Cathedral City, Calif.

10:30 p.m.

University of Texas

9-3

#20/22 Missouri

6-3

Texas

Missouri

Softball cranks up offense in blowing past No. 20/22 Missouri, 10-3

02.24.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer blasted her first career grand slam and knocked in career-high five

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The temperature plummeted as the sun went down on Thursday night during Mary Nutter Classic action at Big League Dreams Park, but the Longhorns bats heated up as Texas softball (9-3) banged out 11 hits and got the first career grand slam from sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer in blowing past No. 20/22 Missouri (6-3), 10-3.

Alcozer led the charge at the plate by going 1-for-2 with a run scored, two walks, the grand slam and a career-high five RBIs. Freshman second baseman Jade Gortarez was 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs, senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel was 2-for-3 with a pair of tallies and a RBI and senior shortstop Devon Tunning was 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

In the circle, senior starter Tiarra Davis (1-2) picked up her first victory of 2017 by scattering seven hits and allowing one earned run with six walks and seven strikeouts over a complete-game effort. The Henderson, Texas, product also helped her own cause at the plate by going 1-for-4 with a run, a walk and a RBI.

With the help of Missouri starter Cheyenne Baxter, the Longhorns got something going immediately in the top of the first as eight straight balls to start the game resulted in walks for senior left fielder Stephanie Wong (1-for-3, two walks, two runs) and Tunning. With two in scoring position after a bouncer to first, Davis ripped a promising liner to short that was snagged on a leap by Braxton Burnside to save a run. The Longhorns would get that elusive run just moments later, however, as Baxter uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Wong the opportunity to scamper home from 60 feet away for a 1-0 lead.

Bidding for an immediate response in the bottom half, a Missouri lead-off walk, a stolen base and an errant throw on the steal attempt moved a base runner at third with no outs. That set the stage for a sacrifice fly to center by catcher Kirsten Mack as the Tigers quickly dead-locked things at 1-1. Consecutive hits, including a double by UM first baseman Rylee Pierce, stationed two in scoring position as Missouri bid for more with two down. Davis fought her way out of the jam, however, by registering a huge strikeout of center fielder Anna Reed.

The Longhorns got back in business to start the third as Hanzel was hit by a pitch before Wong dropped a perfect bunt single up the third-base line. After a fielder's choice and a bouncer back to the circle threatened the derail the scoring chance, consecutive walks by Davis and Alcozer forced in a run to hand Texas back the advantage at 2-1.

Once again, the Tigers responded immediately with a scoring opportunity of their own as a lead-off single and two walks loaded the bases with two retired. Davis again danced out of danger, handling a sharp Burnside bouncer back to the circle to leave the bags packed.

The Texas defense came up huge with Missouri runners at the corners and one out in the bottom of the fourth. On a shallow fly ball to right, Alcozer raced in and made a grab before the ball could drop in right center. She successfully tossed behind the runner off first to record an inning-ending double play before pinch runner Gabby Garrison could scamper home from 60 feet away.

Consecutive singles from Tunning and sophomore center fielder Reagan Hathaway got the Burnt Orange & White in business starting the top of the fifth. With one out and the bags packed after Alcozer was struck by a pitch, Gortarez delivered the biggest hit to that point in the contest via a two-RBI single up the middle, expanding the lead to 4-1.

No. 20 Missouri successfully cut into its deficit in the bottom of the fifth with the help of the Texas defense. With runners at first and second and two retired, consecutive fielding errors on the UT infield allowed the Tigers to score a pair to make it 4-3.

The offensive fireworks continued into the sixth as a Hanzel lead-off single and a Wong walk put two on to start the inning. With the bases loaded on a Tunning bunt single, Davis helped her own cause at the plate with a bloop RBI single to right. That's when Alcozer blew the game wide open with a no doubt grand slam to left to boost the UT lead to a commanding six runs. Later in the inning, Hanzel added a RBI single of her own to finalize a six-run inning that saw 11 Longhorns come to the plate in securing a 10-3 advantage.

From there, Davis allowed a two-out Missouri walk in the sixth and a two-out single in the seventh but no more, eventually registering her seventh K of the contest to conclude the big victory.