The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
11-4
#21/19 Arizona State
11-2
Softball rallies late but falls to No. 21/19 Arizona State, 9-6
02.25.2017 | Softball
Texas brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth but were thwarted on a diving catch
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Trailing 9-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Texas softball (11-4) sent 10 batters to the dish, scored four times and brought the eventual go-ahead run to the plate before suffering its first loss of the Mary Nutter Classic on Saturday night to No. 21/19 Arizona State (11-2), 9-6.
With the bases loaded, two outs and the go-ahead run standing in the batter's box during the bottom of the sixth in the form of Texas senior designated player Mickenzi Krpec, freshly-inserted ASU defensive sub Brynley Steele raced in on Krpec's shallow fly ball to right and made a vital inning-ending diving catch to preserve the Sun Devils' three-run lead.
The Longhorns are now 4-1 at the Mary Nutter Classic with victories over No. RV/RV Notre Dame, No. 20/22 Missouri, Bethune Cookman and No. 15/13 Tennessee as well as the lone loss to the nationally-ranked Sun Devils.
During the contest, UT's offense registered 10 total hits, guided by two each from senior left fielder Stephanie Wong (2-for-4, run, RBI), freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth (2-for-3, run, first collegiate double, two RBIs) and senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (2-for-3, run, RBI). Sophomore center fielder Reagan Hathaway was 1-for-3 with a RBI triple, her team-leading third three-bagger of the season, while senior shortstop Devon Tunning went 1-for-4 with a RBI.
In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, sophomore left-hander Brooke Bolinger (3-1) suffered her first loss after permitting two earned runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 1.1 innings of work.
From the start, Arizona State wasted no time getting a scoring opportunity going in the top of the first against Bolinger, plating a quick run for a 1-0 lead on a walk and consecutive singles by shortstop Chelsea Gonzales and right fielder Ulufa Leilua.
In the top of the second, the Sun Devils added two more on the scoreboard with the help of a Texas throwing error. With runners at second and third and just one out, center fielder Skylar McCarty lifted a sacrifice fly. On the throw to the plate attempting to get the runner trying to score, the ball got away allowing both left fielder Nicole Chilson and third baseman Taylor Becerra the chance to cross for a 3-0 advantage.
Four ASU hits in the top of the third, including a key two-RBI triple down the left field line from second baseman Marisa Stankiewicz and a RBI single from Becerra, boosted the Sun Devils advantage to a commanding 6-0.
With Texas desperate for something to start battling its way back into the contest, Hanzel got the Longhorns started in the bottom of the third with a leadoff single through the right side. With two retired on a fielder's choice and a great running grab by ASU's Nicole Chilson on a Tunning fly to left that prevented at least two bases, Hathaway stepped to the dish and ripped a triple over first base and down into the right field corner, scoring Wong to cut the UT deficit to five runs.
The Sun Devils used the long ball to add to their lead during the top of the fourth as designated player Miranda Farricker and first baseman Margaret Stahm hit consecutive solo HR's to make it 8-1.
In the bottom of the fourth with freshman second baseman Jade Gortarez stationed at first on a single up the middle, Ellsworth registered her first career double and extra-base hit. The Georgetown, Texas native dropped a two-out Dale Ryndak offering just inside the chalk down the left field line to score the runner and cut the ASU advantage to 8-2.
With ASU leading 9-2 following a Leilua solo shot in the top of the sixth, the Longhorns put together their spirited rally during the bottom half. Following a Krpec lead-off walk and two quick outs, a Sun Devil fielding miscue on a Celina Felix chopper to third extended the inning. From there, Texas took full advantage as four consecutive-run-scoring singles from Ellsworth, Hanzel, Wong and Tunning cut the UT deficit to just 9-6. Hathaway drew a free pass off newly-inserted relief pitcher Giselle Juarez to bring Krpec to the plate for the second time in the inning. Representing the potential go-ahead run, the UT designated player lifted a shallow fly ball to right that appeared as if it might drop in for another hit. Steele had other ideas, however, coming up with the play of the game as her diving catch ended the onslaught and saved at least one and maybe two Texas runs from scoring.
Facing one final offensive chance in the bottom of the seventh, Texas went down in order against Juarez on a strikeout and consecutive groundouts as Arizona State prevailed, 9-6.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ryndak, Dale (3-0)
L: Bolinger, Brooke (3-1)
S: Juarez, Giselle (1)
Batting:
2B: Becerra, Taylor 1
3B: Stankiewicz, Marisa 1
HR: Farricker, Miranda 1 ; Stahm, Margaret 1 ; Leilua, Ulufa 1
RBI: McCarty, Skylar 1 ; Farricker, Miranda 1 ; Stahm, Margaret 1 ; Leilua, Ulufa 2 ; Stankiewicz, Marisa 2 ; Becerra, Taylor 1
SF: McCarty, Skylar 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farricker, Miranda 2 ; Stahm, Margaret 1 ; Leilua, Ulufa 2 ; Palacios, Sashel 1 ; Stankiewicz, Marisa 1 ; Chilson, Nichole 1 ; Becerra, Taylor 1
HBP: Palacios, Sashel 1
Batting:
2B: Ellsworth, Taylor 1
3B: Hathaway, Reagan 1
RBI: Romero, Chloe 1 ; Tunning, Devon 1 ; Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Ellsworth, Taylor 2 ; Hanzel, Kelli 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Romero, Chloe 1 ; Krpec, Mickenzi 1 ; Gortarez, Jade 1 ; Felix, Celina 1 ; Ellsworth, Taylor 1 ; Hanzel, Kelli 1
