Softball loses its Mary Nutter Classic finale to No. 8/7 Washington, 7-2

Sunday, February 26

Cathedral City, Calif.

11 a.m.

University of Texas

11-5

#8/7 Washington

10-2

Texas

Washington

Softball loses its Mary Nutter Classic finale to No. 8/7 Washington, 7-2

02.26.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore center fielder Reagan Hathaway led the Longhorns by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – On Sunday morning during the finale of the Mary Nutter Classic, Texas softball (11-5) managed to out-hit No. 8/7 Washington (10-7) but couldn't overcome a quick start from the Huskies (10-2) as UW defeated the Longhorns, 7-2.

With the loss, Texas completed the prestigious tournament with a 4-2 record, including high-profile victories over No. RV Notre Dame, No. 20/22 Missouri and No. 15/13 Tennessee. During the event, UT hit .316 as a team, totaled 35 runs (5.8 runs-per-game), managed 11 extra-base hits, including five HR's, and registered a .837 OPS.

Against the Huskies, sophomore center fielder Reagan Hathaway led the Texas offensive charge, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs to raise her batting average at the Mary Nutter Classic to a team-leading .381 (8-for-21). Senior shortstop Devon Tunning (2-for-4) and senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (2-for-2, run, hit-by-pitch) each contributed two hits.

In the circle for the Longhorns, redshirt sophomore Erica Wright (1-2) suffered the defeat, allowing five earned runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout in 1.2 innings of work. Junior Paige von Sprecken allowed one earned run on a single hit with a walk and three K's over 4.1 frames of relief.

After Texas left a runner stranded on a Hathaway single in the top of the first, Washington's offense wasted no time in securing a 3-0 advantage during the bottom half. With a pair on base following walks to shortstop Ali Aguilar and second baseman Taylor Van Zee, an error on a dropped throw to first allowed Aguilar the chance to scamper home from second for a 1-0 lead. Consecutive singles for right fielder Trysten Melhart and catcher Morganne Flores boosted the gap to three tallies

The Huskies quickly improved their advantage to 6-0 in the bottom of the second on the strength of a RBI single through the right side by left fielder Casey Stangel, a RBI triple just inside the first base bag from second baseman Taylor Van Zee and a RBI double to right from third baseman Sis Bates.

Looking to provide the Longhorns with some energy, Hanzel did her job well by leading off the top of the third with a perfect bunt single. Senior left fielder Stephanie Wong soon joined her teammate on the base paths via walk, extending her streak of successfully reaching base to open the season to 16 games. After Tunning loaded the bases on a single, Hathaway stepped into the batter's box and lifted a two-RBI base knock to right center. The hit plated a pair to cut UT's deficit to 6-2, but Tunning was caught in a rundown between second and third for the initial out of the frame. A liner and a strikeout ended the outburst, but not before Texas scored for the 49th consecutive game dating back to the 2016 season.

The Burnt Orange & White continued battling offensively into the fourth. Freshman second baseman Jade Gortarez opened the frame by lifting a fly down the right field line that dropped in. On the play, Melhart had the ball roll between her legs for a two-base error allowing Gortarez to race into third. Junior catcher Randel Leahy followed by dropping a bunt, but Alvelo fielded her position from the circle and cut down the lead runner at the plate. Hanzel was later hit by a pitch to put two Longhorns aboard with two outs, but a harmless fly to right center ended the once promising threat with no scoring.

With von Sprecken having settled things down in the circle by retiring all 10 Huskies she had faced since entering in the second inning, Texas continued trying to chip away at the UW lead in the sixth. Leahy drew a two-out walk and was joined on the base paths on consecutive singles by freshman pinch hitter Kaitlyn Washington and Hanzel to pack the bags and bring the potential tying run to the dish. Unfortunately for the Horns, a foul pop-up outside of third was caught to leave the UT trio stranded as Washington maintained its 6-2 advantage.

The Huskies added one more on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as a lead-off single, wild pitch, walk and a sacrifice bunt put two in scoring position. On a pop-up to short, Tunning made a great diving catch facing the outfield, rolled over and tried to cut down a runner trying to score from third, but her throw was just late as UW made it 7-2.

Facing one last chance to rally, Texas got consecutive singles from Tunning and Hathaway to open the top of the seventh, but could get nothing else as Alvelo finished off the victory with two strikeouts and by inducing a routine fly ball to center.