The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
Softball preview: vs. Texas State [March 1, 2017]
02.28.2017 | Softball
The Longhorns return home to host the Bobcats in a single game at McCombs Field
Texas Game Notes - vs. Texas State
Texas hosts Texas State | March 1 | McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Wednesday, March 1
6 p.m. Texas State at TEXAS – Longhorn Network – 105.3 FM "The Bat" in Austin
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: Available here: LINK
Television: The game against Texas State is slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network with Tyler Denning (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color) on the call.
Radio: Texas' contest is scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can also be heard locally in Austin on "The Bat" 105.3 FM in the local and surrounding areas, part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM "The Horn."
Base Knocks:
- The Longhorns lead their all-time series with Texas State by a commanding 36-10 total and hold a 22-6 advantage in home tilts. The Bobcats broke a 12-game Longhorns win streak in San Marcos last March 2 with a 9-5 victory. The last time TSU won a regular-season game in Austin was on Feb. 11, 2009, 9-6. Texas State has defeated the Longhorns during each of the last two fall campaigns (2015 - 5-0) and 2016 (1-0).
- Texas' 4-2 win over No. 15/13 Tennessee at the Mary Nutter Classic was its first over a top 15 team since beating No. 12 UCLA (5-3) at the same event on Feb. 19, 2015. UT had been 0-8 against top 15 teams since beating the Bruins.
- Texas has had a load of success with two outs in 2017, hitting .355 (54-for-152) while registering 45 of its 94 total RBIs with two outs in an inning. In all, 15 different Longhorns batters own two-out RBIs, led by senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (six), sophomore outfielder Reagan Hathaway (five) and freshman infielder Jade Gortarez (five).
- The Longhorns have always had a tremendous amount of success against programs from the "Lone Star State," as UT holds a 312-77-1 (.802) overall record versus a combined 20 Texas teams. The Burnt Orange & White leads the all-time series over 19 of those 20 programs with the lone blemish being a 21-21 series tie against longtime rival Texas A&M. The Horns play 15 games against Texas teams in 2017, facing-off against Texas State (twice), UTSA (twice), Houston (twice), Texas Tech (three times), Texas Southern, North Texas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Baylor (three times).
- Getting off to a quick start seems important for the 2017 Texas squad as the Longhorns are 9-1 when scoring first and 8-0 when tallying at least once in the first inning. On the other hand, UT is just 2-4 when its opponent puts the initial run on the board.
- If Texas homers, it seems to have a lot to do with its success so far in 2017 as the Longhorns are a perfect 9-0 when hitting at least one over the fence. Conversely, UT is just 2-5 when it doesn't manage a single HR.
- Texas has had some difficulty settling on a batting line-up during the 2017 campaign as the Longhorns have utilized 15 different one-through-nine combinations on the pre-game card through the opening 16 games of the season. The only time UT has utilized the same starting nine was against both No. 15/13 Tennessee and No. 8/7 Washington. That line-up was: Wong, Tunning, Hathaway, Krpec, Alcozer, Gortarez, Leahy, Felix, Hanzel.
- Several Texas players enter the Texas State match-up with impressive streaks going. Senior outfielder Stephanie Wong has reached base in all 16 games to open the season (career-long is 18 straight games from February 28-April 4, 2015), while sophomore outfielder Reagan Hathaway is on an 11-game reaching base streak and has hit in five straight.
- Talk about the definition of a true pitching STAFF. Just five games into the 2017 season, Texas had already utilized ALL FIVE pitchers on its roster. Keep this in mind, in the history of the program, the Longhorns have only used five pitchers during an entire season on three occasions: 2009, 2005 and 1998.
- Since the beginning of the 2015 season, the nucleus of this year's Longhorns squad has demonstrated a resilience and "never quit" attitude in fighting back from deficits. Texas owns 27 come-from-behind victories (those where UT trailed at ANY point in a game) and 12 total "true" walk-off wins combined, including two walk-offs this year to beat Louisiana Tech during the Texas Invitational on Feb. 17, 6-5, and to down Notre Dame at the Mary Nutter Classic on Feb. 23, 4-3.
