Softball comes up short in mid-week pitcher’s duel to Texas State, 2-1

Wednesday, March 1

Austin, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

11-6

Texas State

10-3

Texas State

Texas

Softball comes up short in mid-week pitcher’s duel to Texas State, 2-1

03.01.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Longhorns’ offense managed to put the potential winning run on base with two outs in the seventh

AUSTIN, Texas – On a blustery Wednesday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball (11-6) put the potential winning run on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but came up just short in a pitcher's duel as Texas State (10-3) held on for a 2-1, mid-week victory.

In the circle for the Horns, senior left-hander Tiarra Davis (2-3) allowed one earned run on four hits with seven walks and five strikeouts during a complete-game effort. Her counterpart for the Bobcats, junior Randi Rupp, permitted one earned run on five hits with three walks and six K's over seven frames.

Senior left fielder Stephanie Wong (2-for-3, walk, run) and senior shortstop Devon Tunning (2-for-4, double) led the Texas offense with two hits each, while senior third baseman Celina Felix added a single as part of a 1-for-3 effort.

The long ball helped Texas State to a quick 2-0 lead during top of the first as shortstop Ariel Ortiz followed what proved to be a vital Texas infield miscue by driving a two-run HR to left.

Bidding for an immediate response, Wong and Tunning opened the Longhorns' initial at-bat with a single to the circle and a base knock that dropped just inside the left field line, respectively. With both runners standing in scoring position after a groundout, an illegal pitch by TXST starter Rupp plated Wong from 60 feet away to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Bobcats threatened again with two on during both the second and third innings, but Davis danced her way out of danger both times with the assistance of three combined strikeouts.

With Rupp keeping the Longhorns offense in check from the circle, TXST managed to load the bases with one out in the fifth via two walks and a hit batter. That's when Texas' defense made a big double play as Felix handled a chopper to third, stepped on the bag for the force and tossed to junior catcher Randel Leahy at the plate for an inning-ending tag as the Bobcats missed a huge opportunity to add to their advantage.

Felix followed up her great defensive effort by ripping a one-out shot up the middle during the bottom of the fifth. Senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel stepped to the dish and crushed a ball to center that looked promising off the bat, but was knocked down at the warning track by a stiff breeze blowing straight in.

Still trailing by a run on the scoreboard, Texas got a Tunning leadoff double into the left center gap to christen the bottom of the sixth. With runners at the corners and one retired following a Reagan Hathaway sac bunt and a Mickenzi Krpec walk, freshman pinch hitter Tuesday DerMargosian hit a bouncer to third. On the play, Tunning attempted to score from 60 feet away but was cut down on a throw home by Bobcat third baseman Corrina Liscano. Texas State left fielder Kimberlin Naivar immediately followed by making the play of the game, saving at least one tally and preserving TXST's one-run lead on a terrific running catch of a Kaitlyn Washington liner near the foul line.

A Leahy walk got UT off to a promising start in the bottom of the seventh as the squad tried to put together its third walk-off the season. With two down, a Wong free pass put the winning run aboard for the Burnt Orange & White, but the rally attempt came up short as a strikeout ended the contest.