The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#10/11 UCLA
Softball preview: Spring Break Trip [March 12-18, 2017]
03.11.2017 | Softball
The Longhorns venture to California to face #10/11 UCLA, Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton
Texas Game Notes - Spring Break Trip
Texas (12-9) on its Spring Break Trip | March 12-18 | Los Angeles/Long Beach/Fullerton, Calif.
Schedule:
Sunday, March 12
6 p.m. CT TEXAS at #10/11 UCLA – Pac-12 Network LINK | LIVE STATS
Tuesday, March 14
4 p.m. CT TEXAS at Loyola Marymount – LIVE STATS
Wednesday, March 15
4 p.m. CT TEXAS at Long Beach State – LIVE STATS
Friday, March 17
7 p.m. CT TEXAS at Cal State Fullerton – Big West TV LINK | LIVE STATS
Saturday, March 18
4 p.m. CT TEXAS at Cal State Fullerton – Big West TV LINK | LIVE STATS
6 p.m. CT TEXAS at Cal State Fullerton – Big West TV LINK | LIVE STATS
Location: Los Angeles/Long Beach/Fullerton, Calif.
TV/Video Web Streams: Available via the Pac-12 Network for the contest at #10/11 UCLA and for all three games at Cal State Fullerton on Big West TV. See above schedule for links.
Radio: ALL Texas' games are slated for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcasts 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:
- A year after seeing her average drop from .350 as a sophomore (2015) to .225 as a junior (2016), it seems that senior shortstop Devon Tunning is revitalized at the plate in 2017. The Henderson, Texas, native is currently batting a team-high .394, is tied for the Big 12 lead in slugging percentage at .667, has reached base safely in 19 of 21 games and has hit safely in 15 of 21 contests. After entering the season with nine career HR's (career-high seven in 2015), Tunning already owns four dingers over this year's initial 21 games.
- Texas' schedule has been incredibly difficult to this point in 2017 as 11 of UT's 14 opponents played currently possess winning records, six are currently ranked in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll and eight of them own at least 14 wins. Included are three teams with 18 or more victories, No. 5 Arizona (18-1), No. 7 Minnesota (18-0) and No. 14 Tennessee (19-2). Overall, the Longhorns' opponents (as of March 10) are 180-94-1 (.657), while if you toss out Bethune Cookman (6-18), the winning percentage climbs to .695.
- If Texas is leading after four innings of play so far in 2017, you can put a check in the win column as the Longhorns are a perfect 9-0 when leading after four, five or six innings of action.
- With a complete-game effort during a 2-1 loss to Texas State (March 1), senior left-hander Tiarra Davis became just the fourth pitcher in Texas history to toss 500 career innings. The Henderson, Texas, native enters this week's upcoming Spring Break trip needing just one more victory to become the sixth UT pitcher to reach the 50-career win mark.
- A pair of Longhorns pitchers have really distinguished themselves in relief appearances out of the bullpen in 2017. Sophomore Brooke Bolinger owns a miniscule 0.88 ERA over five appearances (two earned runs in 16 innings), while redshirt sophomore Erica Wright has a 1.10 ERA in four appearances (two earned runs in 12.2 innings).
- Texas has had some difficulty settling on a batting line-up during the 2017 campaign as the Longhorns have utilized 18 different one-through-nine combinations on the pre-game card through the opening 21 games of the season. The most that UT has utilized the same starting nine was three times against No. 15/13 Tennessee, No. 8/7 Washington and Texas State. That line-up was: Wong, Tunning, Hathaway, Krpec, Alcozer, Gortarez, Leahy, Felix, Hanzel.
- Getting off to a quick start seems important for the 2017 Texas squad as the Longhorns are 10-2 when scoring first and 8-2 when tallying at least once in the first inning. On the other hand, UT is just 2-7 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 10-1 when hitting at least one over the fence. Conversely, UT is just 2-8 when it doesn't manage a single HR.
- Miscues can change a game, and that has been true for Texas in 2017. UT is 5-1 if it is error-free and just 7-6 with at least one error.
- Texas has had a load of success with two outs in 2017, hitting .323 (65-for-201) while registering 48 of its 103 total RBIs (47%) with two outs in a inning. In all, 15 different Longhorns batters own two-out RBIs, led by senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel (six), senior designated player Mickenzi Krpec (six), sophomore outfielder Reagan Hathaway (five) and freshman infielder Jade Gortarez (five).
- 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.
- 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.
