Softball gets Erica Wright’s one-hitter to blank Cal State Fullerton, 4-0

Saturday, March 18

Fullerton, Calif.

6 p.m.

University of Texas

16-11

#RV Cal State Fullerton

14-15

Texas

Cal State Fullerton

Softball gets Erica Wright’s one-hitter to blank Cal State Fullerton, 4-0

03.18.2017 | Softball

Box Score

UT redshirt sophomore pitcher took a no-hitter into the seventh before allowing a one-out bloop single

FULLERTON, Calif. – Redshirt sophomore pitcher Erica Wright lost a no-hit bid with one out in the seventh inning before settling for a one-hit shutout while helping Texas softball (16-11) complete a Saturday doubleheader sweep at Anderson Family Field over Cal State Fullerton (14-15), 4-0.

For Wright (3-2), the one-hitter marked the fourth of her career and her first since May 1, 2015, when the Horns won at Oklahoma State, 11-0 (5 inn.). The Huntington, Texas, product walked two and struck out seven during her second complete game of the season.

At the plate, junior designated player Randel Leahy continued her amazing Saturday production against the Titans, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs to raise her combined RBI total during the doubleheader to six.

Freshman third baseman Kaitlyn Slack was 1-for-3 with a RBI, while sophomore center fielder Reagan Hathaway added a 1-for-3 performance with two runs scored, a double and a RBI.

"I think we're going to be really good when we do the little things well," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "That's what it's all about. Keeping the simple things simple and committing to being really good at those little things that make a difference in the outcome. It was a bit of an up-and-down week in that regard, but it's always about how you finish. We talked about that postgame yesterday (after losing to CSUF, 3-2 in 9 inn.). I thought in putting some icing on the cake for the week, we did everything right today. We're a little bit up-and-down right now, but once we put it together, we're going to be tough to beat.

"We've really been trying to do our thinking outside the box when we're headed to the plate. We've still got some things to learn, but I thought today we were aggressive and decisive. I'm really pleased with the pitching. I think we're really getting what we need across the board from our staff. Tiarra (Davis) was great today, Erica is getting stronger every day and it was great getting Kristen (Clark) an inning of work. Overall, I'm pleased to see some of the growth that we've seen."

Texas jumped on CSUF's series-opening winning pitcher Kelsey Kessler right from the start of game two of Saturday's doubleheader. Senior shortstop Devon Tunning drew a walk to open the contest and was joined immediately on the base paths via a perfect bunt by senior left fielder Stephanie Wong. That gave Hathaway an opportunity to put the Horns on the board, and the Lenexa, Kan., native delivered by driving a RBI double to center that hit off the very top of the wall. After a Taylor Ellsworth walk loaded the bases, Leahy continued her impressive Saturday by driving in two more runs on a one-out single to left center.

Opening Cal State Fullerton's half of the third, a walk to catcher Kylie Padilla ended a streak of six straight batters retired by Wright to begin the contest. Pinch runner Brooke Clemetson eventually swiped second on a strikeout, but never moved another step as senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel nabbed a routine pop-up at first to end the frame.

Texas added more on the scoreboard during the top of the fifth in taking a 4-0 lead. Hathaway got things started by drawing a one-out free pass off Kessler. A base knock to right from Ellsworth stationed runners at the corners and set the stage for a perfect Slack RBI bunt single to plate Hathaway from 60 feet away.

Shortstop Shianne Brannan became Cal State Fullerton's second base runner of the game after christening the bottom of the fifth with a walk. Wright refused to allow the Titans to string anything together, however, by inducing a pair of pop-ups to short and posting her fifth strikeout.

With one retired in the bottom of the sixth, CSUF right fielder Delynn Rippy hit a sharp bouncer that was misplayed for an error by the Texas infield. That was all that Cal State Fullerton would get in the frame, though, as Wright got the next two batters to fly out to center and foul out to first, respectively.

The Texas no-hitter was finally broken up with one down in the bottom of the seventh as Brannan blooped a single into shallow center. Undaunted, Wright finished off the one-hit shutout by getting both second baseman Sydney Colenzo and Padilla to line out on the infield.