The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sunday, April 2
Austin, Texas
2:30 p.m.
University of Texas
vs
Houston
Softball preview: vs. Houston (DH) [April 2, 2017]
03.31.2017 | Softball
The Longhorns step out of Big 12 play again this weekend to host the Cougars in a doubleheader on Longhorn Network
Houston (16-14) at Texas (18-14) | DOUBLEHEADER | April 2 | McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Sunday, April 2
1 p.m. CT Houston at TEXAS – Longhorn Network – 105.3 FM "The Bat" in Austin
3:30 p.m. CT Houston at TEXAS – Longhorn Network – 105.3 FM "The Bat" in Austin
*Check TexasSports.com or Twitter (@TexasSoftball) for any updated information about potential weather delays or cancellations should they become necessary
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: The games against Houston are slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network with Tyler Denning (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color) on the call.
Radio: Texas' contests are 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:
- Redshirt sophomore pitcher Erica Wright looks like she's returning to form after missing all of the 2016 season because of injury. Over her last five appearances in the circle (Loyola Marymount, Cal State Fullerton, McNeese State, Oklahoma State, UTSA), the Huntington, Texas, native has allowed just six combined hits over 24.0 innings of work, struck out 29, registered two complete-game one-hitters and posted a miniscule ERA of 1.17. She also recently tied her career-high for consecutive scoreless innings by tossing 15.0 straight shutout frames from March 14 at Loyola Marymount until March 26 at Oklahoma State.
- During Texas' series finale at Oklahoma State (March 26), freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth added her name to the school record book by tying former Longhorns standout Taylor Thom's single-game record for hits (established April 23, 2011 at Texas Tech) by going a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate. Since starting against No. 21/19 Arizona State back on February 25, the Georgetown, Texas, native is batting a remarkable .677 (21-for-31) over 11 games played with six extra-base hits, 12 RBIs and a 1.759 OPS while reaching base in 25 of 35 total plate appearances.
- Watch out for the Longhorns offense in the sixth inning as Texas has out-scored the opposition by a staggering 40-9 count in the frame while tallying at least once in the sixth during 11 of its games so far in 2017. The largest sixth-inning outburst for the Horns was a 10-run explosion at Long Beach State back on March 15.
- One-run games haven't been kind to the Longhorns thus far in 2017 as Texas owns just a 3-7 record in such contests. In fact, the Burnt Orange & White have lost each of their last five one-run games, while seven of UT's last nine defeats have all come by just a single tally.
- 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 .359, is fifth in the Big 12 Conference in slugging percentage at .592, has reached base safely in 27 of 32 games and has hit safely in 22 of 32 contests. After entering the season with nine career HR's (career-high seven in 2015), Tunning already owns a team-high five dingers over this year's initial 32 games.
- Texas' schedule has been incredibly difficult to this point in 2017 as 16 of UT's 21 opponents played currently possess winning records, six are currently ranked in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll and 11 of them own at least 20 wins. Included are four teams with 26 or more victories, No. 4 Arizona (32-1), No. 6 Minnesota (28-2), No. 8 Washington (26-6) and No. 19 Tennessee (26-5). Overall, the Longhorns' opponents (as of March 28) are 404-258-2 (.610).
- Texas' defense has now turned 15 double plays this season (an average of 0.47 double plays-per-game), just 10 short of tying the school single-season record of 25 set back in 2009. At the current pace, the Horns would turn 10 more over the last 21 scheduled regular-season games prior to entering postseason play. Last season, UT came up just one double play short of tying the school mark with 24.
- The Burnt Orange & White have played 18 of their 32 contests against teams that were ranked or receiving votes in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) or ESPN.com/USA Softball polls at time of playing, while eight of those tilts have been against top 15-rated foes.
- It was quite an exhausting late February through March for the Longhorns as far as travel went. From the time the team left for the trip to the Mary Nutter Classic on Feb. 22, Texas was on the road for a stretch 22 of 34 possible days (until returning from Stillwater, Okla., on March 26) and five consecutive weekends. In all, also counting trips to Palm Springs, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., and Los Angeles/Long Beach/Fullerton, Calif., the Burnt Orange & White traveled nearly 9,000 miles.
- During a 4-0 win over McNeese State at McCombs Field (March 22), Texas utilized all 20 players on its roster while all five pitchers combined on a two-hit shutout. Each hurler tossed at least one scoreless inning with starter Erica Wright and winning pitcher Paige von Sprecken (in relief) both firing two frames.
- Texas has had a load of success with two outs in 2017, hitting .313 (95-for-304) while registering 68 of its 157 total RBIs (43%) with two outs in a inning. In all, 15 different Longhorns batters own two-out RBIs, led by 10 from freshman infielder Jade Gortarez and seven each from senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel and sophomore outfielder Reagan Hathaway.
- Getting off to a quick start seems important for the 2017 Texas squad as the Longhorns are 14-4 when scoring first and 10-3 when tallying at least once in the first inning. On the other hand, UT is just 4-10 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 13-2 when hitting at least one over the fence. Conversely, UT is just 5-12 when it doesn't manage a single HR.
- 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 29 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.
Players Mentioned
C/1B
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
1B/2B
/ Softball
OF/C
/ Softball
SS/3B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball