Softball gets Ellsworth & Tunning HR’s in topping UTSA, 7-2

Wednesday, March 8

Austin, Texas

4 p.m.

University of Texas

12-9

UTSA

9-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UTSA	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	5	3
Texas	0	1	0	4	2	0	X	7	10	1

Softball gets Ellsworth & Tunning HR’s in topping UTSA, 7-2

03.08.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth blasted her first collegiate HR in the victory over the Roadrunners

AUSTIN, Texas – Freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth's first collegiate HR and senior shortstop Devon Tunning's team-leading fourth blast helped power Texas softball (12-9) to a 7-2 victory over UTSA (9-12) on Wednesday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

With the Longhorns clinging to a 1-0 lead during the bottom of the fourth, Ellsworth drove a two-run shot down the left field line. Tunning followed two batters later with a solo HR to deep center as the Burnt Orange & White built an insurmountable lead.

Ellsworth guided Texas' 10-hit offensive output by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a HR and three RBIs, while Tunning was 2-for-3 with a run scored, a HR and two RBIs. Senior left fielder Stephanie Wong contributed a 3-for-4 effort with a tally, freshman second baseman Kaitlyn Slack was 1-for-2 with a run and a double and senior designated player Mickenzi Krpec was 1-for-2 with a RBI.

In the circle, junior right-handed starter Paige von Sprecken improved to 4-1 overall after allowing two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work. Fellow junior Kristen Clark struck out a pair for the Horns during two perfect innings of relief work.

"I think it was good to get back on the winning track," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "We just talked about not being satisfied with the outcome. It took some coaches getting in the circle tonight to get things going and get the team fired up. We have to trust and have that positive attitude that we're on the verge of opening this thing up.

"I think we competed well out in Arizona last weekend, so we need to stay focused on how we're competing pitch-to-pitch, stay on the attack and be committed to what we're looking for and just go compete. There were some good takeaways from Arizona, and we wanted to see that tonight. It was decent. The first month of the season is a grind because of the tournaments and the high number of games you play and everyone is tired, but every team is tired right now. We got the outcome tonight, but I'd like to see our energy a little better from the get-go and a better sense of urgency."

A UTSA error on a Jade Gortarez bunt got the Longhorns in immediate business starting the bottom of the second. With two in scoring position and one retired after Slack was struck by a pitch and Roadrunner starter Lizzy Fox unleashed a wild pitch, Ellsworth staked Texas to a 1-0 lead via a long sacrifice fly to center.

After Texas missed a big chance to add to its advantage by leaving the bases loaded in the third, UTSA put the first two aboard in the top of the fourth on its initial two hits of the game courtesy of left fielder Celeste Loughman and third baseman Rylee Rodriguez. The UT starter quickly danced her way out of danger, however, by registering her fifth and sixth K's of the game before Gortarez handled an inning-ending bouncer to third.

Slack christened UT's half of the fourth by lacing a 3-2 pitch to left center for a lead-off double. That set the stage for long ball heroics off Ellsworth's bat as the Georgetown, Texas, native blasted the first HR of her collegiate career down the left field line to make it 3-0. Two batters later it was Tunning's turn as the Montgomery, Texas, product crushed her team-leading fourth HR of the season to deep center for a 4-0 lead. The hit parade continued for the Longhorns as Wong singled, swiped a base and moved to third on an error before crossing from 60 feet away on a Krpec RBI single to center.

With the Burnt Orange & White leading 5-0, UTSA packed the bags with one out in the top of the fifth on a pair of singles and a hit batter. Needing just one out to escape a jam, von Sprecken allowed a single up the middle that was knocked down and kept on the infield by Tunning. On the play, the Roadrunners successfully plated a pair to make it 5-2 but had a runner cut down at third to end the threat with no further damage.

The Texas lead expanded to 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth as three consecutive UT singles from Ellsworth, senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel and Tunning, as well as a UTSA throwing miscue, combined to plate two more.

From there, Clark retired all six Roadrunner batters she faced over the sixth and seventh innings with a pair of strikeouts to help Texas climb back into the win column.