Softball evens its Big 12 series against Iowa State with a 7-1 victory

Saturday, April 22

Austin, Texas

1 p.m.

University of Texas

25-19, 4-7

Iowa State

17-32, 2-12

Iowa State

Texas

Softball evens its Big 12 series against Iowa State with a 7-1 victory

04.22.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel and junior catcher Randel Leahy led the way with two RBIs each

AUSTIN, Texas – Two-RBI efforts from senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel and junior catcher Randel Leahy helped lead Texas softball (25-19, 4-7 Big 12 Conference) to a 7-1 victory over Iowa State on Saturday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

In all, the Longhorns offense registered 10 hits against the Cyclones with Leahy (2-for-3, run, two RBIs), freshman right fielder Kaitlyn Washington (2-for-2, two runs, two walks, double) and freshman designated player Taylor Ellsworth (2-for-3, run, RBI) each managing a pair of base knocks. Hanzel was 1-for-3 with a tone-setting, two-RBI double as part of UT's three-run third inning, while senior third baseman Celina Felix went 1-for-4 with a RBI.

Davis picked up her sixth win of the campaign over six innings of work, allowing one earned run on just two hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Junior Kristen Clark struck out a single batter while tossing a single inning of scoreless relief in the seventh.

After the teams combined for numerous missed scoring chances, while leaving six stranded over the opening two and a half innings, it was Texas's offense that finally broke through off ISU starter Brianna Weilbacher in the bottom of the third. With Washington at first on a walk, Ellsworth ignited a key two-out rally by driving a base knock up the middle to put a pair aboard. Leahy soon got the Longhorns on the scoreboard as the Norco, Calif., native ripped a shot past the circle and into center to score Washington for a one-run lead. Hanzel then stepped into the box and hit a liner off the glove of leaping Cyclone third baseman Talyn Lewis and into left for a two-RBI double to make it 3-0.

Another walk and numerous defensive mistakes came back to hurt ISU in the bottom of the fourth as freshman second baseman Kaitlyn Slack started things off with a lead-off free pass. The Liberty, Texas, product quickly took off and swiped second as catcher Kaylee Bosworth's throw sailed into right center. Attempting to pick up the errant toss, Iowa State right fielder Kirsten Caudle mishandled the ball allowing Slack the chance to scamper all the way home on the play with Texas' fourth tally. From there, walks to senior center fielder Stephanie Wong and Washington as well as the Cyclones' third error of the inning loaded the bases with still just one out. From there, Ellsworth and Leahy delivered back-to-back RBI singles, extending UT's advantage to 6-0.

Looking to claw back into the contest, ISU got off to a positive start in the fifth as pinch hitter Jackie Chairez christened the frame with a walk. With a runner at second and two retired, second baseman Sami Williams got the Cyclones into the scoring column as her RBI double cut Iowa State's deficit to 6-1.

The Horns got the run right back via a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth as senior shortstop Devon Tunning, Washington and Felix strung together three consecutive singles to make it 7-1.

Iowa State threatened again with two down in the sixth as a pair of walks and two steals stationed Cyclones on the corners. Davis escaped any further damage, however, by forcing Bosworth to foul out harmlessly near first.

In the top of the seventh, ISU registered a base runner via a one-out Texas fielding miscue, but that was all the Cyclones would get as a strikeout of left fielder Kaila Konz wrapped up the Longhorns' victory.