Softball preview: at Kansas [April 28-30, 2017]

Texas Game Notes at Kansas

Texas (26-20, 4-8 Big 12) at Kansas (24-23, 3-9 Big 12) | April 28-30 | Arrocha Ballpark, Lawrence, Kan.

Schedule:

Friday, April 28

5 p.m. CT TEXAS at Kansas – TV: FOX College Sports Central

Radio: 105.3 FM "The Bat" in Austin or online at TexasSports.com/audio

Saturday, April 29

2 p.m. CT TEXAS at Kansas

Radio: 105.3 FM "The Bat" in Austin or online at TexasSports.com/audio

Sunday, April 30

12 p.m. CT TEXAS at Kansas – TV: ESPN3

Radio: 105.3 FM "The Bat" in Austin or online at TexasSports.com/audio

**Because of expected weather issues, check TexasSports.com or our official Twitter site (@TexasSoftball) throughout the weekend for any weather-related schedule change or cancellation information should it become necessary.

Location: Lawrence, Kan. (Arrocha Ballpark)

Ticket Information: LINK

Live Stats: LINK

Television/Web Video: Friday's series opener will be broadcast on FOX College Sports Central with Matt Menzl (play-by-play) and Tracy Warren (color) on the call. Sunday's series final is set to be shown live on ESPN3.

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:

By virtue of her three at-bats during the win over North Texas on April 26, freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth finally reached the minimum number of at-bats per Big 12 Conference regulations (2.0 AB per team game played) to enter the overall league statistics. Although new stats weren't released following UT's game against the Mean Green, Ellsworth and her current .435 average should rate a lofty No. 2 in the conference behind only Baylor senior Lindsey Cargill (.currently at .457 overall).
The Texas bullpen has been nearly untouchable over the last seven games with four pitchers (all except Wright) combining to hold the opposition scoreless over the last 17.0 innings of relief dating back to the sixth inning of the win at Texas Tech on April 14. Sophomore Brooke Bolinger has tossed seven of those scoreless frames, while junior Kristen Clark has contributed 5.2 shutout innings. In fact, the last time the Texas bullpen allowed more than one run in a game was in the 2-1 (9) loss to Texas State back on April 5, 12 games ago.
Texas leads its all-time series against Kansas by a total of 31-14, dating back to the first meeting back on April 6, 1997. UT has won 20 of the last 22 meetings and swept the Jayhawks in its last trip to Lawrence from March 27-29, 2015, by scores of 6-0, 11-5 and 7-5. One item to note, 10 of the Longhorns' 14 total series losses to KU have occurred on the road as UT owns a 15-10 mark in Lawrence.
One thing Texas' coaching staff certainly did this season was put together a challenging schedule as the program's NON-CONFERENCE ONLY slate was listed as the SECOND-TOUGHEST in all of NCAA Division I according to the most recent release of the RPI on April 24th. Included among that schedule were 10 games against nationally-ranked teams including such powerhouse programs as UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Washington and Tennessee.
Numerous Longhorns hitters enter this weekend's series at Kansas on streaks. Freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth is currently riding a career-long, eight-game hitting streak, while senior third baseman Celina Felix has hit in six straight and junior catcher Randel Leahy in five straight games. Felix has also reached base safely in a season-best nine straight contests, while Ellsworth is at eight, sophomore outfielder Bekah Alcozer is at seven and Leahy at five straight games.
Over the last nine games, senior third baseman Celina Felix has been doing some solid work with the bat while reaching base safely in every contest. The Montclair, Calif., native is hitting .286 (10-for-35) with two doubles, a triple, her first two-multi-hit games of the season and eight RBIs during that stretch while posting a season-long six-game hitting streak. Felix's bat is a MAJOR need for the Longhorns the rest of the way, so her recent production is a very positive sign for the offense.
Texas has had a load of success with two outs in 2017, hitting .301 (134-for-445) while registering 96 of its 201 total RBIs (47%) with two outs in a inning. In all, 16 different Longhorns batters own two-out RBIs, led by 12 from senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel, 11 from senior third baseman Celina Felix and 10 from freshman infielder Jade Gortarez. Amazingly, 11 of Felix's 15 total RBIs this season have come with two outs in a frame.
One-run games haven't been kind to the Longhorns thus far in 2017 as Texas owns just a 4-10 record in such contests. In fact, the Burnt Orange & White have lost 10 of their last 11 one-run games (beat Houston 2-1 in 8 inn. on April 2) while 10 of UT's last 15 overall defeats have all come by just a single tally.
Texas freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Washington was named the Big 12 Conference's Player of the Week on April 18 following her impressive weekend at Texas Tech (April 13-15). The Humble, Texas, product led the way for the Burnt Orange & White against the Red Raiders by hitting at a .467 clip (7-for-15) with two runs scored, three doubles and four RBIs. The award marks the first league accolade of Washington's career on the Forty Acres and the second weekly honor for the Longhorns in 2017 after senior Tiarra Davis' previous nod as the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week back on February 28. Since the start of the Texas Tech series eight games ago, Washington has hit safely in seven of those contests with four multi-hit efforts, a .414 batting average, four doubles and four RBIs.
Putting three or more runs on the scoreboard seems to be the magic number for Longhorns success in 2017 as Texas boasts a solid 24-4 mark when its offense totals three runs or more but is just 2-16 when crossing the plate less than three times.
The injury bug has bitten the Longhorns recently as freshman infielder Jade Gortarez remains week-to-week with a foot injury, while sophomore outfielder Reagan Hathaway has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2017 season with a knee injury suffered in the opener against No. 11/9 Oklahoma (April 7).
Texas' schedule has been incredibly difficult to this point in 2017 as 16 of UT's 27 opponents played currently possess winning records, seven are currently ranked in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll and 13 of them own at least 25 wins. Included are four teams with 40 or more victories, Arizona (45-4), Minnesota (43-3), Oklahoma (41-8) and Tennessee (41-6). Overall, the Longhorns' opponents (as of April 18) were 616-387-2 (.614) as UT has played the 16th-toughest schedule in NCAA Division I.
The Burnt Orange & White have played 21 of their 46 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 11 of those tilts have been against top 15-rated foes.
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 31 come-from-behind victories (those where UT trailed at ANY point in a game) and 13 total "true" walk-off wins combined, including three walk-offs this year to beat Louisiana Tech during the Texas Invitational on Feb. 17, 6-5, to down Notre Dame at the Mary Nutter Classic on Feb. 23, 4-3, and to beat Houston on April 2, 2-1 (8 inn.).

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Players Mentioned

Bekah Alcozer

Brooke Bolinger

Kristen Clark

Tiarra Davis

Taylor Ellsworth

Celina Felix

Jade Gortarez

Kelli Hanzel

Reagan Hathaway

Randel Leahy

Kaitlyn Washington

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics