Softball blows past Kansas in the opener of a doubleheader, 10-0 (5 inn.)

Friday, April 28

Lawrence, Kansas

4 p.m.

University of Texas

27-20, 5-8

Kansas

24-24, 3-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	1	5	0	0	4	10	13	0
Kansas	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Softball blows past Kansas in the opener of a doubleheader, 10-0 (5 inn.)

04.28.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Texas’ offense bangs out 13 hits as sophomore Bekah Alcozer and senior Celina Felix each hit HR’s

LAWRENCE, Kan. – In the opener of a Friday doubleheader at Arrocha Ballpark, Texas softball (27-20, 5-8 Big 12 Conference) banged out 13 hits, including seven of the extra-base variety, to back redshirt sophomore Erica Wright's fourth one-hitter of the season as the Longhorns rolled past Kansas (24-24, 3-10 Big 12 Conference), 10-0 (5 inn.)

At the plate for the Burnt Orange & White, sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer homered for the second consecutive game (her team-leading sixth big fly) as part of a 1-for-2 effort, while senior third baseman Celina Felix went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, her first HR of the campaign and two RBIs.

Freshman left fielder Kaitlyn Washington was 2-for-3 for the Horns with two doubles, two runs and a pair of RBI. Freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and junior catcher Randel Leahy was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Senior shortstop Devon Tunning went a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish with three tallies and a RBI, while senior center fielder Stephanie Wong doubled as part of a 1-for-3 performance.

Wright was solid from the circle, improving to 6-5 overall by tossing her fourth one-hitter of the campaign. The Huntington, Texas, native struck out two and walked two over five innings of shutout ball.

Texas' offense got off to a quick start against KU starter Sarah Miller during the top of the first as Tunning singled to short, Washington was hit by a pitch and Felix reached on a bunt to start the frame. With the bags packed full of Longhorns and none out, Ellsworth hit a towering sacrifice fly to right center, plating Tunning for a quick 1-0 advantage.

Following a quick one-two-three Wright opening frame from the circle, the Longhorns wasted no time blowing the contest wide open by scoring five times in the second. Leading off the inning, Alcozer stepped into the box against Miller and launched a 3-2 offering to center for her team-leading sixth HR to boost the UT lead to 2-0. With the Longhorns' offense having proven prolific all season long with two down, Washington soon kicked-off another two-out explosion by following up a Tunning hit-by-pitch with a RBI double to the wall in left center. Felix was hit by an offering to station runners at the corners and set the stage for Ellsworth, who ripped a RBI base knock to left. Already leading by four tallies, Leahy boosted the Burnt Orange & White lead to 6-0 with her own two-run double into right center.

Kansas managed its initial base runner of the contest off Wright starting the bottom of the third as second baseman Madison Sykes drew a walk. The Jayhawks' speedster eventually swiped second to reach scoring position, but went no further, as Felix handled a liner to third to end the frame.

With two down in the bottom of the fourth, the Jayhawks finally got their first hit as catcher Harli Ridling laced a double just inside the third base bag and down the line. Wright refused to allow anything further, however, striking out designated player Taylor Dodson looking as KU left its second runner stranded.

The match-up got completely away from Kansas during the top of the fifth as the Burnt Orange & White struck for four more runs while making it 10-0. After Wong got things underway on a double to left center, a Tunning RBI single, Washington's second RBI double of the afternoon and Felix's first HR, on a two-run shot just inside the left field fair pole, boosted the Horns into double digits on the scoreboard. Ellsworth made it five straight Texas hits by blasting her own two-bagger to right center before Kansas registered a strikeout to end the onslaught.

Needing three tallies to avoid the run-rule in the bottom of the fifth, the Jayhawks got a one-out walk but nothing else as a grounder to short and a fly out to shallow center wrapped up UT's game one triumph.