Softball finishes Friday doubleheader sweep of Kansas, 2-0

Friday, April 28

Lawrence, Kansas

6:30 p.m.

University of Texas

28-20, 6-8

Kansas

24-25, 3-11

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

Softball finishes Friday doubleheader sweep of Kansas, 2-0

04.28.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Senior left-hander Tiarra Davis struck out a season-high nine while tossing a three-hit shutout

LAWRENCE, Kan. – It was effectively "Senior Night" a week early for Texas softball (28-20, 6-8 Big 12 Conference), on Friday evening at Arrocha Ballpark, as key RBIs from senior center fielder Stephanie Wong and senior pinch hitter Mickenzi Krpec proved enough to back a three-hit shutout from senior pitcher Tiarra Davis as the Longhorns completed a doubleheader sweep of Kansas (24-25, 3-11 Big 12 Conference), 2-0.

Davis continued UT's impressive pitching efforts on Friday in Lawrence by picking up her seventh victory of the season, striking out a season-high nine batters during a complete-game, three-hit shutout.

At the plate, senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel led the Burnt Orange & White offense by going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Wong was 1-for-2 with a key RBI double that broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, and Krpec delivered a long sacrifice fly for valuable insurance in the seventh. Davis and sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer each went 1-for-2 at the plate in the triumph.

"I thought this was a great day for us," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "I think back to the team meeting we had on Tuesday, before a pretty rigorous practice, where we discussed how we have to take advantage of every opportunity we have over the next several weeks. Coming into today and just having the right mindset, not knowing what hand the weather was going to deal us, so to just stay in the mindset of taking one, or if it's a doubleheader, in taking two. I thought we really got on a roll with high energy in game one. Most importantly, our execution today from the batter's box to the pitching circle, and certainly on defense, were significant."

During the bottom of the first, Kansas center fielder Erin McGinley became the first base occupant for either team by beating out an infield single and advancing to second on a Texas throwing error. The Jayhawk runner never moved from that spot, however, as Davis finished striking out the side on consecutive K's of third baseman Jessie Roane and catcher Harli Ridling.

A lead-off Alcozer walk and a perfect bunt single from Davis got the Longhorns' offense in business for the first time christening the top of the third. With both runners stationed in scoring position following a Wong slap bouncer to second, a failed bunt attempt resulted in a pick-off at third as Kansas registered a vital second out. The Longhorns eventually missed a big early scoring opportunity as a strikeout completed the frame with no damage.

The scoreless dead-lock finally came to an end by virtue of a two-out rally from the Longhorns in the fifth. With two aboard after a Hanzel single to center and a Davis walk, Wong launched a 2-2 Reid offering into the left center gap for a RBI double, plating Hanzel for a 1-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, Davis continued her strong outing from the circle into the bottom of the fifth. The Henderson, Texas, native punched out second baseman Madison Sykes and designated player Annie Mehringer to establish a new season-high for K's with eight.

Searching for the tying run in the bottom of the sixth, KU right fielder Lily Behrmann got the Jayhawks off to a promising start with a leadoff single up the middle. She eventually moved within 60 feet of pay dirt on a sacrifice bunt and a chopper to second with the dangerous Ridling and her 10 HR's coming to the plate. The clean-up hitter hit a deep fly ball to center that electrified the home crowd briefly, but Wong managed to catch it short of the warning track to leave the runner at third.

With Texas clinging to a one-run lead and looking for insurance on the scoreboard during the top of the seventh, Hanzel and Alcozer christened the frame with consecutive singles. A walk to Wong loaded the bases and set the stage for Krpec, who blasted a pinch-hit drive to left. With a stiff breeze blowing straight in, the shot was knocked down by the wind and caught at the track for a very loud sacrifice fly to grant the Horns a 2-0 advantage.

The Jayhawks refused to go quietly in the bottom of the seventh as left fielder Mikayla Warren nearly got KU on the board with a triple off the very top of the wall in right. Shortstop Taylor McElhaney soon walked to put runners on the corners with two down. Davis wrapped things up, however, by inducing a game-ending fly ball to center.