Softball suffers another one-run loss in opener to No. 11/9 Oklahoma, 3-2

Friday, April 7

Austin, Texas

4:30 p.m.

University of Texas

20-16, 0-4

#11/9 Oklahoma

33-7, 4-0

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

Softball suffers another one-run loss in opener to No. 11/9 Oklahoma, 3-2

04.07.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Senior shortstop Devon Tunning knocked in a run to lead the Longhorns offense against the Sooners

AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday evening at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball (20-16, 0-4 Big 12 Conference) got a RBI single from senior shortstop Devon Tunning and a passed ball to plate a run but came up just short in its series opener against No. 11/9 Oklahoma (33-7, 4-0 Big 12 Conference), 3-2.

The loss marked the ninth one-run defeat of the campaign for the Burnt Orange & White, while each of UT's last seven losses have come by a single run.

Tunning led the Texas offense by going 1-for-3 with a RBI, freshman right fielder Tuesday DerMargosian was 1-for-2 with a run scored and senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel walked and scored once.

In the circle for the Longhorns, redshirt freshman Erica Wright (4-4) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work. In relief, sophomore left-hander Brooke Bolinger walked one during a single no-hit frame of effort.

Oklahoma's offense wasted no time getting something started against Wright in the top of the first as right fielder Nicole Mendes and second baseman Caleigh Clifton christened the match-up with consecutive singles. Designated player Fale Aviu stepped to the plate with one retired and bounced a RBI base knock through the right side to grant OU a quick 1-0 lead.

Bidding to spark the Longhorns during the bottom of the second, freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth battled OU ace Paige Parker over a 13-pitch at-bat before flying out loudly to the warning track in deep right.

After the tough opening frame, Wright settled down from the circle, retiring eight straight Sooners following Aviu's first-inning RBI single.

DerMargosian became Texas' first base runner of the match-up by slapping a leadoff single over the glove of leaping OU third baseman Sydney Romero to start the bottom of the third. With the freshman speedster in scoring position on her third stolen base of the campaign, Hanzel walked to put a pair of Longhorns aboard with still only one down. That set the stage for Tunning to deliver a clutch RBI single through the right side, plating DerMargosian to dead lock the contest. UT soon nabbed its first lead as an Alissa Dalton passed ball behind the plate allowed Hanzel the chance to scamper home from 60 feet away and make it 2-1.

Oklahoma immediately tied the contest at 2-2 in the top of the fourth as first baseman Shay Knighten drove a one-out solo HR off the left field fair pole.

A leadoff single up the middle from Clifton got the Sooners back in business in the top of the sixth. Aviu hit a ball to right center that dropped just in front of charging sophomore Bekah Alcozer for a hit as OU stationed runners at the corners with one out. With both in scoring position after a steal, Knighten delivered again by lacing a RBI single up the middle to grant Oklahoma a 3-2 advantage. On the play, a strong throw by senior center fielder Stephanie Wong prevented more damage as pinch runner Raegan Rogers was gunned down at the plate.

Unfortunately for the Longhorns, Parker wouldn't allow anything else as the hurler retired the last 14 batters she faced over a stretch from the third through the seventh innings.

Texas Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Connie Clark

On today's game: I thought we competed well. We did some good things. We gave ourselves opportunities and stayed aggressive. The only thing we would like to do is cut down some of the strikeouts heading into the next couple days. We had some quality at-bats. I'm ready to see the ball fall. [Taylor] Ellsworth has hit the ball on the money several times but right at people. I can't tell you how many times Devon Tunning has worn out center fielders, and they're coming up with every play. The game is the game, and you can't take anything away from those quality at-bats. It's a three game series, so there are some takeaways we will move forward with, hopefully be even better tomorrow and find a way to get the outcome.

On freshman Tuesday DerMargosian: I think she had a tremendous fall for us. Any time freshmen get into the season and see a higher level of pitching, you always have to test the water and see how they will respond. I think there was a period of time early when she was trying to do too much, especially if there were runners on base. She's not a powerhouse. She's really settled into, "Hey, I've got to do what I do." That's put the ball on the ground and force defenses to come up with fantastic plays. The shortstop came up with a fantastic play today on her, but she had quality at-bats all day long. She's just getting more comfortable. It took us a while in the preseason to establish what our starting lineup was going to look like, and the hitters that need to be in the lineup. She brings that other dimension than the other power hitters that surround that spot. That's another reason we like seeing her in the lineup. She's really even keeled. She doesn't get too high or too low. She competes well, and the more she sees high level pitching, the better she's going to get.

Freshman right fielder Tuesday DerMargosian

On taking the lead in the third inning: It definitely moved our momentum forward, and we thought this is where we have to open things up. It kept our energy up.

On her first Red River Rivalry game: I was definitely nervous, but then I had to think back and say, "I've been playing the game since I was eight." It's the same game. There are just a few more people in the stands, and the rivalry is just a little bigger than anytime I've ever played. I just put that in the back of my mind.