Softball shut out by No. 11/9 Oklahoma in Sunday’s series finale, 6-0

Sunday, April 9

Austin, Texas

12 p.m.

University of Texas

20-18, 0-6

#11/9 Oklahoma

35-7, 6-0

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

Softball shut out by No. 11/9 Oklahoma in Sunday’s series finale, 6-0

04.09.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Two costly Longhorns errors led to five unearned Sooner runs during the top of the second

AUSTIN, Texas – On Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, two costly Longhorns errors led to five unearned runs in the second inning for No. 11/9 Oklahoma (35-7, 6-0 Big 12 Conference) as the Sooners went on to shut out Texas softball (20-18, 0-6 Big 12 Conference), 6-0.

The Longhorns offense managed five hits against a combination of OU starter Paige Lowary and reliever Paige Parker. UT senior third baseman Celina Felix led the way by going 2-for-3 at the dish, while senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel contributed a triple as part of her 1-for-3 effort. Senior shortstop Devon Tunning and freshman left fielder Tuesday DerMargosian each went 1-for-3.

In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, junior Paige von Sprecken dropped to 5-4 on the season after allowing just one earned run on four hits with four walks over 2.0 innings as the starter. Sophomore Brooke Bolinger was very strong in relief, permitting three hits, walking two and striking out a pair over 5.0 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.

"We have to find the takeaways from (the weekend)," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "You have to find the good out of the low points, and that's what we'll talk about. We'll use those takeaways and keep getting better. We'll continue to play hard. It's about doing the little things well. It's about executing and getting to the next pitch. Doesn't matter who's wearing the other shirts, it's about what we're doing, how we're playing and what our mental approach is like in executing. We'll get back to work on Tuesday and look to get a couple of good days of work in and be ready to be on the attack at Texas Tech."

Attempting to give the Longhorns offense an early spark during the first inning, DerMargosian registered the first hit of the contest for either team on a perfect slap single to third. Freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth followed immediately by launching a promising fly ball the other way to right center, but it was tracked down by OU's Nicole Pendley short of the warning track.

For the third straight contest, Oklahoma jumped to an early lead as the Sooners struck for five unearned runs in the second inning with the assistance of two Texas errors. Back-to-back singles to start the frame from first baseman Shay Knighten and Pendley got OU in business against von Sprecken. From there, a UT throwing error on a bunt, a failed fielder's choice try to the plate, a pick-off throw that ricocheted off an Oklahoma runner's helmet and a RBI double and single did the offensive damage for the Sooners.

OU expanded its lead during the third as a leadoff walk, an infield single by shortstop Kelsey Arnold and two wild pitches combined for a run as the Sooners boosted their advantage to 6-0.

Hanzel beat Oklahoma's defensive shift against right-handed batters that kept left field uncovered by driving a shot inside the third base line and down into the unoccupied corner for a two-out triple. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, freshman right fielder Kaitlyn Washington hit a sharp line drive but directly to OU third baseman Sydney Romero to leave the UT runner stranded 60 feet from pay dirt.

Felix got things off to a promising start for the Horns in the fifth with a leadoff single driven just past the circle. Tunning followed two outs later by blooping a base hit into left, putting two Burnt Orange & White-clad occupants on the base paths. Once again, Lowary got herself out of any potential jam by inducing a routine bouncer to third to conclude the frame.

With senior designated player Tiarra Davis standing on first, following an OU error with one out in the bottom of the sixth, the Sooners made the decision to summon their ace Parker out of the bullpen. The decision paid dividends as the reliever retired the final five Longhorns she faced to complete the shutout victory.