Softball drops a 3-0 decision to No. 6 Oklahoma at the Big 12 Tournament

Friday, May 12

Oklahoma City, Okla.

2 p.m.

University of Texas

31-23

#6 Oklahoma

48-8

Texas

Oklahoma

Softball drops a 3-0 decision to No. 6 Oklahoma at the Big 12 Tournament

05.12.2017 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns will play #16/12 Baylor at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in the third-place game

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Friday afternoon at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma ace Paige Parker limited Texas softball (31-23) to just three hits as the sixth-ranked Sooners (48-8) won a Big 12 Tournament Pool A match-up over the Longhorns, 3-0.

With the loss, UT fell to 1-1 in pool play and will now face Baylor on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT in the event's third-place game.

In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, senior left-hander Tiarra Davis (8-9) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work. The Henderson, Texas, native achieved a personal milestone in the loss as her four K's made her the fifth pitcher in Longhorns program history to reach the 500-career strikeout plateau.

Senior third baseman Celina Felix, senior designated player Mickenzi Krpec and senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel all went 1-for-3 at the dish.

Trying to get the Longhorns off to a quick start in the top of the first, Felix continued her impressive Big 12 Tournament Friday at the plate by driving a two-out single just inside the third base line. Parker wouldn't let the Burnt Orange & White string anything together from the circle, however, inducing a bouncer to third to end the frame.

Oklahoma wasted little time jumping to an early lead by nabbing a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. With second baseman Caleigh Clifton on base after being hit by a pitch, third baseman Sydney Romero blasted a two-out, two-run HR to left.

The Burnt Orange & White got a two-out threat underway against Parker in the top of the fourth as freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth was struck by a pitch and Krpec followed with a single to left. Unfortunately, UT missed a big chance to cut into its deficit as a swinging strikeout left a pair aboard.

OU got back in business starting its half of the fourth as center fielder Nicole Pendley opened the frame with a bloop double just inside the chalk down the left field line. With a runner at third after a sacrifice bunt, Davis got out of the jam by inducing a pop-up to third before registering a big strikeout of her counterpart Parker to leave the runner stranded 60 feet from pay dirt.

Off the bat, it appeared that Texas had cut into its deficit christening the top of the sixth as senior shortstop Devon Tunning hit a towering fly ball to right. A stiff breeze blowing in from that direction may have knocked it down some giving Oklahoma right fielder Nicole Mendes the chance to make a HR-robbing catch while colliding with the wall.

Consecutive singles from designated player Fale Aviu and Pendley put two more on to start the sixth for the Sooners. With runners at the corners after a fielder's choice, Parker lifted a pop-up near third base. Unfortunately for the Horns, the ball was dropped allowing pinch runner Raegan Rogers the chance to trot home with an Oklahoma insurance run.

From there, Texas got a two-out Hanzel single in the top of the seventh, but that's all, as a bouncer off Parker's glove was cleaned up by third baseman Romero and tossed to first to conclude the contest.