Softball posts fourth straight shutout in 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Wednesday, May 3

Austin, Texas

4 p.m.

University of Texas

29-20

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

11-34

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas A&M-CC	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Texas	0	0	0	1	0	2	X	3	8	0

Softball posts fourth straight shutout in 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

05.03.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Junior catcher Randel Leahy blasted her first HR of the season on a solo shot in the fourth inning

AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday evening at Red & Charline McCombs Field, four Texas softball (29-20) pitchers combined on UT's fourth consecutive shutout as the Longhorns blanked Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the final mid-week tilt of the 2017 regular season, 3-0.

With the shutout, the Longhorns pitching staff boosted its streak of consecutive scoreless innings to 28.1, dating back to the fifth inning of a 4-2 loss to Iowa State on April 23, and posted the program's fourth consecutive shutout for the first time since a streak from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22, 2013.

Redshirt sophomore pitcher Erica Wright started the contest and tossed two perfect innings with three strikeouts. In relief, junior Kristen Clark allowed one hit and K'ed one during a single frame of work. Junior Paige von Sprecken worked a perfect fourth inning, while sophomore Brooke Bolinger (7-2) picked up the victory by scattering three hits and striking out three over the final 3.0 frames.

At the plate, junior catcher Randel Leahy blasted her first HR of the season as part of a 1-for-2 effort with two runs scored. Senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel, senior third baseman Celina Felix and freshman second baseman Jade Gortarez each went 2-for-3 at the plate in the victory.

"Some takeaways from tonight were momentum and confidence," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "The more we execute, the more confident we get. I thought we had some quality at-bats, long at-bats, two-strike at-bats, and finally we were able to tack on a couple of insurance runs and not leave it 1-0. The momentum and confidence from tonight were really significant for us heading into this weekend."

After leaving a runner stranded during the opening frame, Texas' offense put together a two-out threat in the bottom of the second as Hanzel and Gortarez each singled. With two aboard, senior center fielder Stephanie Wong stepped into the box and lined a hard shot but right to AMCC shortstop Candice Hadd to end the frame.

The Islanders managed their first base runner of the match-up with two down in the third as left fielder Lexi Shaw beat out an infield single that ricocheted off UT reliever Clark in the circle. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi right fielder Savannah Sandoval followed by lining a ball to center, but Wong was positioned perfectly to make the catch for the third out.

Senior shortstop Devon Tunning got the Burnt Orange & White off to a quick start in the bottom of the third by ripping a 1-0 pitch to the wall in right for a leadoff double. Unfortunately, the next three Longhorns went down in order on a pair of groundouts to second and a fly ball to left as UT's left stranded count grew to four.

With three Texas pitchers having combined to toss four shutout innings, Leahy finally granted the Longhorns the lead in the bottom of the fourth by blasting her first HR of the season to left to make it 1-0.

AMCC second baseman Megan Mitchell broke up a string of six straight Islander batters retired by blooping a base knock to center off Bolinger with two outs in the fifth. The Yucaipa, Calif., native refused to let Texas A&M-Corpus Christi string anything together, however, handling a Mariah Clay bouncer back to the circle to leave the runner stranded.

The Longhorns offense boosted their advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth as six batters came to the dish. With Leahy on first after getting hit by a pitch to open the frame, Hanzel dropped a bunt attempting to advance the runner. The Houston, Texas, native beat out an infield single as the throw to first by AMCC third baseman Aspen Auger was wide and rolled down the right field line. The error allowed Leahy the opportunity to score all the way from first while Hanzel raced around to third. That set the stage for an Alcozer sacrifice fly to deep left to finalize the offensive output at three tallies.

With one last chance to get back in the contest in the top of the seventh, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opened the inning with consecutive singles by first baseman Kandace Johnson and pitcher Liz Carter. Johnson eventually strayed too far off the base at second on a pitch and was caught in a rundown for a big first out. From there, Bolinger closed out the triumph with consecutive swinging strikeouts.