Softball rallies late but comes up just short at No. 17/13 Baylor, 2-1

Friday, May 5

Waco, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

29-21, 6-9

#17/13 Baylor

40-10, 12-4

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

Softball rallies late but comes up just short at No. 17/13 Baylor, 2-1

05.05.2017 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns had the potential tying run thrown out at the plate to end the contest

WACO, Texas – On Friday night at Getterman Stadium, Texas softball (29-21, 6-9 Big 12 Conference) put together a spirited two-out, seventh-inning rally, but had the potential tying run thrown out at the plate to end the game as No. 17/13 Baylor (40-10, 12-4 Big 12) won the opener of the teams' split league series, 2-1.

With two on and two retired in the top of the seventh, freshman second baseman Jade Gortarez hit a clutch single to center. Senior first baseman Kelli Hanzel, who'd started the outburst with a base knock to right, raced around third but was cut down at the plate to end the game on a strong throw from BU center fielder Jessie Scroggins.

Texas has now suffered 11 one-run defeats this season, four of those to nationally-ranked teams, with 11 of UT's last 16 losses coming by just a single tally.

Hanzel led the Longhorns offense against the Lady Bears, going 2-for-3 at the plate with her sixth double of the season, while freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth and Gortarez each went 1-for-3.

In the circle for the Horns, redshirt sophomore Erica Wright (6-6) suffered the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 3.2 innings of work. Sophomore Brooke Bolinger was very effective out of the bullpen, permitting just one hit and walking one in 2.1 frames of scoreless relief. With the Yucaipa, Calif., native's efforts, she extended Texas' shutout streak by relief pitchers to 24.1 straight innings dating back to the sixth inning of a win at Texas Tech on April 14.

After managing base runners during each of the first two frames, Baylor's offense took the lead in the bottom of the third. Designated player Sydney Christensen boosted the Lady Bears to a 1-0 advantage by leading off the frame with a solo HR to left. BU threatened to score more as a trio of walks loaded the bases with two retired for the Big 12's leading hitter Lindsey Cargill. Wright bore down from the circle, however, getting her to swing at the first pitch and lift a harmless fly ball to left to leave the trio stranded on the base paths.

Meanwhile Baylor starting pitcher Kelsee Selman was in early control of things for the Lady Bears from the circle, retiring the first 12 Longhorns she faced over the first four innings.

The BU lead doubled via the long ball in the bottom of the fourth as catcher Shelby McGlaun hit a one-out solo HR to left to make it 2-0.

Ellsworth managed Texas' first hit off Selman opening the fifth by ripping a single to center starting the frame. That got the Longhorns offense untracked as Hanzel followed a sacrifice bunt with a double off the top of the wall in left, moving freshman pinch runner Tuesday DerMargosian to third. With one down, sophomore right fielder Bekah Alcozer hit a chopper to short for a RBI fielder's choice as DerMargosian scampered home from 60 feet away to cut Baylor's lead to 2-1.

In their half of the fifth, the Lady Bears got a walk from second baseman Ari Hawkins with one retired in the frame. She was soon wiped off the base paths, however, as Ellsworth cut down her second Baylor runner trying to steal in the contest. Despite allowing a single to left, Bolinger kept Texas within just a single tally by inducing an inning-ending bouncer to third.

With Bolinger keeping Baylor's offense under wraps, the Longhorns put together a spirited rally during the top of the seventh. Hanzel granted UT some life with two down by blooping a single to right. Alcozer stepped to the dish and absolutely crushed a Selman offering down the line in left, but it went foul. The Belton, Texas, native ended up drawing a walk, putting two on for Gortarez. The Riverside, Calif., product delivered in the clutch by hitting a single to center. Unfortunately for the Burnt Orange & White, a strong throw to the plate by Scroggins proved in time to get Hanzel as Baylor finished off a one-run triumph.