Softball falls in regular season finale to No. 17/13 Baylor, 4-0

Sunday, May 7

Austin, Texas

1 p.m.

University of Texas

30-22, 7-10

#17/13 Baylor

41-11, 13-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Baylor	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	4	10	1
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0

Softball falls in regular season finale to No. 17/13 Baylor, 4-0

05.07.2017 | Softball

Box Score

Texas will return to action against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament on Fri., May 12, in Oklahoma City

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AUSTIN, Texas – In front of the second-largest crowd of the season (1,248) on a perfect Sunday "Senior Day" at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Baylor (41-11, 13-5 Big 12 Conference) scored once in the fourth and three times in the seventh to spoil Texas softball's (30-22, 7-10 Big 12 Conference) regular-season finale, 4-0.

UT will return to action on Fri., May 12, as the No. 4-seed in the six-team Big 12 Tournament at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium/Integris Field Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Horns will contest two games in pool play action on Friday by facing sixth-seeded Texas Tech (11 a.m. CT) and top-seeded Oklahoma (2 p.m. CT).

The Longhorns offense banged out eight hits off BU starter Kelsee Selman with senior shortstop Devon Tunning (2-for-4, double), freshman catcher Taylor Ellsworth (2-for-3) and senior designated player Mickenzi Krpec (2-for-3) each managing a pair of UT base knocks. Freshman second baseman Jade Gortarez was 1-for-3, while senior center fielder Stephanie Wong was 1-for-2.

In the circle for the Burnt Orange & White, senior Tiarra Davis started the contest, allowing one hit with one walk and three strikeouts over 3.0 scoreless innings of work. Junior Paige von Sprecken (6-6) took the loss in relief, permitting four earned runs on eight hits with two walks and a K in 3.0 frames.

"It's a mixed emotions day on Senior Day," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "(The seniors') parents want to see them all in action, and we all know it's a little bittersweet because it's the last time we'll see them all play on this field. It's a bittersweet day, but I thought the seniors did a really nice job handling their emotions. That's not always easy to do. Some of them had some really big days for us today, Devon and Krpec. Tiarra going back-to-back days, and she hasn't gone back-to-back days in a long time because of some injury stuff. Just gritty stuff from our seniors.

"We talked in the locker room about having the tournament and coming off a quality opponent in Baylor. We knew going into the weekend that they were balanced with speed and power. They rush you up on defense and make you feel like you have to be perfect with their speed and their pitching staff. You're going to see pitching like that if you want to go deep into NCAAs. We've got to be able to handle it. I think this weekend was a good tune-up heading into the Big 12 Tournament. I'm excited for the players to finish up some exams and hopefully go on and win that tournament."

For the second consecutive day, Tunning opened Texas' half of the first inning by blasting a double to the wall in left center. And for the second consecutive day, the Longhorns left the Montgomery, Texas, native stranded on the base paths as the next three UT hitters went down in order.

During the opening three frames, the pitchers, including Baylor starter Kelsee Selman, matched zeroes on the scoreboard.

With Davis having tossed 10 innings over approximately 24 hours, Texas went to the bullpen opening the fourth inning as von Sprecken entered in the circle for Davis. The new pitcher was immediately greeted by three consecutive singles off the bats of Baylor left fielder Kyla Walker, second baseman Ari Hawkins and first baseman Shelby Friudenberg. With still no outs, BU designated player Shelby McGlaun hit a high chopper to short that Tunning gloved and tossed home for a big force. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, center fielder Jessie Scroggins followed immediately by ripping a first pitch liner through the right side to grant the Lady Bears a 1-0 lead. The Burnt Orange & White defense prevented any more damage in the frame as another fielder's choice cut down a runner at the plate and Tunning made an over-the-shoulder grab in shallow left to leave the bags packed.

Bidding for an immediate answer in the bottom of the fourth, Ellsworth and Krpec got the Longhorns off to the right start by chopping consecutive one-out base knocks through the right side of the infield. Freshman pinch runner Tuesday DerMargosian advanced as far as third on a fielder's choice, but Texas left runners at the corners on an inning-ending strikeout.

The Lady Bear offense got back in business during the sixth as McGlaun and Scroggins managed consecutive singles to center with one down. Right fielder Maddison Kettler slapped at a ball and was judged to have made contact with it outside the batter's box for a vital second out. From there, Selman lifted a fly ball that was tracked down on the run by freshman left fielder Kaitlyn Washington as Baylor left two more on base.

For the second time in three innings, Ellsworth and Krpec got something going for Texas on a pair of one-out singles in the sixth. Once again, Selman kept the Longhorns from stringing anything else together, inducing a pop-up to third before catching Ellsworth in a run down to escape any potential jam.

Looking for some valuable insurance, Baylor put together a huge threat with no outs in the top of the seventh on a lead-off walk and two straight singles. The decision was made to go to the bullpen to summon Wright in for relief, but the new hurler was greeted by a three-run double just inside the chalk down the left field line as the Lady Bears boosted their advantage to 4-0.

Desperate to ignite a late rally, Gortarez and Wong attempted to do just that by registering a pair of one-out singles. Tunning stepped to the dish and hit a promising shot to left, but it was tracked down on a nice running catch near the foul line by Baylor left fielder Walker. With one final UT opportunity to extend things, Selman induced a pop-up to second to end the contest.