The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Alumni Game
Softball’s current team knocks off the Texas alumni, 9-7
11.04.2018 | Softball
Former UT legend Cat Osterman struck out the only batter she faced in the bottom of the sixth
AUSTIN, Texas – On a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, the Texas softball team prevailed over a group of standout Longhorns alumni, 9-7.
The current Burnt Orange & White built a 9-0 lead in the contest before the alums took full advantage of several special base runner situations to begin the frame over the final two innings to claw back within a pair of runs.
Longhorns pitching legend Cat Osterman even made a brief appearance in the circle for the alums to face one batter in the bottom of the sixth and registered a strikeout. The two-time Olympic medalist also came to the plate in the seventh and knocked in a run via a groundout.
Texas was led offensively by sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-3, three runs scored, stolen base), redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway (2-for-4, two runs, RBI), junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington (1-for-2, RBI), junior catcher Taylor Ellsworth (1-for-3, RBI), junior shortstop Kaitlyn Slack (1-for-2, RBI) and freshman pinch hitter Eli Espinosa (1-for-1, double, RBI). For the alums, former Longhorns Jodi Reeves Boatright (1-for-3, double), Kelli Hanzel (1-for-2) and Osterman each managed RBIs.
In the circle for the Longhorns, senior pitcher Brooke Bolinger stood out by striking out eight over four innings of no-hit work.
The current Burnt Orange & White got off to a quick start in the bottom of the first against Longhorns alum Meagan Denny White as Jefferson ripped a shot back to the circle. The ball was thrown away to first, eventually rolling down into the corner as the UT speedster circled the bases for a 1-0 lead. Following an Ellsworth walk, Hathaway blasted a RBI triple to the wall in right and Washington followed with a RBI single to make it 3-0.
The alumni flashed the leather during the bottom of the second as former Longhorns Devon Tunning, Kelli Hanzel and Denny White made terrific plays on grounders at short, first and in the circle, respectively.
Texas added two more in the bottom of the third as Jefferson got things going again on a perfect bunt single. With the speedster at second after a wild pitch, Ellsworth hit a high chopper to short. On the throw to first, Jefferson somehow managed to scamper home to make it a 4-0 lead. A Hathaway single, a groundout and a Slack base knock boosted the advantage to five. It could have been even more if not for a terrific play at second by alum Chez Sievers on a sharp Bekah Alcozer bouncer to end the threat.
Meanwhile, Bolinger was in firm control from the circle, striking out the side in the top of the fourth to boost her K total to eight.
A Tuesday DerMargosian sac fly and an alum error expanded it 7-0 for the current Longhorns in the bottom of the fourth.
The alums got their first hit on the board with two outs in the top of fifth as former Longhorns All-American outfielder Lindsey Stephens ripped a base knock through the left side. Current NPF pro Nadia Taylor followed with a single to right center, putting two aboard. Former UT standout Mandy Ogle stepped into the box and blasted a promising shot to right, but DerMargosian tracked it down to end the threat.
With freshman Jaden Hoelker (walk) and Alcozer (single) aboard with one out in the fifth, Espinosa drove a RBI double into the left center gap. Sophomore infielder MK Tedder followed with a RBI groundout to make it 9-0. Again, the alums flashed the leather as shortstop Reeves Boatright corralled a bouncer and jumped over a prone third-baseman Tunning to fire a strike for the third out.
The decision was made to give the alums runners at second and third to open the top of the sixth. A UT error on a throw to first allowed both tallies to cross to cut the Texas advantage to 9-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Longhorns fans got quite the treat as Osterman took to the circle to strikeout the last batter of the inning.
Starting the frame with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the seventh, the alums added five more runs to claw back within a pair. Osterman started it in a rare hitting appearance with a RBI groundout. After a Texas miscue allowed two runners to cross, a Hanzel RBI single and a Reeves Boatright RBI double finalized the scoreboard at 9-7.
2018 Texas Softball Fall Schedule
Fri., Oct. 12 McLennan Community College W, 5-2 (9) McCombs Field/LHN
Sat., Oct. 20 vs. LSU W, 8-6 (9) Scrapyard Field/Conroe, Texas
Sat., Oct. 27 Weatherford College W, 8-0 McCombs Field
St. Edward's W, 9-0 McCombs Field
Sun., Nov. 4 Texas Alumni Game Texas, 9-7 McCombs Field/LHN
Wed., Nov. 7 Galveston College 4:30 p.m. CT McCombs Field
Temple Community College 6:30 p.m. CT McCombs Field
Fri., Nov. 9 Texas State 6 p.m. CT McCombs Field
