The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#1/3 Washington
Softball preview: vs. #1/3 Washington [Feb. 21, 2018]
02.20.2018 | Softball
The Longhorns prep to face the nation's top-ranked team for the 19th time in program history
Texas Game Notes vs. #1/3 Washington
#1/3 Washington at TEXAS | Feb. 21 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
5 p.m. No. 1/3 Washington at TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK – LINK
TEXAS CLEAR BAG POLICY: Please note that there is a new Clear Bag Policy in effect for fans when attending Texas Athletic events. For more details, please visit this LINK
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Parking: Purchase in advance for the East Campus Parking Garage through CLICK & PARK - LINK
Live Stats: Available here: LINK
Television: Wednesday's game is slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color) on the call.
Radio: Texas' game is slated for radio broadcast via FREE web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcasts can also be heard locally in Austin on 105.3 FM in the local and surrounding areas, part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- Texas will be facing the No. 1 ranked team in the nation for the 19th time in program history on Wednesday when it hosts unbeaten Washington. UT is 4-14 all-time against No. 1 squads and is 1-3 in tilts against No. 1 at Red & Charline McCombs Field. UT has faced Washington once before when the Huskies were No. 1, losing to UW at the Kia Klassic in Fullerton, Calif., on March 17, 2000, 6-0.
- Rookie second baseman Janae Jefferson's current eight-game hitting streak is the longest to open a career by a freshman in Longhorns history breaking the old mark of seven games set by former UT second baseman Stephanie Ceo from Feb. 8-15, 2013.
- Texas has had much of its success this season hitting with two outs in an inning. In all, the Longhorns have scored 13 of their 23 total runs (57%) and registered 11 of their 20 total RBIs (55%) with two outs in a frame.
- Out-hitting the opposition has proven to be a predictor of success thus far for the Longhorns in 2018 as Texas is a perfect 4-0 when tallying more hits, 0-3 when out-hit by an opponent and 0-1 when the hits are tied.
- Freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson, senior pitcher/first baseman Paige von Sprecken and sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Slack were each named to the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge All-Tournament Team for their efforts last weekend in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Jefferson hit a team-best .545 with two RBIs, von Sprecken batted .333 and tossed a complete-game three-hitter while blasting a solo HR against Rutgers, and Slack batted .273 while posting two RBIs during the 7-3 win over Houston.
- By virtue of seven innings of work in a complete-game win over Houston (Feb. 17), redshirt junior pitcher Erica Wright became just the 10th Longhorns pitcher to toss 300 innings in her career. With 303 career frames, she needs just five more innings to move past former Longhorns pitcher Amy Bradford (307.2 IP - 2002-05) into ninth on the all-time list.
- During a 5-1 victory over Wisconsin on Feb. 9, the Longhorns pulled off a feat that hadn't been accomplished since Feb. 21, 2016, by hitting back-to-back HRs. Junior pinch hitter Reagan Hathaway returned from an ACL tear that cost her much of the 2017 campaign to homer on the first pitch she received down the RF line. Two pitches later, sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth drove a HR to left. Hathaway has now been a part of three instances of back-to-back HR's in her career.
- In her 23rd season (22nd as varsity coach) as Texas head coach, Connie Clark is quickly closing in on another milestone. She now owns 844 career wins, needing just six more to reach the 850-victory mark. She currently ranks #25 on the list of winningest active coaches (at four-year colleges) with at least five years of NCAA Division I experience.
- In a preseason team vote, senior catcher/utility player Randel Leahy and junior outfielder Bekah Alcozer were elected team captains for the 2018 season. Entering the campaign, Leahy had played in 115 career games (88 starts) with a .272 career average, 27 extra-base hits and 56 RBIs, while Alcozer had played in 66 games (33 starts) and led the Longhorns in HR's with six in 2017.
- Texas will look to have more success this season in one-run games than it did during 2017 as the Longhorns went just 4-12 last year in contests decided by a single tally. In all, Texas finished the year by dropping 12 of its last 13 one-run contests with the only win over that stretch coming in a 2-1 (8 inn.) victory over Houston (April 2). UT has yet to have a game decided by one run in 2018.
