Softball rallies past Virginia Tech on Saturday, 3-2

Saturday, February 24

Austin, Texas

3 p.m.

University of Texas

6-6

Virginia Tech

7-4

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

Softball rallies past Virginia Tech on Saturday, 3-2

02.24.2018 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson knocked in the go-ahead run on a sixth-inning RBI double

AUSTIN, Texas – A RBI double by freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson with two outs in the sixth inning finished off Texas softball's (6-6) come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over Virginia Tech (7-4) on Saturday afternoon in Texas Invitational action at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Jefferson led the UT offense by going 2-for-4 with the go-ahead two-bagger and a RBI, while sophomore first baseman Malory Schattle knocked in one as part of a 1-for-2 effort.

In the circle for the Longhorns, senior Paige von Sprecken got the win, improving to 3-1 overall after striking out a pair over 6.2 innings of two-hit relief. She also contributed to her own cause at the plate by going 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored.

Virginia Tech quickly chased Texas freshman starter Chloe Romero with one out in the top of the first as a lead-off single from designated player Sammi Miller, a double from second baseman Olivia Lattin and a two-RBI single by right fielder Emma Strouth boosted the Hokies to a quick 2-0 lead. The call was made to summon in von Sprecken from the bullpen, and the Yorba Linda, Calif., native immediately calmed things down by getting the first two batters she faced to end the frame.

Meanwhile, Hokie starter Keely Rochard was keeping the Horns bats in check early on by retiring the first six she faced over the opening two frames.

Schattle got the Burnt Orange & White into the hit column during the third by ripping a one-out single to left field. That seemed to inspire the Texas offense as sophomore center fielder Tuesday DerMargosian and Jefferson followed with consecutive base knocks to load the bags. The Hokies made their own call to the bullpen, bringing in ace Jordan Dail. The left-hander did her job by getting Va. Tech out of a major jam on a pop-up to short and a bouncer back to the circle.

Christening the bottom of the fourth, von Sprecken greeted her circle counterpart Dail by driving a double to the wall in right center. That got another Texas scoring threat underway as a MK Tedder walk and a Kaitlyn Washington single just over second base packed the bags full of Longhorns with still no one retired. Sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Slack registered the first RBI for UT as her hit by a pitch forced in a run and got the Burnt Orange & White on the board trailing 2-1. The contest was soon dead-locked as Schattle lifted a sacrifice fly to left that easily plated Tedder from 60 feet away.

Both von Sprecken and Dail settled in to keep things knotted up until the bottom of the sixth inning. DerMargosian was struck by a two-out pitch and promptly stole second to reach scoring position. Jefferson stepped into the box and made Virginia Tech pay for the hit batter by lacing a RBI double just inside the left field line to boost Texas to its first lead of the contest at 3-2.

Needing three outs for victory, von Sprecken quickly finished off the Hokies on a fly out to left, a bouncer to the circle and a groundout to second.