Softball opens 2018 with a 2-0 shutout of Incarnate Word

Friday, February 9

Austin, Texas

4:30 p.m.

University of Texas

1-0

Incarnate Word

0-2

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

Softball opens 2018 with a 2-0 shutout of Incarnate Word

02.09.2018 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns have now won all 22 season openers in their program history & 14 by shutout

AUSTIN, Texas – On a cool, 60-degree night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball (1-0) got a three-hit shutout from senior pitcher Paige von Sprecken and a stirring, two-RBI debut from freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson in blanking Incarnate Word (0-2) in UT's 2018 opener, 2-0.

With the victory, the Longhorns improved their all-time mark in season-opening contests to a perfect 22-0 dating back to the program's first varsity season in 1997.

Jefferson was very impressive in her first collegiate contest, going 2-for-2 with a walk, a triple and both UT RBIs. Rookie third baseman MK Tedder picked up her first career hit and run scored as part of a 1-for-2 effort, while junior right fielder Bekah Alcozer doubled while going 1-for-2 with a tally.

In the circle, von Sprecken twirled a three-hit shutout and struck out six while requiring an efficient 99 total pitches.

Despite advancing a runner to second during each of the opening three innings, Incarnate Word couldn't find a breakthrough against von Sprecken and the Longhorns. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native worked her way out of potential trouble in each instance, registering strikeouts to conclude both the second and third frames.

The Longhorns offense got in gear against UIW starter Sarah Leal during the bottom of the third by staging a two-out rally. Alcozer got the outburst underway by drilling a line-drive double off the wall in left field for Texas' first base hit of 2018. Jefferson followed immediately with a chopper up the middle for her initial collegiate base hit and RBI as Alcozer scored easily to make it 1-0.

After wasting a Taylor Ellsworth lead-off walk in the fourth, the Longhorns got back in business in the bottom of the fifth. Tedder started the frame by bouncing a ball into the hole at short for her first career single and immediately moved to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt. With the runner in scoring position, Jefferson delivered a clutch, two-out, run-scoring triple to deep center as the Longhorns lead doubled to 2-0.

Incarnate Word shortstop Victoria Bratcher got the Cardinals off to a promising start in the sixth by beating out an infield base knock to first. Unfortunately for UIW, the Texas defense soon made its presence felt by handling a fielder's choice and then putting together a Jefferson-Kaitlyn Slack-Malory Schattle double play to wipe the base paths clear.

Down to their last chance against von Sprecken in the seventh, the Cardinals went down in order on a fly out to center, a fly ball to left and a liner to second.