The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Jacksonville State
Softball rebounds to knock off Jacksonville State, 4-2
03.17.2018 | Softball
Freshman right-hander Chloe Romero picked up her first collegiate win for the Longhorns
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Four solid innings from freshman pitcher Chloe Romero and key RBIs from sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth and freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson powered Texas softball (11-12) to a 4-2 victory over Jacksonville State (11-13) on Saturday afternoon in Charleston Invitational action at the CofC Softball Stadium.
The UT offense banged out seven hits, led by Ellsworth's 2-for-3 effort with a double and two RBIs, freshman third baseman MK Tedder's 2-for-2 performance with a walk, a double and two runs scored and Jefferson's 2-for-4 day with a RBI.
In the circle for the Longhorns, Romero earned her first collegiate victory by allowing two earned runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts over four innings. In relief, redshirt junior Erica Wright picked up her second save of 2018 by striking out three over three frames of one-hit work.
Texas' bats got going immediately against JSU starter Kirsten Titus with two down in the top of the first as Tedder opened UT's outburst by blasting a double into the left center gap. With a pair on after senior designated player Paige von Sprecken was struck by a pitch, Ellsworth delivered the big hit the Horns had been searching for by launching a two-run double to the wall in left center to make it 2-0.
A lead-off walk to Jacksonville State third baseman Caitlyn Sapp came back to hurt Texas in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Taylor Beshears knocked in her teammate with a one-out double down the left field line, trimming the deficit to 2-1. The Gamecocks eventually managed to load the bases on a walk and a single with one out before the UT defense made a big play. Left fielder Jada Terry hit a bouncer up the third-base line that was corralled by Tedder. The freshman infielder tagged the runner heading home, turned quickly and raced back to tag third for a huge, inning-ending double play.
The Burnt Orange & White added another in the second after sophomore left fielder Tuesday DerMargosian reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a throwing error. Jefferson stepped to the plate and ripped a RBI single through the right side to score her teammate for a 3-1 advantage.
Tedder manufactured Texas' fourth tally of the contest with a little JSU assistance in the third. On base after a one-out infield single, the Hoover, Ala., native moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a fly out to right and soon raced home on a passed ball as the UT lead expanded to 4-1.
Jacksonville State left fielder Jada Terry drove Romero's first pitch of the bottom of the fourth over the left field wall for a solo HR as JSU clawed back within 4-2.
Wright entered the contest for Texas in relief starting the bottom of the fifth and exerted her influence on the proceedings immediately, requiring just four pitches to retire the Gamecocks in order.
From there, JSU managed a two-out infield single in the sixth, but that was all as Wright closed the door on the Gamecocks by striking out the side in the seventh while completing her second save of the season.
