The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Wednesday, April 11
San Marcos, Texas
6 p.m.
University of Texas
at
#24/25 Texas State
Softball preview: at No. 24/25 Texas State [April 11, 2018]
04.10.2018 | Softball
The Longhorns venture down I-35 for a return match-up against the Bobcats
Texas Game Notes at #24/25 Texas State
TEXAS (23-14) at #24/25 Texas State (29-8) | April 11 | Bobcat Softball Stadium, San Marcos, Texas
Schedule:
Wednesday, April 11
6 p.m. TEXAS at #24/25 Texas State – Texas State Bobcats All-Access – LINK
Location: San Marcos, Texas (Bobcat Softball Stadium)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: Will be available on a live video web stream through Texas State Bobcats All-Access (possible subscription fee required): LINK
Radio: Texas' game is slated for radio broadcast via FREE web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call through 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 pitchers bring a pair of lengthy streaks into Wednesday's action at #25/24 Texas State as the Longhorns pitching staff hasn't allowed a run over its last 15.1 innings. Senior right-hander Paige von Sprecken has taken it even further having not permitted a run over her last 21.2 innings of work (career-long) and just two total runs over her last 37 innings (0.38 ERA) while going 6-0 over that stretch with five complete games, five shutouts and 31 strikeouts.
- Scoring in the first inning leads to success for Texas in 2018 as the Longhorns are 12-1 when tallying in the opening frame. Over the last 11 contests (versus Kansas, Iowa State, Houston, UTSA and Samford), UT has scored in the opening inning nine times while totaling 32 runs.
- At the plate, Texas senior pitcher/first baseman Paige von Sprecken has registered a Big 12 Conference-leading 14 doubles in 2018 to move into a tie for fourth all-time in the category in UT single-season history. The Yorba Linda, Calif., product needs two more to move into a tie for second and six more to equal Lindsey Stephens' 2016 program record of 20 doubles.
- Watch out for sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Washington when she's leading off an inning as the Humble, Texas, native is batting a remarkable .588 (10-for-17) with four extra-base hits when starting out a frame.
- Texas has had much of its success this season hitting with two outs in an inning. In all, the Longhorns have scored 69 of their 135 total runs (51%) and registered 62 of their 122 total RBIs (51%) with two outs in a frame.
- The Longhorns pitching staff as a whole has been lights out over its last 19 contests, registering 15 wins (two 1-0 defeats over that stretch), a miniscule 1.50 ERA with eight complete games, eight shutouts, five saves and 118 strikeouts over 126 innings while limiting opponents to a .207 average. Paige von Sprecken (0.48 ERA, 6-1, 35 K, 44 IP) and Brooke Bolinger (1.41 ERA, 6-3, 53 K, 39.2 IP) have been a terrific 1-2 punch, while Erica Wright has registered four saves.
- UT sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Washington was named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week (April 2) for hitting .500 with three HR's and seven RBIs during the road sweep of Iowa State. The Humble, Texas, native has really picked up her offensive production recently with a .486 average, eight extra-base hits (three HR's) and nine RBIs over the last 12 contests.
- Texas is 6-0 in Big 12 play for the fifth time in program history and for the first time since 2013. The last time UT started off the league season at 7 or 8-0 was 2013, while the only time its started 9-0 was 2011 on the way to a 12-0 start.
- After starting off the 2018 season on fire at the plate and then cooling off, freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson has heated back up over the last 17 contests, rating second on the squad with a .440 average (22-for-50) over that stretch while reaching safely in 16 of 17 games (a career-best 16 in a row at one point).
- Over Texas' last 23 games, redshirt junior pitcher Erica Wright has been strong from the circle, posting a 1.58 ERA with a 2-0 record, five saves and 24 strikeouts over 31 IP while limiting opponents to a .190 batting average.
- Redshirt junior pitcher Erica Wright is making the save her own personal statistic so far in 2018 as the Huntington, Texas, native has already registered a Big 12-leading FIVE SAVES (second in the NCAA). She's already tied the UT single-season record of five held by Amy Bradford (2002) & Christa Williams (1998) and is one from equaling the UT career record of seven held by Blaire Luna (2010-13) and Erin Tresselt (2007-10).
- Janae Jefferson is Texas' most dependable hitter with runners in scoring position at a remarkable .483 (14-for-29) overall. That's even more impressive considering the Longhorns as a team are batting just .249 with RISP in 2018.
- Texas' schedule has been absolutely brutal so far in 2018 with 15 of its games coming against teams ranked or receiving votes in the national polls. UT is just 6-9 in those contests, but posted wins over No. 9/8 Arizona, No. 20 Michigan and No. 25 Texas State and lost to No. 1 Washington (2-1) and No. 18/17 South Carolina (1-0, 8 inn.) by a run.
- Out-hitting the opposition has proven to be a predictor of success thus far for the Longhorns in 2018 as Texas is 19-2 when tallying more hits, 1-10 when out-hit by an opponent and 3-2 when the hits are tied.
- Three appears to be the magic number relating to wins for Texas this season as the Longhorns are 19-4 when holding opponents to fewer than three runs and 4-10 when the opposition scores three or more runs.
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Softball
IF/OF
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P
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RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball