Softball loses late at No. 24/25 Texas State, 2-1

Wednesday, April 11

San Marcos, Texas

6 p.m.

University of Texas

23-15

#24/25 Texas State

30-8

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

Softball loses late at No. 24/25 Texas State, 2-1

04.11.2018 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns mounted a furious seventh-inning rally by loading the bases with two outs before falling

SAN MARCOS, Texas – On Wednesday night in front of a record crowd of 1,402 at Bobcat Softball Stadium, Texas softball (23-15) fell behind in the sixth inning before mounting a late rally by loading the bases with two outs in the seventh before falling at No. 24/25 Texas State (30-8), 2-1.

The Longhorns offense managed six hits off Texas State All-American senior pitcher Randi Rupp with junior right fielder Bekah Alcozer leading the charge by going 2-for-3 at the plate with a solo HR (her fourth) and a RBI. Freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-4), freshman third baseman MK Tedder (1-for-2), sophomore first baseman Malory Schattle (1-for-3) and junior center fielder Kay Kay Hayter (1-for-2, walk) all managed base hits in the contest.

In the circle for UT, senior Paige von Sprecken (9-6) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over six innings. By permitting a second-inning tally, the Yorba Linda, Calif., native had her career-long scoreless-inning streak end at 23.1 consecutive frames.

Texas utilized the long ball to grab an early lead as Alcozer launched Rupp's first pitch of the second inning deep over the center field wall to make it 1-0.

Looking to answer right back, Texas State got a threat going in the bottom of the second on consecutive one-out singles from second baseman Tara Oltmann and catcher Haleigh Davis. With two retired, designated player Sierra Steimel lifted a short pop towards third that was nearly caught on a great diving play by Tedder, but the ball just popped out of the freshman's glove to extend the inning and load the bases with two outs. Left fielder Mari Cranek promptly stepped into the box and was struck by a 1-0 offering to force across Oltmann and tie the contest. The damage could have been worse, but von Sprecken caught right fielder Jaclyn Molenaar looking at strike three as the Bobcats left the bags packed.

Texas State threatened again during the bottom of the third, putting a pair aboard with two outs on a base hit and a walk. Davis came to the plate for the Bobcats and hit a sharp liner to center. Hayter appeared to come in briefly before racing back to make a "snow cone" grab and preserve the tie.

Jefferson broke up a string of nine straight Longhorns retired by Rupp by beating out an infield single to the circle to christen the top of the sixth. Unfortunately for Texas, with the freshman speedster at second and two down, Rupp got a pop-up to short to leave UT's runner stranded in scoring position.

Texas State first baseman ArieAnn Bell, Steimel and Cranek delivered three straight singles to left to pack the bags with still just one out in the bottom of the sixth. That set the stage for Brianna Sannem as the pinch hitter stepped to the plate and lifted a fly ball to left center. Hayter raced over into the gap to make a catch and fired a throw home, but it proved wide as the Bobcats nabbed a 2-1 advantage.

With Texas needing something to happen against Rupp, Alcozer kicked the top of the seventh off by driving a change-up through the left side for a leadoff single. Things soon got even more serious as Schattle battled to a full count before blasting a one-out base knock the other way to right to put two aboard. Following a Kaitlyn Slack sac bunt that improved the duo into scoring position, Hayter battled to draw a walk and load the bases. Unfortunately, the game soon ended on a fly ball to left as the Bobcats prevailed, 2-1.