The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Softball preview: vs. Texas Tech [April 13-15, 2018]
04.12.2018 | Softball
The Longhorns look to continue an unbeaten Big 12 start while hosting the Red Raiders
Texas Game Notes vs. Texas Tech
Texas Tech (21-19, 1-8 Big 12) at TEXAS (23-15, 6-0 Big 12) | April 13-15 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Friday, April 13
7 p.m. Texas Tech at TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
Saturday, April 14
1 p.m. Texas Tech at TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
Sunday, April 15
11 a.m. Texas Tech at TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
TEXAS CLEAR BAG POLICY: Please note that there is a new Clear Bag Policy in effect for fans when attending Texas Athletic events. For more details, please visit this LINK
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Promotions: For Saturday's game - the first 150 fans get a FREE "Caught You LooKin" t-shirt; FREE Erica Wright Senior Poster giveaway
Ticket Information: LINK
Parking: Purchase in advance for the East Campus Parking Garage through CLICK & PARK - LINK
Live Stats: Available here for all games: LINK
Television: All three games are slated for live broadcast on Longhorn Network with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color) on the call.
Radio: Texas' games are 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 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 it started 9-0 was 2011 on the way to a 12-0 start.
- Texas enters this weekend's series against Texas Tech with a 40-10 all-time record against the Red Raiders, including a 16-4 mark in Austin. UT has won the last six overall meetings (4-0 in 2017) and went 2-1 in TTU's last visit to McCombs Field in 2016. Last season's series opener in Lubbock (April 13) tied for the longest game in Texas history as the Horns prevailed in 14 innings, 4-1.
- Despite all the youth around the diamond this season, Texas' defense has evolved into one of its true strengths. After a shaky start over the first six games of 2018, the Longhorns have committed more than one error in a game just once in its last 32 contests. Check the comparison below:
First six games: 10 errors (.944 fielding %), four multiple-error games, 1 error-free game
Last 32 games: 17 errors (.980 fielding %), one multiple-error game, 17 error-free games
- Texas' schedule has been absolutely brutal so far in 2018 with 16 of its games coming against teams ranked or receiving votes in the national polls. UT is just 6-10 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), No. 18/17 South Carolina (1-0, 8 inn.) and No. 24/25 Texas State (2-1) by a run.
- The Longhorns pitching staff as a whole has been lights out over its last 20 contests, registering 15 wins (two 1-0 defeats and a 2-1 loss over that stretch), a miniscule 1.54 ERA with nine complete games, eight shutouts, five saves and 120 strikeouts over 132 innings while limiting opponents to a .212 average. Paige von Sprecken (0.70 ERA, 6-2, 37 K, 50 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.
- Senior right-hander Paige von Sprecken has allowed just four total runs over her last 43 innings (0.65 ERA) of work, and posted scoreless streaks of 15.1 and 23.1 innings while going 6-1 over that stretch, with six complete games, five shutouts and 33 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .185 average.
- 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 12 contests (versus Kansas, Iowa State, Houston, UTSA, Samford and #24/25 Texas State), 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 136 total runs (51%) and registered 62 of their 123 total RBIs (50%) with two outs in a frame.
- 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 .450 average, eight extra-base hits (three HR's) and nine RBIs over the last 13 contests.
- 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 18 contests, rating second on the squad with a .426 average (23-for-54) over that stretch while reaching safely in 17 of 18 games (a career-best 16 in a row at one point).
- Over Texas' last 24 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 .467 (14-for-30) overall. That's even more impressive considering the Longhorns as a team are batting just .248 with RISP in 2018.
- 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, 1-11 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 19-5 when holding opponents to fewer than three runs and 4-10 when the opposition scores three or more runs.
