Softball blanks Texas Southern in rain-delayed match-up, 6-0

Wednesday, April 25

Austin, Texas

8 p.m.

University of Texas

28-18

Texas Southern

19-12-1

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

Softball blanks Texas Southern in rain-delayed match-up, 6-0

04.25.2018 | Softball

Box Score

The contest started two hours late because of inclement weather going through the local Austin area

AUSTIN, Texas – It took longer than expected as Texas softball (28-18) was forced to wait out a two-hour, pre-game weather delay before shutting out Texas Southern (19-12-1) on a chilly Wednesday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 6-0.

The Longhorns offense banged out seven hits in the contest, led by a career-high-tying 3-for-3 effort at the plate with two runs scored, a double and two RBIs from freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson. With the output, the Humble, Texas, native and Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year candidate extended her current hitting streak to nine games, raised her team-leading batting average to .406 overall and has now reached base safely in 39 of her 46 career games played.

Sophomore left fielder Kaitlyn Washington went 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI, while senior designated player Paige von Sprecken was 1-for-3 with a RBI double. Sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth (0-for-1, two walks) and senior pinch hitter Randel Leahy (0-for-1, walk) each managed a RBI, while sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Slack (1-for-2, run) registered her third double of the season.

In the circle for Texas, three pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout with senior Kristen Clark (2-0) picking up the win with two innings of two-hit relief and a strikeout. Redshirt junior Erica Wright started the contest and allowed just one hit while striking out four over three frames, while von Sprecken picked up her first save of 2018 with two innings of one-hit work out of the bullpen with a K.

After leaving a total of three base runners stranded over its opening two innings, the Texas offense finally broke through against Texas Southern starter Tyra Williams in the bottom of the third. The outburst began as junior center fielder Kay Kay Hayter reached on a leadoff error, and Jefferson followed with a sharp single to left. Following a perfect von Sprecken sacrifice bunt to move the speedy duo into scoring position, a Washington RBI single off the pitcher's leg and an Ellsworth sacrifice fly to right staked the Longhorns to a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Tigers' most serious scoring opportunity came during the top of the fifth as right fielder Tevanae Tate singled down the left field line to open the inning and moved to third with two outs on a sac bunt and a groundout. With the TSU runner just 60 feet from paydirt, Clark got pinch hitter Zariah Robins to line out to freshman MK Tedder at third to end the inning.

Texas' offense added vital insurance on the scoreboard during the bottom of the sixth. With sophomore first baseman Malory Schattle and Slack in scoring position on a walk and double to right, respectively, the Longhorns exploded with two outs. Jefferson laced a two-RBI double down the left field line, von Sprecken hit a run-scoring drive up the right center gap and to the wall for two bases and Leahy eventually drew a bases-loaded walk to boost UT's advantage to a commanding 6-0.

From there, von Sprecken allowed a two-out infield single, during the top of the seventh, but nothing else as the Longhorns wrapped up the victory.