The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
31-24
#3 Oklahoma
48-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
Softball falls 10-1 (6 inn.) to No. 3 Oklahoma at the Big 12 Championship
05.11.2018 | Softball
The Longhorns offense managed seven hits while leaving seven base runners stranded in the defeat
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A first-inning lead for Texas softball (31-24) quickly evaporated on Friday afternoon during pool play action at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship as No. 3 Oklahoma (48-3) hit three HR's in knocking off the Longhorns, 10-1 (6 inn.).
With the loss, Texas is expected to play in Saturday's Big 12 Championship third-place game at 1:30 p.m. CT against either No. 17/16 Baylor, No. RV/24 Oklahoma State or Texas Tech. UT's opponent will be finalized later tonight following the last round of Friday pool-play games in Oklahoma City.
The UT offense banged out seven hits in the contest, but missed several golden scoring opportunities early in the game while leaving seven base runners stranded.
Freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson guided the Burnt Orange & White at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a run scored, improving her season average to .408 overall. The top 10 finalist for the Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award has now reached base successfully in 48-of-55 games played this season and in all 20 contests against Big 12 opposition.
At the plate, senior pitcher Paige von Sprecken equaled the UT single-season doubles mark, held by former Texas All-American Lindsey Stephens (20 doubles, 2016), by registering her 20th two-bagger of the season during the first inning. In the circle, von Sprecken suffered the loss (10-11), allowing seven earned runs on nine hits with three walks and a strikeout over 3.1 innings of work.
Texas wasted no time manufacturing a run off Oklahoma ace Paige Parker in the top of the first to grab an early 1-0 advantage. Jefferson got things started with a perfect bunt single and moved all the way to third on von Sprecken's record-tying double down the left field line to put two in scoring position with no outs. Senior right fielder Randel Leahy stepped to the plate and dropped a bunt of her own as Jefferson raced down the line and slid just under catcher Lea Wodach's tag to get the Longhorns on the board via the squeeze play. Unfortunately, with a pair aboard, consecutive strikeouts and a pop-up kept the damage at just a single tally.
After the Longhorns missed a huge, two-out scoring opportunity by leaving junior center fielder Kay Kay Hayter (1-for-2) and Jefferson stranded in scoring position during the top of the second, Oklahoma quickly tied things up starting the bottom half as center fielder Nicole Pendley hit a ball up into the strong breeze and just over the wall in left for a solo HR. A Kelsey Arnold infield hit, a bunt single by Nicole Mendes and a Sydney Romero walk loaded the bases full of Sooners with two outs. That set the stage for Caleigh Clifton's two-RBI single through the right side that boosted OU to a 3-1 advantage.
With Texas' left stranded count up to six through three frames, after leaving two more stranded in the top of the third, Oklahoma added two on the board during the bottom half to lead 5-1 on a Kelsey Arnold RBI groundout and a Lea Wodach RBI single to shallow center.
Opening the bottom of the fourth, the Sooners got a solo shot to left by Romero to boost the OU advantage to 6-1. A Jocelyn Alo walk and a Shay Knighten single to right center put a pair aboard with still just one out as redshirt junior Erica Wright was summoned out of the bullpen in relief of von Sprecken. She was greeted by a Pendley sacrifice fly to right center as the Sooners lead expanded to six.
With Oklahoma reliever Paige Lowary keeping the Longhorns bats quiet over the fifth and sixth frames by retiring all five batters she faced, OU ended things via run-rule in the sixth as designated player Alo hit a three-run HR to left to complete the 10-1 win.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Parker, Paige (25-2)
L: von Sprecken, Paige (10-11)
Batting:
2B: von Sprecken, Paige 1
RBI: Parker, McKenzie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 1
Batting:
2B: Knighten, Shay 1
HR: Romero, Sydney 1 ; Alo, Jocelyn 1 ; Pendley, Nicole 1
RBI: Romero, Sydney 1 ; Clifton, Caleigh 2 ; Alo, Jocelyn 3 ; Pendley, Nicole 2 ; Arnold, Kelsey 1 ; Wodach, Lea 1
SF: Pendley, Nicole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Romero, Sydney 2 ; Clifton, Caleigh 1 ; Alo, Jocelyn 2 ; Sparks, Hannah 1 ; Pendley, Nicole 1 ; Aviu, Falepolima 1 ; Wodach, Lea 1 ; Mendes, Nicole 1
SB: Knighten, Shay 1
