Softball wins Big 12 Championship opener over Iowa State, 7-0

Friday, May 11

Oklahoma City, Okla.

11 a.m.

University of Texas

31-23

Iowa State

23-31

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Iowa State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	3
Texas	4	0	0	1	0	2	X	7	12	0

Softball wins Big 12 Championship opener over Iowa State, 7-0

05.11.2018 | Softball

Box Score

Junior Brooke Bolinger scattered four hits in a complete-game shutout victory

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – With winds wreaking havoc while gusting as high as 35 mph on Friday, including knocking down part of the left field fence early in the game, Texas softball (31-23) banged out 12 hits and got a four-hit shutout from junior pitcher Brooke Bolinger in opening Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship pool play with a 7-0 win over Iowa State (23-31).

Bolinger was solid in the circle, improving to 13-7 overall while allowing four hits, walking two and striking out five over a complete-game shutout.

At the plate, senior right fielder Randel Leahy was 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, a solo HR and a RBI, junior center fielder Kay Kay Hayter was 3-for-3 with a double, sophomore first baseman Malory Schattle was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, sophomore shortstop Kaitlyn Slack was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and sophomore left fielder Kaitlyn Washington was 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI.

A leadoff bunt single from freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson got the Longhorns offense in business in the bottom of the first inning as the Burnt Orange & White eventually sent nine to the plate in exploding to a 4-0 advantage. A Jefferson stolen base, an Iowa State throwing error and a Leahy walk put runners at the corners with one out. Leahy took off for a steal of second, reaching safely on a dropped tag attempt as Jefferson scampered home to make it 1-0. With two retired, Washington lifted a high fly ball to left that the strong wind blew back in towards the infield before dropping in just over shortstop for a run-scoring double. Free passes to Schattle and freshman third baseman MK Tedder loaded the bases, setting the stage for Slack's two-RBI single through the left side to boost UT's advantage to four.

The gap could have been even more as Texas loaded the bases with one down in the second and posted a pair in scoring position with two outs in the third, but couldn't add to its lead.

Iowa State managed a base runner during each of the first four innings, advancing one as far as second in the first, third and fourth frames, but couldn't string together enough to get on the board as Bolinger struck out five over that stretch.

Leahy made it 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth by launching a towering shot into the stiff wind and directly over the top of the left field foul pole.

Looking to add more in the bottom of the sixth, the Longhorns loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive Paige von Sprecken and Leahy walks and a Taylor Ellsworth single through the left side. Schattle stepped into the box and blasted a two-RBI double to the wall in right center to make it 7-0.

With one last chance to get back in the contest in the seventh, the Cyclones got a lead-off double from center fielder Taylor Nearad but nothing else as Bolinger got the next three she faced to end the contest.