Softball’s season ends with a 3-0 loss to No. 25/20 Minnesota

Saturday, May 19

Seattle, Wash.

11:15 p.m.

University of Texas

33-26

#25/20 Minnesota

41-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Minnesota	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	3	6	0
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1

Softball’s season ends with a 3-0 loss to No. 25/20 Minnesota

05.20.2018 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns offense managed to out-hit the Golden Gophers, 10-6, but left 10 runners stranded

SEATTLE, Wash. – On Saturday night during NCAA Seattle Regional action at the Husky Softball Stadium, in a game that started two hours and 15 minutes after it was originally scheduled, Texas softball (33-26) managed to out-hit No. 25/20 Minnesota (41-16) but left 10 base runners stranded during a 3-0 elimination loss to the Golden Gophers.

The Longhorns managed 10 hits, led by a 3-for-3, two-double effort from sophomore left fielder Kaitlyn Washington, who hit a remarkable .778 (7-for-9) with four doubles over the regional. Freshman second baseman Janae Jefferson, senior designated player Paige von Sprecken and senior right fielder Randel Leahy all went 2-for-4 at the plate, while junior center fielder Kay Kay Hayter was 1-for-3.

In the circle, redshirt junior Erica Wright (5-6) took the loss, allowing one earned run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts over three innings of work. In four frames of relief, junior Brooke Bolinger permitted one earned run on two hits with a walk and three K's.

"Tough to be done, obviously," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "Team 2018 has really represented us very, very well. That's what we talked about in our postgame huddle, and you can't take anything away from them. We kept using the word 'opportunity' throughout the year. I felt like we were having a similar conversation tonight. I mean the opportunities were there for the taking in both games today. We can't hang our heads. This is a great group of young women, one of the best I've ever had in regards to being coachable and being a great family unit and playing for each other. It's just a joy to be around them each and every day. I'm just proud of them, and it's tough to be done."

After the two teams combined to leave five runners stranded, three by the Longhorns, over the opening two innings, it was Minnesota that finally struck first on the scoreboard during the top of the third. With two retired, Kendyl Lindaman launched a solo HR over the fence in left to make it 1-0. Right fielder Maddie Houlihan followed with a single up the middle to set the stage for the wildest play of the match-up. First baseman Sydney Dwyer stepped to the dish and lifted a towering fly ball to left center. The ball ricocheted off a UT glove for an error, but a heads-up play by Hayter resulted in an inning-ending out at second. The home plate umpire, however, ruled that Houlihan managed to score prior to the final out, granting the Golden Gophers an important 2-0 advantage.

Needing a spark, Washington continued to provide what she could for Texas in the fourth, launching a one-out double to the wall in left center for her team-best sixth hit of the NCAA Regional. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, UM starter Sydney Smith continued to battle her way out of trouble by posting consecutive strikeouts to leave the runner stranded in scoring position.

With Bolinger keeping the Minnesota offense in check, consecutive singles from Hayter and Jefferson got UT in serious business starting the bottom of the fifth. A von Sprecken fly out to right proved deep enough to advance the speedy duo into scoring position, and sophomore catcher Taylor Ellsworth was intentionally walked with two down to load the bases. The move paid off for the Golden Gophers, however, as Smith got a swinging strikeout to escape the jam.

UM put together a two-out rally to add valuable insurance in the top of the sixth to make it 3-0. With two on, third baseman Danielle Parlich lifted a blooper to shallow left field. Washington charged in and tried to make a diving grab only for the ball to hit off her glove and roll away. That allowed Parlich the chance to stroll into second with a RBI double.

Washington continued her remarkable NCAA Seattle Regional during the bottom of the sixth by opening the frame on a double down the right field line. The Humble, Texas, native eventually moved within 60 feet of pay dirt on a groundout, but no further, as UM's Smith registered consecutive K's to expand UT's left stranded count to nine.

Desperate for offense in the bottom of the seventh, Jefferson led off Texas' frame with a perfect bunt single up the first base line. That's when bad fortune struck the Longhorns as a von Sprecken liner tipped off Smith's glove in the circle only to be caught on the run by shortstop Allie Arneson and fired to first for a critical double play. Senior right fielder Randel Leahy singled to give the Longhorns final life only for a pop-up to short to end the season.

NCAA Seattle Regional Schedule

Friday, May 18

8 p.m. CT TEXAS vs. #25/20 Minnesota – ESPN – TEXAS, 2-1

10:30 p.m. CT Boise State at #5 Washington – ESPNU – Washington, 8-0 (5)

Saturday, May 19

4 p.m. CT Game No. 3 (TEXAS vs. #5 Washington) – Washington, 2-1

6:30 p.m. CT Game No. 4 (#25/20 Minnesota vs. Boise State) – Minnesota, 11-3

9 p.m. CT Game No. 5 (#25/20 Minnesota vs. TEXAS) – Minnesota, 3-0

Sunday, May 20

6 p.m. CT Game No. 6 (#5 Washington vs. #25/20 Minnesota)

8:30 p.m. CT Game No. 7 (rematch of Game 6 - if necessary)

**All times Central