No. 11 Softball stays perfect with 5-1 win over Florida Atlantic

Friday, February 15

Clearwater, Florida

11:30 a.m. CT

University of Texas

6-0

Florida Atlantic

3-4

Florida Atlantic

Texas

No. 11 Softball stays perfect with 5-1 win over Florida Atlantic

02.15.2019 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns improved their record to 6-0 for the first time since the 2016 season

CLEARWATER, Fla. – On Friday afternoon in St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational action at the Eddie C. Moore Complex, home runs by junior third baseman Shannon Rhodes and junior designated player Miranda Elish backed a strong pitching effort from freshman starter Shealyn O'Leary as No. 11 Texas softball (6-0) knocked off Florida Atlantic (3-4) to remain perfect, 5-1.

This marks the first time Texas has been 6-0 to open a season since the 2016 squad christened their campaign at 12-0 overall.

The Burnt Orange & White offense managed eight combined hits, led by Elish's 2-for-3 effort with a double, HR (her first career Texas HR) and three RBIs. Rhodes homered for the second straight game while registering a 1-for-3, two-RBI performance.

In the circle for the Longhorns, O'Leary took a no-hit bid 4.2 innings before allowing a bloop single to center. The Castaic, Calif, eventually settled for a complete-game, four-hitter, allowing one unearned run while walking one and striking out six.

For the second straight day in Clearwater, Texas managed to put a crooked number on the scoreboard during its opening at-bat, and it all came with two outs. Junior first baseman Kaitlyn Washington got things going in the bottom of the first with by beating out an infield single to deep short. That set the stage for Rhodes as the Fort Worth, Texas, native bashed a two-run HR for the second consecutive game to boost UT to a quick 2-0 advantage. With sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo on first via walk, Elish stepped into the box and launched a RBI double off the temporary fencing in right to make it 3-0.

After allowing FAU a leadoff walk, O'Leary settled in and was in firm control of the Owls from the circle, retiring 12 straight over the first through fourth innings.

The Burnt Orange & White used another long ball to expand their advantage in the bottom of the fourth. After Iakopo opened the frame with a sharp single off the Florida Atlantic pitcher, Elish blasted her first career Texas HR, a two-run shot, over the fencing in left center to boost the gap to 5-0.

With one down in the top of the fifth, O'Leary's streak of consecutive retired batters ended at 13 on a UT fielding error. Junior shortstop Kaitlyn Slack followed with a defensive gem by diving into the hole at short, quickly getting to her knees and somehow retiring the lead runner for the second out of the frame. Unfortunately for Texas' freshman hurler, her no-hit bid ended at 4.2 innings as FAU second baseman Caroline Rosa blooped a single just over second base. It didn't seem to faze O'Leary, however, as the 6-2 right hander quickly struck out left fielder Ashleigh Jennings to end the frame.

Texas had an opportunity to perhaps bring the run-rule into play in the bottom of the fifth after loading the bases with no outs. Unfortunately for the Horns, a double play on a bouncer up the third base line and a foul out down the left field line brought the outburst to a scoreless close.

The Owls got something going with one out in the top of the sixth as right fielder Danielle Bieberle bounced a single up the middle and hustled into second on a UT fielding miscue. Following a batter's interference call on a steal attempt for the second out of the frame, designated player Mia Olson managed to get FAU on the board on a RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-1.

Needing a big seventh-inning rally to get back in the game, FAU managed a two-out single, but that was all as O'Leary finished things off with her sixth and final K.