The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
8-1
Sam Houston State
5-8
No. 11 Softball blasts past Sam Houston State, 9-1 (5 inn.)
02.22.2019 | Softball
Freshman hurler Shealyn O’Leary struck out a career-high eight during a complete-game victory
AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday evening at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 11/10 Texas softball (8-1) banged out 11 hits and got a complete-game, one-hitter from freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary to roll past Sam Houston State (5-8) in the Longhorns' opener at the Texas Invitational, 9-1 (5 inn.).
Major Players
Texas sophomore right fielder Lauren Burke went 2-for-3 with her first career Texas HR on a solo shot in the second. Junior third baseman Shannon Rhodes was 1-for-2 with two RBIs, junior first baseman Kaitlyn Washington was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, and senior pinch hitter Bekah Alcozer was 1-for-1 with a two-run double. Sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo was 1-for-2 with a double and a RBI, while junior shortstop Kaitlyn Slack was 1-for-3 with a RBI.
In the Circle
O'Leary was terrific for the Longhorns, allowing just one hit and one unearned run during a complete-game performance with no walks and a career-high eight strikeouts. The Castaic, Calif., native even registered an "immaculate inning" during the second frame by striking out three straight batters on nine consecutive pitches.
The Details
Sam Houston State jumped to a quick lead in the top of the first after following up a UT infield error, a Tiffany Thompson single and a sacrifice bunt with catcher Bailey White's RBI groundout to make it 1-0.
The Longhorns answered right back with some help from the Bearkats during the bottom of the first. Junior designated player Miranda Elish reached on a two-out error as her lengthy drive was dropped in left field. That set the stage for Iakopo as the Carson, Calif., native launched a RBI double into the right center gap to tie the count at 1-1.
O'Leary made quite an impression on the proceedings during the top of the second, tossing an immaculate inning with nine straight strikes on nine pitches for three consecutive strikeouts.
Burke untied the contest with one down in the bottom of the second, blasting her first Texas HR over the wall in right to boost the Horns to a 2-1 advantage.
UT's freshman hurler kept dealing into the top of the third, eventually stringing together a remarkable 27 straight strikes before firing another ball.
The Burnt Orange & White got back in business during their half of the third as sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson and Elish delivered consecutive one-out base knocks. With both in scoring position on steals, Washington stepped into the box and blasted a two-RBI double to left center for a 4-1 lead.
Alcozer followed up lead-off Slack and Hayter singles in the bottom of the fourth by lining a two-run double of her own to the wall in left, expanding the advantage to 6-1. UT eventually loaded the bases on an Iakopo walk and an Elicia Espinosa single before Rhodes made it 8-1 on a two-RBI base knock to left. With the bags still packed, Slack drew a walk to force in Texas' ninth run of the contest as 11 Longhorns eventually came to the plate in the frame.
From there, O'Leary retired the final three Bearkats in order with two more K's in the fifth to end the contest via run-rule.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Leary, Shea (3-0)
L: McLeod, L. (2-5)
Batting:
RBI: White, B. 1
SH: McDonald, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunn, R. 1
Batting:
2B: Alcozer, Bekah 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Washington, Kaitlyn 1
HR: Burke, Lauren 1
RBI: Alcozer, Bekah 2 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Washington, Kaitlyn 2 ; Rhodes, Shannon 2 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Slack, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 1 ; Alcozer, Bekah 1 ; Elish, Miranda 2 ; DerMargosian, Tuesday 1 ; Espinosa, Elicia 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Slack, Kaitlyn 1 ; Hayter, Ki'Audra 1
SB: Jefferson, Janae 1 ; Elish, Miranda 1
