The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
9-1
Tulsa
8-4
No. 11 Softball wraps dominant day with 9-1 (6 inn.) win over Tulsa
02.22.2019 | Softball
Sophomore designated player Lauren Burke ripped a game-ending two-RBI triple to right in the sixth
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 11/10 Texas softball (9-1) scored in five-of-six offensive innings to complete a dominant Friday in Texas Invitational action at Red & Charline McCombs Field with a 9-1 (6 inn.) victory over Tulsa (8-4).
Major Players
Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-4, two runs), junior pitcher Miranda Elish (1-for-3, run) and sophomore designated player Lauren Burke (1-for-4, triple) each knocked in two runs for the Longhorns. Redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway went 2-for-3 with her team-leading sixth double of the season and scored twice from the leadoff spot, while sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo walked twice and was credited with a RBI.
In the Circle
As the starter, Elish improved to 3-0 on the season after allowing one unearned run on two hits with a walk and a Texas career-high 11 strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work. Sophomore Ariana Adams gave up a pair of singles during an inning of scoreless relief to wrap up the game.
The Details
Tulsa jumped in front during the top of the first with some help from the Longhorns defense. With second baseman Morgan Neal on after a one-out single, Tulsa third baseman Alexis Perry ripped a base knock to the outfield. A misplay by UT on the bounce allowed the ball to roll to the wall as Neal scored unearned for a 1-0 advantage.
Much like during Friday's opening game against Sam Houston State, Texas' offense responded back immediately after falling behind in the first. Hathaway keyed the outburst, leading off the game with a base knock and swiping second to reach scoring position. Within 60 feet of paydirt with one retired, the speedster raced home to deadlock the score at 1-1 as Elish helped her own cause with a RBI single through the right side.
Two key Tulsa miscues helped stake the Burnt Orange & White to a two-run advantage in the third. Once again, Hathaway got the assault going by doubling to the wall in left to open the frame. After a Jefferson base knock, she took off for second as a throw trying to catch Hathaway too far off third went down the left field line for a run-scoring error. Elish stepped into the box and hit a chopper that was misplayed at first for another error as Jefferson crossed with UT's third tally.
The Longhorns used a Shannon Rhodes single, a failed fielder's choice and another Tulsa miscue to load the bases with one retired in the bottom of the fourth. After a close play at the plate retired Rhodes via force for the second out, Jefferson came up and ripped a two-RBI single through the right side for a 5-1 lead.
Meanwhile, Elish was rolling through the Golden Hurricane line-up, retiring 10 straight from the second through fifth innings.
The gap expanded to 6-1 in the fifth for the Horns as an Iakopo leadoff walk, a Ki'Audra Hayter steal and advance and a wild pitch combined to plate another.
After Tulsa left a pair stranded in the top of the sixth against Adams, the Longhorns quickly ended things via run-rule in the bottom half. With the bases loaded and one down, an Iakopo sacrifice fly made it 7-1. Burke soon stepped up and ripped a two-run triple into the right field corner to finalize the UT triumph.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Elish, Miranda (3-0)
L: POCHOP,S (2-2)
Base Running:
RUNS: NEAL,M 1
HBP: STAFFORD,T 1
Batting:
2B: Hathaway, Reagan 1
3B: Burke, Lauren 1
RBI: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Elish, Miranda 2 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Burke, Lauren 2
SF: Iakopo, Mary 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hathaway, Reagan 2 ; DerMargosian, Tuesday 1 ; Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Elish, Miranda 1 ; Hayter, Ki'Audra 1 ; Alcozer, Bekah 1 ; Schattle, Malory 1
SB: Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Jefferson, Janae 1 ; Hayter, Ki'Audra 1 ; Alcozer, Bekah 1
HBP: Espinosa, Elicia 1
