The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
23-6
#6/5 Tennessee
21-3
No. 11 Softball drops Friday’s nightcap to No. 6/5 Tennessee, 9-5
03.15.2019 | Softball
The Longhorns offense blasted a season-high four HR’s (three solo) during the loss to the Lady Vols
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On Friday night in Tennessee Invitational action at Lee Softball Stadium, No. 11/13 Texas softball (23-6) hit four HR's, three of the solo variety, out-hit the Lady Vols, 12-11, and managed a stirring seventh-inning rally but came up short to No. 6/5 Tennessee (21-3), 9-5.
Important Notes
- With Elish and Washington hitting consecutive HR's during the top of the fourth, Texas has now hit back-to-back HR on three occasions in 2019. That's the most instances in one season for the Longhorns since doing it three times back in 2016. Elish has also played a role in two of this season's three back-to-back efforts after combining with Bekah Alcozer against Wisconsin on March 1.
- By scoring twice in the fourth inning against the Lady Vols, Texas has now out-scored its opponents during that frame by the remarkable total of 60-8. In all, 32% of the Longhorns total run output this season has come during the fourth.
- Texas' four HR's were the most in a single game for the Burnt Orange since hitting four at UTSA back on March 29, 2017.
Major Players
Sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo (2-for-4, run, two RBIs), redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway (1-for-3, run, RBI), junior pitcher Miranda Elish (2-for-4, run, RBI) and junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington (1-for-4, run, RBI) all homered for the Longhorns. Freshman shortstop McKenzie Parker added a 2-for-4 effort with a double, while sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
In the Circle
Elish (6-4) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 2.2 innings of work. In relief, senior Brooke Bolinger permitted three earned runs on three hits with five walks and a strikeout in 2.0 frames. Sophomore Ariana Adams worked 1.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on three hits.
The Details
Over the opening three innings, the Longhorns offense combined to register five hits and put two base runners aboard in each frame. Unfortunately, while being aggressive, Texas had a runner caught in a rundown between third and home to end major first and third-inning scoring opportunities.
Meanwhile, Tennessee jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the first as designated player Haley Bearden hit a two-out, two-run HR to left center.
The Lady Vols added three more in the bottom of the third to make it 5-0. With shortstop Aubrey Leach aboard on a one-out walk, third baseman Chelsea Seggern drove a RBI double into the right center gap. After Elish's fifth K, first baseman Ashley Morgan hit a 3-2 offering through the right side of the infield to score two.
Trying to chip away at the deficit, Elish started the top of the fourth by driving a solo shot to center (her fourth). Washington then stepped into the batter's box and made it back-to-back HR's by launching a towering solo blast to right (her second) to make it 5-2.
Tennessee catcher Gracie Osbron (solo) and center fielder Cailin Hannon (two-run) hit HR's during the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to extend the Lady Vol advantage to 8-2.
The Lady Vols would add one more in the bottom of the sixth before Texas began a stirring seventh inning rally.
Hathaway got the seventh frame started on a solo HR, her fourth of 2019. Jefferson followed with a single, and then Iakopo crushed a two-run bomb to center (her team-leading sixth) to cut the deficit to 9-5. A Lauren Burke walk plus an Elish single and Lady Vol fielding error put two Longhorns in scoring position with still just one out. Unfortunately for Texas, the next two went down on strikeouts to stem the rally.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matty Moss (7-1)
L: Elish, Miranda (6-4)
Batting:
2B: Parker, McKenzie 1
HR: Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Elish, Miranda 1 ; Washington, Kaitlyn 1
RBI: Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 2 ; Elish, Miranda 1 ; Washington, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hathaway, Reagan 1 ; Jefferson, Janae 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Elish, Miranda 1 ; Washington, Kaitlyn 1
SB: Rhodes, Shannon 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1
Batting:
2B: Chelsea Seggern 1 ; Cailin Hannon 1
HR: Haley Bearden 1 ; Cailin Hannon 1 ; Gracie Osbron 1
RBI: Chelsea Seggern 1 ; Haley Bearden 2 ; Ashley Morgan 2 ; Cailin Hannon 3 ; Gracie Osbron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aubrey Leach 2 ; Treasuary Poindexter 1 ; Kaili Phillips 1 ; Haley Bearden 1 ; Amanda Ayala 1 ; Madison Pacini 1 ; Cailin Hannon 1 ; Gracie Osbron 1
