No. 11 Softball shuts out No. 6/5 Tennessee in Knoxville, 2-0

Sunday, March 17

Knoxville, Tennessee

12 p.m. CT

University of Texas

25-6

#6/5 Tennessee

22-4

Texas

Tennessee

No. 11 Softball shuts out No. 6/5 Tennessee in Knoxville, 2-0

03.17.2019 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman pitcher Shealyn O’Leary improved to a perfect 9-0 to open her collegiate career

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – It was a St. Patrick's Day to celebrate for No. 11/13 Texas softball (25-6), on Sunday in Tennessee Invitational action at Lee Softball Stadium, as freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary tossed a complete-game shutout to lead the Longhorns to a big, 2-0 road victory at No. 6/5 Tennessee (22-4).

Important Notes

After Sunday's shutout, O'Leary is now riding a streak of 12.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. This is now her second double-digit streak of the season as the Castaic, Calif., native went a staggering 42.1 consecutive frames without allowing an earned run from Feb. 10 to March 9.
O'Leary's Big 12 Conference-leading ERA dropped even further after Sunday's effort to 0.38, and she continued the best start ever for a Texas pitcher to a freshman campaign at 9-0.
Four players hit over .400 for the Longhorns during the Tennessee Invitational: sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo (.545, two HR's, five RBIs), sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson (.444, two RBIs), freshman shortstop McKenzie Parker (.417, four doubles, two RBIs) and junior designated player Miranda Elish (.400, HR, RBI). Redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway added a .385 effort with two HR's and four RBIs.

Major Players

Iakopo was 1-for-3 with a key RBI, while sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke and Elish were each 1-for-3 at the dish. Parker and junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington each scored one of Texas' runs.

In the Circle

O'Leary was strong in the circle, scattering seven hits while walking two and striking out four during a complete-game performance.

The Details

A leadoff walk came back to burn the Lady Vols during the top of the third as Washington christened the frame with a free pass. Parker immediately stepped into the box and hit a chopper to shortstop. Tennessee's Gracie Osbron misplayed the ball and threw it wide of second into right field. On the miscue, Washington raced all the way around from first to score for a 1-0 advantage. Following a two-out Jefferson walk, Iakopo lifted a bloop RBI single just on to the center field grass as Parker crossed to make it 2-0.

Meanwhile, Tennessee's offense was putting base runners on, five total over the opening three frames, but couldn't find a break through through against freshman starter O'Leary.

The Lady Vols broke up a string of seven straight retired by O'Leary with two down in the bottom of the fifth as third baseman Chelsea Seggern lined a single up the middle. Catcher Kaili Phillips followed with a shot just inside the chalk and down into the left field corner for a double as Tennessee boasted two in scoring position with two down. O'Leary battled out of trouble again by inducing a chopper to Burke at first to end the threat.

With a Lady Vol at first on a two-out single in the bottom of the sixth, designated player Amanda Ayala hit a blooper to shallow left. Entered into the game as a defensive replacement prior to the inning, Texas junior Tuesday DerMargosian raced in and made a terrific diving catch for a big out number three.

Down to its last three outs in the bottom of the seventh, Tennessee got a two-out double from third baseman Chelsea Seggern, but nothing else, as O'Leary induced a liner to third to end the triumph.