No. 10 Softball secures Big 12-opening sweep of Iowa State, 7-2

Sunday, March 24

Austin, Texas

Noon CT

University of Texas

29-6, 3-0

Iowa State

17-13, 0-3

Iowa State

Texas

No. 10 Softball secures Big 12-opening sweep of Iowa State, 7-2

03.24.2019 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns offense registered 10 hits, four of the extra-base variety, during the triumph

AUSTIN, Texas – On Sunday afternoon in front of 1,023 fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 10/11 Texas softball (29-6, 3-0 Big 12 Conference) used four key extra-base hits and a strong start from senior pitcher Brooke Bolinger to complete a league-opening sweep of Iowa State (17-13, 0-3 Big 12 Conference), 7-2.

Important Notes

The Longhorns are currently riding a six-game winning streak, marking the third time this season that Texas has won at least six games in a row.
Texas added two more doubles to raise its season total to 64 for the season. The Burnt Orange & White continues to close in on the school record of 86 doubles set by the 2012 Longhorns.
With a combined 10 pitching strikeouts against Iowa State, the Texas pitching staff has now posted double-digit strikeouts 12 times in 2019.
Texas improved its 2019 home record to 19-2 overall, tying the 2002 & 2010 Longhorns squads for the sixth-best, 21-game home start in program history (best was Texas' 2006 team at 21-0)
Texas improved to a perfect 21-0 this season when scoring first in a contest.

Major Players

Junior third baseman Shannon Rhodes led the Longhorns on Sunday by going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a team-best three RBIs, while junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington was 1-for-3 with her third HR of the season and two RBIs. Senior right fielder Bekah Alcozer was 2-for-3 with her second triple of the season, redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway was 1-for-3 with a walk, her Big 12-leading 13th double of the year and a RBI, sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke was 1-for-3 with a RBI, freshman shortstop McKenzie Parker was 1-for-3 with season double number seven and sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson was 2-for-3 with a walk.

In the Circle

Bolinger improved to 7-2 overall after allowing two earned runs on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work. Junior Miranda Elish permitted one hit, walked one and struck out one during a single frame of relief.

The Details

The Longhorns utilized the long ball to nab a second-inning advantage on Sunday. With Rhodes aboard via single, Washington stepped to the plate with two outs and launched a towering two-run shot to right center.

UT's lead doubled to 4-0 in the bottom of the third as an Elish walk and a Burke single were eventually cashed in by Rhodes on a two-out, two-RBI base knock to center.

Texas added another in the bottom of the fifth through the speed game. With Burke aboard on a one-out walk, senior Ki'Audra Hayter was summoned into the contest to pinch run. The speedster quickly took off for second, swiping the base and continuing on to third on ISU catcher Kaylee Bosworth's errant throw into center. A perfectly placed Rhodes bunt soon plated Hayter for a 5-0 advantage.

Having left four runners stranded on the basepaths through five complete, the Cyclones eventually managed to break up the UT shutout bid in the top of the sixth. With Bosworth on via single, designated player Sydney Stites hit a two-out, two-run HR to left, cutting the Longhorns lead to 5-2.

Texas re-established its five-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth after Alcozer led off the frame with a triple down into the right field corner. A failed fielder's choice play to home, a Jefferson single, an ISU wild pitch and a Burke grounder to short combined to plate two more and make it 7-2.

Facing Elish in the top of the seventh, Iowa State put a pair on via a walk and a single with one out, but Texas' righty finished things off by inducing consecutive fly outs.