No. 9 Softball falls late at No. 21/16 Oklahoma State, 1-0

Friday, March 29

Stillwater, Oklahoma

6 p.m. CT

University of Texas

30-7

#21/16 Oklahoma State

25-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	3
Oklahoma State	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0

No. 9 Softball falls late at No. 21/16 Oklahoma State, 1-0

03.29.2019 | Softball

Box Score

Junior pitcher Miranda Elish struck out nine while allowing one unearned run in taking the tough loss

STILLWATER, Okla. – On Friday night in front of 879 fans at Cowgirl Stadium, an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh proved the difference in a pitcher's duel as No. 9/10 Texas softball (30-7, 4-1 Big 12 Conference) suffered a 1-0 loss to No. 21/16 Oklahoma State (25-9, 3-1 Big 12 Conference) in the opener of a three-game league series.

Important Notes

Elish hasn't allowed an earned run to score over her last 21.0 innings of work dating back to March 16 vs. BYU at the Tennessee Invitational.
Tonight's loss was Texas' first of the season when allowing two runs-or-less to an opponent. UT had entered Friday a perfect 27-0 in such instances.

Major Players

Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson led the offense by going 2-for-3 at the dish, while both redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway and Elish each went 1-for-3.

In the Circle

Elish (8-5) suffered the tough loss after allowing one unearned run on just two hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over 6.0 innings of work.

The Details

With a pitcher's duel going, Oklahoma State was the first to seriously threaten during the bottom of the third. After a leadoff infield single by third baseman Sydney Pennington, a bad Texas throw on a potential force play at second allowed the base running duo to move to second and third with still no outs. That's when the Longhorns defense rebounded from its previous error with a huge double play. On a bouncer to Jefferson, the All-American second baseman fired to first for an out. The Cowgirl runner at third attempted to break home and got caught in a rundown as Jefferson hustled over to finish off the play with a diving tag. From there, Elish got completely out of danger by inducing a foul out down the left field line.

Jefferson got Texas' first hit of the contest leading off the top of the fourth by ripping a single up the middle. Unfortunately for the Horns, the next three went down in order against Cowgirl starter Samantha Show as the pitcher's duel continued.

Texas got something going with one out in the top of the sixth as Hathaway ripped a single down the right field line. Jefferson stepped to the dish and dropped a perfect bunt single in front of the plate. On the play, Hathaway took a wide turn around second and got caught in a run down for the second out. That proved a huge play as Elish followed immediately by blooping a hit to right that might have plated UT's first run of the contest. With Longhorns at the corners and two down, a bouncer to second ended the once promising outburst with no damage.

With an opportunity to win via walk-off, OSU took advantage in the bottom of the seventh with the help of more Texas defensive assistance. A lead-off walk came back to haunt the Longhorns as second baseman Madi Sue Montgomery got aboard to begin the frame. Left fielder Chyenne Factor stepped into the box and hit a potential double play chopper. Unfortunately, UT's defense bobbled the ball and threw it away trying for the lead runner at second. With still no outs in the frame, the decision was made to walk designated player Taylor Lynch to set up the force at every base. First baseman Michaela Richbourg came to the dish against a drawn-in UT infield and hit a chopper just past the circle. Elish couldn't quite reach it, and freshman shortstop McKenzie Parker had to stretch to her left to corral it. The rookie fired home quickly, but the throw proved too late as Cowgirl pinch runner Chelsea Alexander slid home with the game-winning run.