No. 9 Softball rolls past Longwood in doubleheader opener, 8-0 (5 inn.)

Wednesday, March 6

Austin, Texas

4:30 p.m. CT

University of Texas

17-3

Longwood

11-6

Longwood

Texas

No. 9 Softball rolls past Longwood in doubleheader opener, 8-0 (5 inn.)

03.06.2019 | Softball

Box Score

Senior pitcher Brooke Bolinger tied her career-high with 11 strikeouts in a complete-game victory

AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday evening in the first game of a doubleheader at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 9/10 Texas softball (17-3) climbed back into the win column with a commanding, 8-0 (5 inn.) triumph over Longwood (11-6).

Important Notes

Senior pitcher Brooke Bolinger tied her career-high for strikeouts with 11 against Longwood. The Yucaipa, Calif., native had previously K'ed 11 against Oklahoma State in Austin back on April 20, 2018.
The 8-0 (5 inn.) win marked Texas' ninth run-rule victory this season. UT had five run-rule triumphs all of last season.
The Longhorns added two more two-out RBIs during the win over Longwood to improve their season two-out RBI total to 61. In all, 50% of Texas' total RBIs this season have come with two retired in a frame.
Texas blasted two more doubles during the win to give it 38 for the season through 20 games (1.9 doubles-per-game). The single-season record for UT doubles is 86 established by the 2012 squad.

Major Players

Sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, senior right fielder Bekah Alcozer was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, her second HR of the season and two RBIs, junior shortstop Kailtyn Slack was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and junior center fielder Shannon Rhodes was 1-for-3 with a RBI to power the Texas offense. Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson was 3-for-3 with a run, while both junior designated player Miranda Elish (2-for-2, run, double) and redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway (2-for-3, run) each managed two of Texas' 13 total hits.

In the Circle

Bolinger was strong for the Longhorns, striking out a career-high-tying 11 and walking just one over a complete-game three-hit shutout.

The Details

After leaving two stranded in the bottom of the first, the Longhorns offense got back in business during their half of the second. Consecutive singles to open the frame from Elish and Alcozer and a perfect Malory Schattle sacrifice bunt stationed two in scoring position with one out. Slack immediately followed by driving a two-RBI single up the middle to grant UT a 2-0 advantage.

Meanwhile in the circle for Texas, Bolinger allowed a pair of base runners during the top of the third, but countered that by striking out eight over the opening three frames of work.

Texas doubled its lead via the long ball with two outs in the bottom of the third as Alcozer followed an Elish double by absolutely crushing a two-run HR to left center to make it 4-0.

One-out base knocks from Hathaway and Jefferson, as well as a Burke walk, loaded the bases for the Burnt Orange & White in the fourth. That set the stage for fireworks as a three-run Iakopo double to the wall in left center and a Rhodes RBI base knock up the middle boosted the Longhorns in front, 8-0.

Down to its final three outs to try to avoid the run-rule, Longwood got a one-out triple off the left field wall from second baseman Leah Powell. That was all the Lancers would get, however, as Bolinger struck out the next two she faced to tie her career-high of 11 strikeouts.