No. 11 Softball fights past UT Arlington, 4-3

Tuesday, April 16

Arlington, Texas

5 p.m. CT

University of Texas

36-9

UT Arlington

21-23

Texas

UTA

04.16.2019 | Softball

Box Score

Junior shortstop Kaitlyn Slack registered a key two-RBI single during Texas’ three-run sixth-inning outburst

ARLINGTON, Texas – On Tuesday night in front of 782 fans at Allan Saxe Field, No. 11 Texas softball (36-9) scored three times in the sixth and held off a late charge to rally past a battle-tested UT Arlington (21-23) squad, 4-3.

Important Notes

UT Arlington entered Tuesday's game with big wins on its season's resume against No. 16 Baylor, No. 13 Arkansas and No. 13 Oklahoma State.
With two more pick-offs against UTA, sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo now has five for the season. That's the most for a Texas catcher since Megan Willis picked off 11 back during the 2007 campaign.
Texas has now won its last 11 non-conference mid-week games dating back to April 1, 2018, and improved to 8-0 in such contests this season.
With tonight's victory, the Longhorns now hold 28 wins over RPI Top 100 teams.
UT improved its record to 11-1 this year against teams from the "Lone Star State."

Major Players

Junior shortstop Kaitlyn Slack was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two key RBIs on a sixth-inning single. Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson was 2-for-4 with a key RBI during UT"s sixth-inning outburst, while sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke was 1-for-2 with a run scored and her 10th double of the season.

In the Circle

Sophomore Ariana Adams (5-0) picked up the victory by allowing one run on four hits with a walk over 1.2 innings of relief. Senior Brooke Bolinger started in the circle, and earned her fourth save of 2019 after re-entering in the seventh, permitting one earned run on just two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 5.1 frames.

The Details

After leaving a pair stranded in scoring position during the top of the first, the Longhorns found pay dirt in the top of the second. A leadoff Burke walk got things started as sophomore right fielder MK Tedder eventually took her teammate's spot at first on a fielder's choice. With the Hoover, Ala., native stationed at second, after hustling to advance on a foul out down the right field line, senior designated player Ki'Audra Hayter hit a sharp bouncer to second that was misplayed for an error allowing Tedder the opportunity to race around from second for a 1-0 lead.

UTA got its first base runner starting the bottom of the third as designated player KJ Murphy walked to begin the frame. Right fielder Bri Burchianti dropped a bunt out in front of the plate, but a UT throw attempting to retire the lead runner was just wide of the bag. Following a successful sacrifice, the Mavericks had two in scoring position with still only one out. Shortstop Whitney Walton stepped up and hit a hot shot that was stopped on a dive, but an eventual throw to first proved wide as both UT Arlington runners scored to make it 2-1.

The Longhorns had a big chance to take control of the contest in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs on walks to Burke and Tedder and a McKenzie Parker hit-by-pitch. Unfortunately, a foul out down the left field line was tracked down on the run by UTA as Texas left three stranded.

Texas' biggest scoring opportunity came in the top of the sixth as a leadoff Kaitlyn Washington single to left center and a Burke double off the wall in right center put two Longhorns aboard with no outs. Tedder fouled off pitch-after-pitch to draw a walk to load the bases. That set the stage for Slack as the Liberty, Texas, product ripped a two-run single to left to boost the Longhorns back in front at 3-2. With two down on a sac bunt and an out at the plate, Jefferson made it 4-2 with a RBI single just off the end of first baseman Aileen Garcia's glove and down the RF line.

Consecutive leadoff bunt singles from UTA's Krista Rude and Laura Curry as well as a two-out walk loaded the bases for the Mavericks during the bottom of sixth. With a huge chance to get right back into the contest, UT Arlington fell victim to Iakopo again as the sophomore catcher caught Rude straying too far off third for her second pick-off of the game.

The Mavericks refused to yield as Murphy opened the bottom of the seventh with a solo HR to center to cut the UTA deficit to 4-3. A Burchianti single to second and a failed fielder's choice put two more on with only one retired as Bolinger re-entered the contest for the Horns. The move in the circle paid dividends as the senior lefty retired the next two batters on pop-ups to end the UT victory.