The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#1 Oklahoma
No. 11 Softball preview: No. 1 Oklahoma
04.17.2019 | Softball
The Longhorns prep for their annual "Red River Rivalry" against the top-ranked Sooners
Texas Game Notes vs. #1 Oklahoma
No. 11/10 Texas (36-9, 7-3 Big 12) hosts No. 1 Oklahoma (38-2, 9-0 Big 12) | April 18-20 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Thursday, April 18
6 p.m. CT #1 Oklahoma at #11/10 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
The Longhorns band will be in attendance
Friday, April 19
6 p.m. CT #1 Oklahoma at #11/10 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
"ORANGE OUT" – fans are encouraged to wear their Burnt Orange
The First 250 fans receive "Beat the Sooners" rally towels
Saturday, April 20
1 p.m. CT #1 Oklahoma at #11/10 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
"TEXAS TRADITIONS DAY" – pregame photo ops with Bevo XV, Hook 'Em & Texas Pom
"FAN APPRECIATION DAY" – the first 200 fans receive Texas sunglasses & "THIS IS TEXAS" tank tops; "Burnt Orange Bluegrass" will perform the national anthem
"CANNED FOOD DRIVE" – Fans who donate receive a FREE Whataburger coupon
TEXAS CLEAR BAG POLICY: Please note that there is a Clear Bag Policy in effect for fans when attending Texas Athletic events. For more details, please visit this LINK
PARKING: Fans can purchase parking in the East Campus Garage for $5 here: LINK
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: All three weekend games are SOLD OUT. Fans will have to check StubHub to locate any possible re-sale tickets.
Live Stats: LINK
Television: All three weekend games will be broadcast live on Longhorn Network with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color) on the call.
Radio: All Texas games home & road are slated for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcasts can also be heard locally in Austin on 105.3 FM in the local and surrounding areas, part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- Oklahoma leads Texas in the all-time "Red River Rivalry" series between the two teams, 42-24, and leads UT in games in Austin, 15-10. The Sooners have won each of the last 15 meetings with the Longhorns last win coming back on April 18, 2014, in Norman, Okla, 9-0 (6 inn.).
- Texas enters this weekend with a 4-15 all-time mark against No. 1 ranked teams. The last time the Longhorns played a top-ranked squad was on Feb. 21, 2018, against Washington as UT dropped a 2-1 home decision. The last time Texas played a Big 12 foe ranked No. 1 was Oklahoma on four occasions back during the 2013 campaign. UT's last win over a No. 1 was in Austin on April 20, 2013, vs. Oklahoma (4-2).
- Since March 31 at No. 21/16 Oklahoma State, sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo has been strong at the plate, leading the Longhorns with a .421 average (8-for-19), nine runs scored, four HR's and nine RBIs while slugging 1.053. She's also reached base safely in six-of-seven games over that stretch.
- Texas' pitching staff has posted a 0.69 ERA over the last six games with four shutouts, just 10 walks, 37 strikeouts and a .176 average against in 40.2 innings of work.
- The Longhorns haven't lost a mid-week non-conference contest since April 1, 2018, against Texas State. Since that game, UT has won 11 straight (the total includes the March 18 match-up at Lipscomb that was played on a Monday). UT is 8-0 in non-conference mid-week contests this season.
- Texas freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary currently LEADS ALL OF NCAA DIVISION I IN ERA AT 0.51, 0.14 ahead of UCLA standout Rachel Garcia. The rookie starter has allowed just six earned runs in her first 83.0 innings of collegiate work.
- Texas was listed at No. 5 in the latest release of the NCAA's Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) on Monday. UT has played the SIXTH-TOUGHEST schedule in the nation and owns 28 victories over current RPI Top 100 opponents (10 over RPI Top 25).
- Texas owns 12 wins over teams that were either ranked or receiving votes in one/both the NFCA or USA Softball polls at time of playing. Included on the resume are victories over No. 6/5 Tennessee, No. 18/21 Kentucky, No. 15/17 Arizona State, No. 22/RV Minnesota, No. 21/16 Oklahoma State and No. 15 Texas Tech (two wins).
- Freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary rarely walks anyone, rating first in the Big 12 and sixth in NCAA Division in walks-per-seven innings at 0.84. She's walked only 10 in 83 innings.
- Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson is currently one of the "Toughest Players to Strikeout" in all of NCAA Division I softball (as of April 15). The Humble, Texas, native ranks FOURTH in the nation, having struck out just twice this season over 150 total plate appearances.
- Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson is truly remarkable during Big 12 play, owning 43 career hits over her first 28 league contests (she led the Big 12 in 2018 with 32 hits). That's an average of 1.5 hits-per-Big 12-game. She's also reached base safely in 23-of-28 career Big 12 contests!
- Look out for Texas during the fourth inning as the Longhorns have now outscored opponents in the frame, 78-10. Overall, UT has scored 30% of its total runs in the fourth inning this season.
- With 50 stolen bases so far, this marks the most swipes for a Texas team over its first 45 games of a season since stealing 72 over that stretch back in 2014 (went 82-of-99 that year).
- Watch out for Texas with two outs in an inning. So far through 45 games, the Burnt Orange & White are batting .311 (120-of-386) with 100 two-out RBIs (43% of the team's total RBIs have come with two outs this season). Kaitlyn Washington leads the team with 16 two-out RBIs.
- With 74 doubles through 45 games (1.64 doubles-per-game), the Longhorns are ahead of the pace needed to break the school single-season mark of 86 doubles set by the 2012 team. Maintaining its current pace over the next 11 games, Texas would finish a 56-game regular-season schedule with approximately 92 doubles. UT IS TIED FOR 12TH IN NCAA DIVISION I IN TOTAL DOUBLES.
- Texas' offense has out-hit 36-of-45 opponents this year while averaging 8.1 hits-per-game. The Longhorns have lost four of the eight games in which they've been out-hit - No. 8/7 LSU, No. 22/RV Minnesota, No. 21/16 Oklahoma State & No. 15 Texas Tech.
- The Longhorns have been strong this season with runners in scoring position, hitting .310 (126-of-406) in such instances. Lauren Burke leads the team with 18 hits while Janae Jefferson leads in average (.432) in such situations.
- Texas sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson now has enough at-bats to qualify for the Longhorns career record book. With a .408 career batting average, she currently sits FIRST all-time in UT history ahead of second-place Lexy Bennett's (2009-12) career mark of .385.
- Some trends have developed for the Longhorns in 2019. UT is 28-0 in games when scoring first, 13-1 when scoring in the first inning and 31-5 when out-hitting opponents.
