No. 11 Softball blanks Kansas in series opener, 3-0

Friday, April 26

Lawrence, Kansas

5 p.m. CT

University of Texas

37-12, 8-6

Kansas

15-30, 3-10

Texas

Kansas

No. 11 Softball blanks Kansas in series opener, 3-0

04.26.2019 | Softball

Box Score

Junior pitcher Miranda Elish picked up her 12th win behind a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts

LAWRENCE, Kan. – On Friday night in front of 1,771 fans at Arrocha Ballpark, No. 11 Texas softball (37-12, 8-6 Big 12 Conference) used a nine-hit offensive output to back a two-hit shutout from junior pitcher Miranda Elish and climb back into the win column with a 3-0 victory at Kansas (15-30, 3-10 Big 12 Conference).

Important Notes

With 10 K's during the win over the Jayhawks, Elish reached double-digits for strikeouts for the eighth time this season.
Texas sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo continued her remarkable recent work at the plate, going 2-for-3 against the Jayhawks to raise her average over the last 11 contests to .562 (18-for-31) with 10 RBIs. She has registered seven multi-hit games over that stretch and four-in-a-row including Friday's performance.
By scoring twice in the fourth inning against the Jayhawks, Texas has now outscored opponents during the frame by a total of 80-12. In all, the Longhorns have scored 30% of their total runs this season in the fourth.
The Longhorns continue to climb closer to the school single-season doubles record, blasting two more on Friday to give them 82 for the year. That's just four from equaling the current mark of 86 doubles set by the 2012 squad.

Major Players

Junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington was 1-for-3 with a big two-RBI double (her 13th of the season), while sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke went 1-for-3 while adding her 12th double of the year and a RBI. Iakopo was 2-for-3 with a walk, while sophomore right fielder MK Tedder was 2-for-3 with a run scored.

In the Circle

Elish (12-8) took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning before settling for a two-hit, complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts.

The Details

Neither team seriously threatened until the bottom of the third as Kansas managed to load the bases with one out on consecutive Texas fielding errors and a failed attempt to retire the lead runner at third. Elish refused to allow the Jayhawks to get on the board, however, as the junior right hander posted consecutive strikeouts of third baseman Madison Sykes and first baseman Becki Monaghan to end the threat.

Texas' offense finally ignited in the top of the fourth as consecutive one-out singles by junior third baseman Shannon Rhodes and Tedder were cashed in on Washington's two-RBI double to left center to make it 2-0.

Kansas attempted to answer right back in the bottom of the fourth as a Texas fielding miscue, a walk and a sacrifice bunt put two more in scoring position for the Jayhawks with two outs. Facing another threat, Elish responded again by striking out pinch hitter Sam Dellinger to leave two more stranded.

Elish's no-hit bid was broken up to start the fifth as KU shortstop Sydnee Ramsey ripped a leadoff single through the left side of the infield. The hit didn't faze UT's hurler, though, as she retired the next three Jayhawks in order to maintain a two-run advantage.

Elish helped her own cause in the top of the sixth by battling to draw a two-out walk. That allowed Burke the opportunity to step into the box and launch a RBI double to left center as Texas' lead expanded to 3-0.

Down to three final outs, Kansas got a leadoff single from designated player Morgyn Wynne in the bottom of the seventh, but that was it as a grounder to third, Elish's 10th strikeout and a bouncer to second concluded the UT victory.