The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
38-12, 9-6
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Kansas
15-31, 3-11
No. 11 Softball blows past Kansas on Saturday, 10-1 (5 inn.)
04.27.2019 | Softball
The Longhorns managed their single-season school record 15th run-rule victory of the season
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Eight different Longhorns registered hits as No. 11 Texas softball (38-12, 9-6 Big 12 Conference) roared past Kansas (15-31, 3-11 Big 12 Conference) on Saturday in front of a record 2,478 fans at Arrocha Ballpark, 10-1 (5 inn.).
Important Notes
- With its 15th run-rule win of the year, Texas broke the school single-season record of 14 formerly held by the 2011 & 2014 Longhorns squads.
- Freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary saw her first action since April 10 against Houston by returning from an ankle injury to strikeout two batters and allow one hit over a single inning of relief against the Jayhawks. In the process, she lowered her NCAA Division I-leading ERA to 0.50.
- By scoring three runs in the second and six more in the third on Saturday, Texas has now plated at least three runs in a single inning 38 times in 2019.
- Texas has now won 16 straight games over Kansas in Lawrence dating back to April 13, 2008.
- Texas sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo continued her strong recent efforts at the plate, going 1-for-3 against the Jayhawks with two more RBIs to raise her average over the last 12 contests to .559 (19-for-34) with 12 RBIs. She has registered seven multi-hit games over that stretch.
Major Players
Sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke led the charge by going 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBIs, sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson was 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs, sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, freshman shortstop McKenzie Parker was 1-for-2 with a run and a RBI, junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington was 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored and sophomore right fielder MK Tedder walked with the bases loaded to earn a RBI.
In the Circle
Senior Brooke Bolinger (9-3) picked up the win after allowing one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts over 4.0 innings of work. O'Leary permitted one hit and struck out two while tossing a scoreless fifth frame.
The Details
An error, on a bunt back to the circle by Texas leadoff hitter Jefferson, got the Longhorns offense going in the first as the Humble, Texas, product ended up in scoring position with no outs. With the speedster at third after a sacrifice bunt, Burke walked to station a pair at the corners. Iakopo followed by ripping a liner that hit off the glove of leaping second baseman Miranda Rodriguez for an eventual fielder's choice. Jefferson scored easily on the play, however, to grant the Burnt Orange & White an early 1-0 advantage.
The Longhorns offense got right back to work in the second, quickly putting two in scoring position with one out on singles from Washington and redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway and a stolen base. Parker wasted no time doubling Texas' lead by chopping a RBI single through the right side of the infield. UT's All-American Jefferson kept the outburst going by knocking in Hathaway on a bouncer the other way to left to make it 3-0. Burke picked up a RBI of her own by dropping a two-out blooper into left as Parker raced home with the Longhorns' fourth tally.
Texas blew things wide open in the third, plating six more runs to grab a 10-0 advantage while sending 12 batters to the plate. In all, Kansas pitchers walked six Longhorns during the frame with Burke delivering a key two-RBI single and Iakopo adding a RBI base knock.
The Jayhawks got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as center fielder Brittany Jackson christened the frame by lacing a triple to right center over a drawn-in outfield. Designated player Morgyn Wynne followed immediately with a RBI base knock to right to cut the deficit to 10-1.
Facing reliever O'Leary in the bottom of the fifth, KU got a leadoff hit-by-pitch and later added a two-out infield single, but that was all as UT's freshman hurler struck out two and induced a fly out to right to complete the triumph.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bolinger, Brooke (9-3)
L: Travieso, Tarin (0-2)
Batting:
RBI: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Tedder, MK 1 ; Burke, Lauren 3 ; Iakopo, Mary 2 ; Parker, McKenzie 1
SH: Tedder, MK 1 ; Rhodes, Shannon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Tedder, MK 1 ; DerMargosian, Tuesday 1 ; Washington, Kaitlyn 2 ; Hathaway, Reagan 2 ; Parker, McKenzie 1 ; Alcozer, Bekah 1
SB: Hathaway, Reagan 1
HBP: Iakopo, Mary 1
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Batting:
3B: Jackson, Brittany 1
RBI: Wynne, Morgyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jackson, Brittany 1
HBP: Hughston, Shelby 1
