The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Wednesday, April 10
Austin, Texas
6 p.m. CT
University of Texas
vs
Houston
No. 11 Softball preview: Houston
04.09.2019 | Softball
The Longhorns (34-9) welcome the Cougars (26-14) to McCombs Field for a non-conference contest.
No. 11 Texas (34-9) hosts Houston (26-14) | April 10 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Wednesday, April 10
6 p.m. CT Houston at #11 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
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: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: Wednesday's game 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:
- Texas leads its all-time series over Houston by a 24-6 margin, including 15-3 all-time in Austin. The Cougars won the last meeting between the two schools on April 3, 2018, in Houston, 3-1.
- Junior pitcher Miranda Elish was honored by the league for the second time this season by being named the Big 12 Conference's Pitcher of the Week (April 9) after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, two solo shutouts and 15 strikeouts over 14 innings during the series win at No. 15 Texas Tech.
- Texas was listed at No. 6 in the latest release of the NCAA's Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) on Monday. UT has played the FIFTH-TOUGHEST schedule in the nation and owns 26 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).
- Texas freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary currently RATES SECOND IN ALL OF NCAA DIVISION I IN ERA AT 0.52, just 0.02 off the lead of UCLA's Rachel Garcia. The rookie starter has allowed just six earned runs in her first 80.0 innings of collegiate work.
- 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 0.88. She's walked only 10 in 80 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 8). The Humble, Texas, native ranks FIFTH in the nation, having struck out just twice this season over 142 total plate appearances.
- Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson currently leads the Big 12 Conference (57 hits) & rates fifth in all of NCAA Division I (as of April 8) in total hits. The Humble, Texas, native trailed national leader Sierra Lange of George Washington by six hits as of Monday.
- 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 31% of its total runs in the fourth inning this season.
- With 48 stolen bases so far, this marks the most swipes for a Texas team over its first 43 games of a season since stealing 71 over that stretch back in 2014 (went 82-of-99 that year).
- Several Longhorns have already reached or are set to join the 100 CAREER-HIT-CLUB this season. Sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson (131 hits), junior first baseman Kaitlyn Washington (113 hits) and redshirt junior outfielder Reagan Hathaway (105 hits) have recently reached the mark, while junior catcher Taylor Ellsworth (93 hits) will be closing in as soon as she returns from injury.
- Watch out for Texas with two outs in an inning. So far through 43 games, the Burnt Orange & White are batting .315 (116-of-368) with 97 two-out RBIs (44% of the team's total RBIs have come with two outs this season). Kaitlyn Washington leads the team with 16 two-out RBIs.
- With 72 doubles through 43 games (1.67 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 13 games, Texas would finish a 56-game regular-season schedule with approximately 94 doubles. UT RANKS FIFTH IN NCAA DIVISION I IN TOTAL DOUBLES.
- Texas' offense has out-hit 35-of-43 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 .313 (121-of-387) in such instances. Lauren Burke leads the team with 17 hits while Janae Jefferson leads in average (.417) in such situations.
- Texas sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson now has enough at-bats to qualify for the Longhorns career record book. With a .409 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 26-0 in games when scoring first, 12-1 when scoring in the first inning and 30-5 when out-hitting opponents.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball