No. 8 Softball drops both Big 12 Championship pool play match-ups

Friday, May 10

Oklahoma City, Okla.

11 a.m. CT

University of Texas

41-13

#14 Oklahoma State

38-15

Texas

Oklahoma State

No. 8 Softball drops both Big 12 Championship pool play match-ups

05.10.2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Longhorns (41-14) fell on Friday to No. 14 Oklahoma State (6-2) and Iowa State (2-0)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Friday in Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship action at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex, No. 8 Texas softball (41-14) dropped both of its pool play games to No. 14 Oklahoma State (6-2) and Iowa State (2-0).

Important Notes

With the losses, the Longhorns will now play in a Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship placing game on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT against an opponent still to be determined.
With two doubles during today's pool play action, Texas has now equaled the school single-season doubles record of 86 established by the 2012 Longhorns.
Freshman Shealyn O'Leary tossed 3.1 more scoreless innings combining both Friday match-ups, lowering her NCAA Division I-leading ERA even further to 0.46.
The Longhorns lost for only the second time this season after scoring first in a game during the 6-2 defeat to No. 14 Oklahoma State. UT had entered that game at 32-1 when putting the first run on the scoreboard.

Major Players

Against OSU, junior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington was 1-for-2 with a two-run double, while sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3), redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway (1-for-3, run) and sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-3) all managed hits.

In the game versus ISU, junior third baseman Shannon Rhodes was 2-for-3 with a double, while Jefferson (1-for-3), Washington and sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke (1-for-2, walk) registered hits.

In the Circle

Elish (14-9) suffered the loss against Oklahoma State, allowing six earned runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Senior Brooke Bolinger (9-4) took the defeat against Iowa State, permitting two earned runs on two hits with a walk and three K's in 3.1 frames.

The Details

vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State

Despite base runners for both teams over the opening three innings, the first serious threat came in the top of the fourth as Texas strung together enough to grab a 2-0 lead. A Burke leadoff walk, a fielder's choice, an Iakopo single off the wall in left center and a Ki'Audra Hayter stolen base put two in scoring position with just one out. Washington stepped to the plate and launched a shot to right center that hit off the very top of the wall and somehow spun back into play for a two-RBI double.

Looking to answer right back, Oklahoma State put two aboard in the bottom of the fourth on a single by second baseman Madi Sue Montgomery and a two-out walk issued to center fielder Chyenne Factor. Elish quickly battled her way out of the budding jam, however, by handling a bouncer back to the circle.

The Cowgirls got the leadoff on via walk starting the bottom of the fifth, but the Texas defense soon flexed its muscle. Rhodes was involved in two huge plays, spearing a line drive to third and doubling off a runner at first before racing up to field a bunt and firing a strike to first to end a once promising OSU threat.

The decisive inning eventually came in the bottom of the sixth as OSU loaded the bases with one out on a leadoff single, a walk and a bloop hit to left center. Factor stepped into the box and drove a shot down the right field line that rattled off the wall for an RBI single, scoring Rylee Bayless to cut the deficit to 2-1. Pinch hitter Sydney Springfield immediately followed with a two-RBI single to right center, shortstop Kiley Naomi hit a double just inside the third-base bag and left fielder Chelsea Alexander added a two-RBI single as Oklahoma State's advantage expanded to 6-2.

Suddenly in need of a big rally, Texas couldn't string anything together as OSU starter Samantha Show retired the Longhorns on three straight groundouts.

vs. Iowa State

Texas had golden chances to get on the board in each of the opening two innings against the Cyclones. UT put the first two aboard during the first inning on a Burke walk and a Jefferson single and eventually moved them into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Unfortunately for Texas, a pop-up to second and a bouncer back to the circle ended the once promising frame with no damage.

Rhodes kicked off the UT second with a double to right, but never moved any further as the next three Longhorns went down in order against Iowa State starter Emma Hylen.

It would be the Cyclones that jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth as a one-out Sally Woolpert single was cashed in on a two-run HR to center by designated player Talyn Lewis.

The Horns again got something started against Hylen in the bottom of the fifth as freshman pinch hitter Elicia Espinosa opened the frame by being hit by a pitch. With one retired, Burke laced a base knock just over short into left center and managed to beat a rundown to put two in scoring position for the Longhorns. Once again, the big hit wouldn't materialize as Jefferson lined sharply but right to third as ISU's Logan Schaben made the grab, turned and doubled off UT's runner trying to dive back into the bag to end another threat.

Texas christened its final at-bat with a sharp Rhodes single off the pitcher, but were again victimized by a double play as a 1-6-3 twin-killing soon cleared the bases. A bouncer back to the circle was subsequently handled by Hylen to conclude the Cyclones' victory.