The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Sam Houston State
No. 9 Softball preview: NCAA Austin Regional
05.16.2019 | Softball
The Longhorns are prepping to host the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013.
Texas - NCAA Regional Media Supplement
No. 9 Texas (41-14) hosts the NCAA Austin Regional | May 17-19 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Friday, May 17
1 p.m. CT Texas A&M vs. Houston – ESPN3 – LINK
4 p.m. CT Sam Houston State vs. No. 9 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK - LINK
Saturday, May 18
1 p.m. CT Game No. 3 (Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2)
3:30 p.m. CT Game No. 4 (Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2)
6 p.m. CT Game No. 5 (Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3)
Sunday, May 19
3:30 p.m. CT Game No. 6 (Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5)
6 p.m. CT Game No. 7 (rematch of Game 6 - if necessary)
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 advance in the East Campus Garage for $5 here: LINK
NCAA Austin Regional Headquarters: LINK
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Live Stats: Game 1: LINK | Game 2: LINK
Television: All Texas games at the NCAA Austin Regional are expected to be broadcast 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 earned a No. 9 national seed during Sunday's NCAA Selection Show and the right to host a regional in Austin for the first time since receiving a No. 4 seed and hosting back in 2013.
- The Longhorns have hosted seven previous NCAA Austin Regionals (2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), successfully advancing five times (2003, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013).
- The Longhorns own quite a storied history in the NCAA Tournament having earned 20 overall bids, including 15 in a row dating back to 2005. Texas owns a 52-39 overall tourney record and a 38-27 mark in regional action. UT has won six regional titles, with its last coming back in 2013 on the way to its most recent of five Women's College World Series appearances (1998, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013). The Longhorns were 1-2 in the 2018 NCAA Seattle Regional with a 2-1 win over No. 25 Minnesota before dropping consecutive games to No. 5 Washington (2-1) and No. 25 Minnesota (0-3).
- Over her first two seasons, Texas junior outfielder Kaitlyn Washington has proven to be one of the program's all-time great NCAA Regional hitters. She currently ranks second in UT history in batting average during regional play with a .523 average (11-for-21) to go with six doubles. She hit .778 with four doubles in 2018 on the way to earning NCAA Seattle Regional All-Tournament honors.
- With 86 doubles through 55 games (1.56 doubles-per-game), the Longhorns have now EQUALED the school single-season mark of 86 doubles set by the 2012 team. UT IS TIED FOR 18TH IN NCAA DIVISION I IN TOTAL DOUBLES.
- A pair of Longhorns have been on quite a tear at the plate over the last nine games. Sophomore first baseman Lauren Burke is hitting .480 (12-for-25) over that stretch with seven RBIs, while junior outfielder Kaitlyn Washington is batting .478 (11-for-23) with four doubles and eight RBIs while riding a career-high-tying nine-game hitting streak entering NCAA play.
- The Longhorns offense has been dangerous with the bases loaded in 2019, hitting .412 (21-for-51) as a team while six different Longhorns have two-or-more hits. Leading the way are Miranda Elish (3-for-3, grand slam), Janae Jefferson (4-for-5), Mary Iakopo (3-for-4) and Lauren Burke (3-for-6).
- Freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary hasn't allowed an earned run over her last 19.1 innings of work. That streak dates back to April 3 and includes seven total appearances. She went 17 days between appearances from April 10-27 because of an ankle injury.
- With a win against Baylor on May 4, the Longhorns reached the 40-win mark for the 12th time in program history and the first time since winning 51 games back in 2013.
- Texas was listed at No. 7 in the post-Selection Show release of the NCAA's Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). UT has played the SEVENTH-TOUGHEST schedule in the nation and owns 27 victories over current RPI Top 100 opponents (eight over RPI Top 25).
- The Longhorns pitching staff currently ranks in a tie with North Dakota State for SIXTH IN THE NATION in shutouts with 20. Oklahoma leads the way with 23 followed by Virginia Tech (22), Drake, Florida and Florida State (21 each).
- Since March 31 at No. 21/16 Oklahoma State, sophomore catcher Mary Iakopo has been on fire at the plate, leading the Longhorns with a .449 average (22-for-49), 11 runs scored, four HR's and 12 RBIs while OPSing 1.253. She's also reached base safely in 15-of-17 games over that stretch. Iakopo batted a ridiculous .800 (8-for-10) overall during the three-game series against No. 1 Oklahoma.
- Texas freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary currently LEADS ALL OF NCAA DIVISION I IN ERA AT 0.46, a staggering 0.42 ahead of No. 2 listed Drake standout Nicole Newman. The UT rookie starter has allowed just six earned runs in her first 90.1 innings of collegiate work.
- 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 10th in NCAA Division in walks-per-seven innings at 0.93. She's walked only 12 in 90.1 innings.
- Look out for Texas during the fourth inning as the Longhorns have now outscored opponents in the frame, 83-15. Overall, UT has scored 29% of its total runs in the fourth inning this season.
- With 56 stolen bases so far, this marks the most swipes for a Texas team over its first 55 games of a season since stealing 80 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 55 games, the Burnt Orange & White are batting .306 (144-of-470) with 110 two-out RBIs (43% of the team's total RBIs have come with two outs this season). Kaitlyn Washington leads the team with 19 two-out RBIs.
- Texas' offense has out-hit opponents in 41-of-55 games this year while averaging 7.9 hits-per-game. The Longhorns have lost eight of the 13 games in which they've been out-hit - No. 8/7 LSU, No. 22/RV Minnesota, No. 21/16 Oklahoma State (twice), No. 15 Texas Tech, No. 1 Oklahoma (twice) and Iowa State.
- The Longhorns have been strong this season with runners in scoring position, hitting .307 (146-of-475) in such instances. Lauren Burke leads the team with 22 hits while Janae Jefferson leads in average (.444 - 20-of-45) in such situations.
- Texas sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson now has enough at-bats to qualify for the Longhorns career record book. With a .401 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 32-2 in games when scoring first (only losses to No. 1 Oklahoma & No. 14 Oklahoma State), 14-2 when scoring in the first inning and 35-6 when out-hitting opponents.
