The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Thursday, May 23
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
8 p.m. CT
University of Texas
at
#5/4 Alabama
No. 9 Softball preview: NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional
05.22.2019 | Softball
The Longhorns (45-15) prep to battle the Crimson Tide (55-7) with a berth in the WCWS on the line
Texas - NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional Media Supplement
No. 9-seed Texas (45-15) at the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional | May 23-25 | Rhoads Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Schedule:
Thursday, May 23
8 p.m. CT NO. 9-SEED TEXAS at No. 8-seed Alabama – ESPN – LINK
Friday, May 24
8 p.m. CT NO. 9-SEED TEXAS at No. 8-seed Alabama – ESPN – LINK
Saturday, May 25
1 p.m. CT NO. 9-SEED TEXAS at No. 8-seed Alabama – ESPN – LINK
(if necessary)
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Rhoads Stadium)
Live Stats: LINK
Television: All three games are expected to be broadcast on ESPN with Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (color) and Jessica Mendoza (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:
- By winning the NCAA Austin Regional, Texas advanced to its fifth all-time NCAA Super Regional (2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2019). This marks the first time that the Longhorns have ever had to go on the road for the Supers. UT holds a 7-2 all-time record in the event and moved on to the WCWS in 2005, 2006 and 2013.
- Texas' offense is beginning to make its mark on the team single-season record books. UT has already set a new record for doubles (91) in 2019 and currently ranks fifth in hits (468 - four from climbing to fourth). The Horns rate just outside the all-time top five in runs (305 - 5th place is 322), triples (13 - 5th is 14) and RBIs (272 - 5th is 291).
- Watch out for junior third baseman Shannon Rhodes in NCAA play. The Fort Worth, Texas, native led the Longhorns with a .467 (7-for-15) average in the Austin Regional and now owns a career NCAA Tournament hitting mark of .452 (28-62) over 23 postseason games with four HR's and 19 RBIs.
- The Longhorns pitching staff currently ranks in a tie with Florida State, Drake & Virginia Tech for THIRD IN THE NATION in shutouts with 22. Oklahoma leads the way with 26 followed by Florida (24).
- Junior pitcher Miranda Elish loves the NCAA Tournament as the Crown Point, Ind., native is 12-1 all-time in the event with a 1.56 ERA over 16 appearances with 95 strikeouts over 81 innings.
- The Longhorns offense has been dangerous with the bases loaded in 2019, hitting .434 (23-for-53) as a team while seven 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 (4-for-5) and Lauren Burke (3-for-6).
- 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 .413 average (26-for-63), 13 runs scored, five HR's and 16 RBIs while OPSing 1.169. She's also reached base safely in 19-of-22 games over that stretch. Iakopo batted a ridiculous .800 (8-for-10) overall back during the three-game series against No. 1 Oklahoma.
- With 91 doubles through 60 games (1.52 doubles-per-game), the Longhorns have now BROKEN the previous school single-season mark of 86 doubles set by the 2012 team. UT IS TIED FOR 18TH IN NCAA DIVISION I IN TOTAL DOUBLES.
- 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 played the SEVENTH-TOUGHEST schedule in the nation and owns 31 victories over current RPI Top 100 opponents (eight over RPI Top 25).
- Texas freshman pitcher Shealyn O'Leary currently LEADS ALL OF NCAA DIVISION I IN ERA AT 0.54, a staggering 0.48 ahead of UCLA standout Rachel Garcia (1.02). The UT rookie starter has allowed just seven earned runs in her first 91 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 eighth in NCAA Division in walks-per-seven innings at 0.92. She's walked only 12 in 91 innings.
- Look out for Texas during the fourth inning as the Longhorns have now outscored opponents in the frame, 84-15. Overall, UT has scored 27% of its total runs in the fourth inning this season.
- With 60 stolen bases so far, this marks the most swipes for a Texas team over its first 60 games of a season since stealing 82 over that stretch back in 2014.
- Watch out for Texas with two outs in an inning. So far through 60 games, the Burnt Orange & White are batting .302 (159-of-508) with 114 two-out RBIs (42% 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 45-of-60 games this year while averaging 7.8 hits-per-game. The Longhorns have lost eight of the 14 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 .313 (159-of-508) in such instances. Lauren Burke leads the team with 23 hits while Janae Jefferson leads in average (.447 - 21-of-47) in such situations.
- Texas sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson now has enough at-bats to qualify for the Longhorns career record book. With a .395 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 34-3 in games when scoring first (only losses to No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 14 Oklahoma State and Sam Houston State), 15-2 when scoring in the first inning and 38-7 when out-hitting opponents.
Players Mentioned
INF
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UTL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball