The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Connecticut
No. 7 Softball stays unbeaten with wins over UConn and Ole Miss
02.28.2021 | Softball
The Longhorns hit .474 and blasted four HR’s over the two contests while out-scoring the foes, 21-4
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Texas softball (8-0) broke out the "lumber" on Sunday at the Lone Star State Invitational at Red & Charline McCombs Field as the Longhorns combined for 26 hits, bashed four total HR's and out-scored its opponents, 21-4, in a sweep of UConn (16-2, 5 inn.) and Ole Miss (5-2).
Important Notes
- Janae Jefferson went 5-for-7 (.714) combined over Sunday's two contests and has now reached base safely in 25 straight games dating back to the 2020 season. That 25-game streak is tied for the fifth-longest in Texas history with former Longhorns player Loryn Johnson (March 13-April 25, 2009).
- With a HR against UConn, junior catcher Mary Iakopo homered for the fourth consecutive game. She became the first Longhorns player to hit HR's in four straight games since former Texas All-American outfielder Lindsey Stephens blasted a big fly in five straight contests back in May of 2016.
- Texas has now opened the year at 8-0 for the second straight season and for the eighth time in program history.
- Senior outfielder Shannon Rhodes' HR against UConn was her third over a two-game stretch. She now has a team-best four HR's and 13 RBIs in 2021.
- The Texas offense raised its season team batting average to .384 and now has 30 extra-base hits, including 12 HR's, while out-scoring its eight opponents, 62-15.
- Texas won its first all-time meeting against UConn and improved to 6-1 all-time against Ole Miss.
- Graduate transfer Molly Jacobsen fired a complete-game in Sunday's second contest to beat her old Ole Miss squad. The Adel, Iowa, native played for the Rebels in 2019 & 2020.
- Freshman shortstop Alyssa Washington bashed her first collegiate HR in the win over UConn.
Major Players
vs. UConn – Senior third baseman Shannon Rhodes (2-for-2, three runs, walk, HR, three RBIs); junior catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-2, three runs, HR, three RBIs); junior right fielder Lauren Burke (1-for-3, run, HR, three RBIs); freshman shortstop Alyssa Washington (2-for-2, run, HR, RBI); senior left fielder Kaitlyn Washington (1-for-2, double, two RBIs); sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan (1-for-1, run, double, RBI)
vs. Ole Miss – Jefferson (3-for-4, three RBIs); Kaitlyn Washington (2-for-4), freshman center fielder Alyssa Popelka (1-for-2, run, RBI), freshman pinch hitter Courtney Day (1-for-1, RBI)
In the Circle
vs. UConn – Freshman Ryleigh White started and earned the win after allowing two earned runs on two hits with seven walks and five K's over 4.0 innings. Junior Ariana Adams entered in the fifth and fired a perfect inning of relief.
vs. Ole Miss – Graduate transfer Molly Jacobsen fired a complete-game against her old team, improving to 3-0 overall while allowing two earned runs on nine hits and striking out six.
The Details
vs. UConn – For the sixth time in seven games in 2021, Texas put at least one run up in the first inning as the Longhorns struck for three runs on two hits against UConn starter Payton Kinney.
With Rhodes & Iakopo aboard via a walk and failed fielder's choice, respectively, sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan followed with a RBI double to left center for a quick 1-0 lead. After a pop-up, Kaitlyn Washington stepped into the batter's box and blasted her 44th career double to the wall in right, plating two more as the first-inning advantage grew to 3-0.
After leaving a runner stranded in the first, UConn loaded the bases against White with two outs in the second on a double, a walk and an infield single. That set the stage for a bases-loaded walk and a run-scoring wild pitch as the Huskies cut their deficit to 3-2.
Alyssa Washington kicked off the Texas second by bashing her first career collegiate HR over the wall in left to make it 4-2. That set a powerful tone as the Longhorns eventually sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame while putting seven runs up on the scoreboard. Included in the outburst were three-run HR's off the bats of both Rhodes and Burke as UT expanded its advantage to 10-2.
The Burnt Orange & White onslaught continued into the third as Iakopo made it four straight games with a HR by hammering a three-run shot off the scoreboard in center.
Run-scoring singles off the bats of Texas subs Alyssa Popelka, Brianna Cantu and London Marder in the fourth finalized the Longhorns offensive count at 16 runs.
After the first two Huskies reached on walks to begin the top of the fifth, the call was made to summon Adams in from the Texas bullpen. The junior right hander quickly closed the door on UConn by retiring the next three batters in order to finalize the run-rule triumph.
vs. Ole Miss – The Rebels started off quickly against former teammate Jacobsen in the top of the first as Blaise Biringer chopped an infield single back to the circle and Jessica Puk doubled just inside the chalk down the right field line. After an Ole Miss K, third baseman Paige Smith bounced out to short for a RBI and a 1-0 UM lead.
Texas got to Ole Miss starter Savannah Diederich in the bottom of the second to the tune of three two-out runs on three hits. Alyssa Washington kicked things off by drawing a walk before freshman Jordyn Whitaker blasted a double to left center to station two Longhorns in scoring position. From there, a Popelka RBI slap single to first and a two-RBI Jefferson base knock to center moved Texas in front, 3-1.
Looking to answer right back in the top of the third, Ole Miss quickly loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive singles and a hit-by-pitch. Jacobsen caught UM designated player Abbey Latham looking at a called strike three for a big first out. The Adel, Iowa, native then handled a soft bouncer back to the circle and tossed underhanded to the plate for a force before inducing a grounder to second to escape a major jam.
Texas strung together another two-out scoring outburst in the bottom of the fifth. With two on, Day and Jefferson delivered valuable back-to-back RBI singles for insurance to boost the Longhorns advantage to 5-1.
Jacobsen kept the Rebels quieter down the stretch until the top of the seventh when first baseman Gabby Alvarez led off the frame with a solo HR to cut the gap to 5-2. The Rebels added a bunt single, but nothing else, as UT's hurler retired the final three she faced in order to complete the Texas triumph.
