No. 10/11 Softball takes series opener from New Mexico, 5-3

Friday, March 19

Austin, Texas

6 p.m. CT

University of Texas

18-3

New Mexico

1-19

New Mexico

Texas

No. 10/11 Softball takes series opener from New Mexico, 5-3

03.19.2021 | Softball

Box Score

Freshman pitcher Courtney Day earned the win for the Longhorns with five innings of hitless relief work

AUSTIN, Texas – A strong relief performance by freshman pitcher Courtney Day and HR's from both sophomore catcher Colleen Sullivan and freshman third baseman Bree Cantu proved enough for No. 10/11 Texas softball (18-3) to nab the series opener from New Mexico on Friday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 5-3.

Important Notes

After battling out of an early 2-0 hole against New Mexico, Texas registered its fifth come-from-behind win of the season when trailing at any point of a game.
A trio of Longhorns pitchers took a combined no-hit effort 5.1 innings before allowing a single up the middle to UNM center fielder Andrea Howard in the sixth.
With two HR's against New Mexico, Texas has now hit two-or-more big flies in a game 10 times in 2021.
With a fourth-inning double, redshirt junior designated player Taylor Ellsworth extended her streak of reaching base safely to a career-high 13 consecutive games.
Day's five innings of relief marked the most frames she's worked in a game so far in 2021.
Sullivan's HR was her third of the season, while Cantu's was the second of her collegiate career.

Major Players

Sullivan (2-for-2, run, HR, RBI), Cantu (2-for-2, run, walk, HR, three RBIs); sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-3, run, RBI); Ellsworth (1-for-2, double)

In the Circle

Day (2-0) picked up the win in the circle behind 5.0 innings of no-hit relief work with a walk and two K's. Sophomore Shea O'Leary earned her first save of the year by allowing one earned run on six hits with two K's over 2.0 innings out of the bullpen.

The Details

New Mexico broke through to score two runs in the top of the first without the benefit of a hit. After the initial three Lobos of the game got on base via walk against freshman Texas starter Ryleigh White, second baseman Rachael Hathoot got UNM on the board via a run-scoring fielder's choice. A two-out double steal, with runners stationed at the corners, quickly made it 2-0.

Bidding to answer right back, Texas managed to get two on in the bottom of the first as Sullivan and junior first baseman Mary Iakopo drew consecutive two-out walks. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, a fly out to left center left the duo stranded.

It was Sullivan that managed the first hit for either team by driving a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the third.

Texas finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth against UNM starter Emma Guindon. Ellsworth kicked things off with a double down the left field line. RBI singles from Parker and Cantu soon followed to deadlock the contest at 2-2.

With Day humming along to the tune of 10 straight Lobos retired from the first through the fourth innings, the Longhorns added another run in the fifth on Sullivan's solo blast to left.

Cantu added some insurance to make it 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth as the League City, Texas, native followed freshman pinch hitter JJ Smith's leadoff walk with a two-run shot to left.

Suddenly down to its final three outs in the seventh, New Mexico continued to fight. Right fielder Taryn Young started a one-out rally with a double. Singles from designated player Peyton Robinson and Howard combined to plate one and cut the UNM deficit to 5-3. With runners at the corners and two outs, O'Leary finished things off by inducing a Hathoot liner to second to end the game.