No. 8/10 Softball rallies past South Dakota, 6-5

Friday, March 26

Austin, Texas

1 p.m. CT (tape delayed until 10 p.m. CT)

University of Texas

21-3

South Dakota

4-21

South Dakota

Texas

No. 8/10 Softball rallies past South Dakota, 6-5

03.26.2021 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn their largest comeback win since 2019

AUSTIN, Texas – Trailing by four runs in the bottom of the sixth on Friday afternoon in Bevo Classic action at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 8/10 Texas softball (21-3) exploded for five tallies on four hits to battle past South Dakota, 6-5.

Important Notes

Texas' four-run, sixth-inning deficit was the largest the Longhorns have faced this season while rallying to victory and the largest in any UT comeback victory since rallying from a 4-0 deficit to win 7-5 at No. 5 Alabama in the NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional back on May 14, 2019.
Redshirt junior Taylor Ellsworth earned her first career playing time in the outfield (right) during the match-up against South Dakota.
Ellsworth extended her career-long streak of reaching base safely to 15 games. Over that stretch, the Georgetown, Texas, native is batting .457 (16-for-35) with nine extra-base hits and 14 RBIs.
Junior catcher Mary Iakopo is now riding a 10-game hitting streak and stretched her reached base streak to 12 games, while sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker improved her reached-base streak to 11 consecutive contests.
Texas is a perfect 18-0 this year when out-hitting its opponent and 13-1 when scoring in the first inning.
Texas has hit 40 HR's this season over its first 24 games. The 2010 Longhorns squad that set the school record (88 HR's) had 39 HR's after the opening 24 contests.

Major Players

Redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth (1-for-3, run, double, two RBIs); sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (2-for-3, two runs, double, HR, RBI); junior catcher Mary Iakopo (2-for-3, run, RBI); junior left fielder Lauren Burke (0-for-2, sac fly, two RBIs)

In the Circle

Sophomore Shea O'Leary (4-0) picked up the win after allowing just two hits and striking out three over 5.0 innings of relief. As the starter, freshman Courtney Day permitted five unearned runs on three hits with two walks and two K's in 2.0 frames.

The Details

A key Texas error helped South Dakota jump to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first. With one runner already aboard on a bloop single, a Texas misplay near the second base bag put two on the base paths with still just one out. After a fielder's choice force at third, USD's Lauren Wobken laced a RBI single to right for a 1-0 advantage. A strikeout should have brought the inning to a close, but the previous UT miscue allowed left fielder Courtney Wilson the opportunity to lace a two-run single to left to boost the USD advantage to 3-0.

Parker answered back for the Longhorns in the bottom of the first by launching a solo HR to left center to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Coyotes added two more unearned runs in the third to extend their lead. After a wild pitch on a strikeout allowed second baseman Lauren Wobken to reach leading off the frame, an error on a bouncer back to the circle and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs. That set the stage for a Gabby Moser sacrifice fly and a Dylan Underwood RBI groundout that made it 5-1.

Looking to fight its way back into the game, Texas managed to get senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes on via a one-out single in the bottom of the third. Unfortunately for the Horns, a liner to second was caught and thrown behind the runner for an inning-ending double play to conclude any potential threat.

In a relief appearance, O'Leary kept the UT deficit from expanding any further as the Castaic, Calif., native eventually retired 13 Coyotes in a row from the third through the seventh innings.

The Burnt Orange & White loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the sixth on a Rhodes bunt single, a Parker bloop double to right and a Colleen Sullivan walk. With the decisive scoring chance at hand, Texas took full advantage as Iakopo lined a RBI single through the left side. Ellsworth followed with a two-run double down into the left field corner to pull the Longhorns within one run at 5-4. Burke then stepped into the box and launched a high fly to deep right center. USD's Makayla Tsagalis drifted back to the wall to make the grab and stumbled. Her eventual throw back into the infield proved too soft as the Longhorns took advantage to plate two runs on the sacrifice fly.

Suddenly needing just three outs for a win, O'Leary rolled through the Coyote line-up in order in the seventh to complete the comeback victory.