No. 8/10 Softball tops UT Arlington and UTSA at Bevo Classic

Saturday, March 27

Austin, Texas

11 a.m. CT

University of Texas

22-3

UT Arlington

5-19

UT Arlington

Texas

No. 8/10 Softball tops UT Arlington and UTSA at Bevo Classic

03.27.2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Senior third baseman Shannon Rhodes tied a school record with three HR’s during the win over UTSA

AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon in Bevo Classic action at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 8/10 Texas softball (23-3) got a pitching gem from sophomore Shea O'Leary and a walk-off bunt to down UT Arlington (2-1) before using a school record-tying three HR's from senior third baseman Shannon Rhodes to blast by UTSA, 8-0 (5 inn.).

Important Notes

Against UTSA, Rhodes equaled former Texas player Tallie Thrasher's 11-year-old single-game record of three HR's established against No. 7 Missouri back on April 11, 2010.
Rhodes registered her second career multi-HR effort in the win over UTSA. Her previous occurrence came back on Feb. 27, 2021, against Mississippi State.
Rhodes took over the team HR lead (12) from junior Mary Iakopo (10). Rhodes is still well ahead of school single-season record holder Taylor Hoagland's (18 HR's in 2012; HR every 9.9 AB's) pace by hitting a HR every 6.2 AB's.
O'Leary struck out a career-high nine batters during the 2-1 win over UT Arlington.
The walk-off win against UT Arlington was the fourth walk-off victory for the Longhorns this season (second of more than five innings).
Freshman designated player Courtney Day registered her first career triple in the victory over UTSA.
Freshman outfielder Alyssa Popelka combined to go 5-for-5 during Saturday's two games and is hitting .857 (6-for-7) during the Bevo Classic.

Major Players

vs. UTA: Popelka (3-for-3, run); Iakopo (2-for-3); freshman catcher JJ Smith (1-for-3, run, double, steal); sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (walk-off RBI)

vs. UTSA: Rhodes (3-for-3, three runs, three HR's, six RBIs); freshman designated player Courtney Day (2-for-2, run, triple, RBI), Popelka (2-for-2, two runs, RBI)

In the Circle

vs. UTA: O'Leary was terrific in improving to 5-0, allowing one earned run on two hits with one walk and a career-high nine strikeouts over a complete-game effort.

vs. UTSA: Graduate transfer Molly Jacobsen (8-2) picked up the win after walking three and striking out five over 4.0 frames of two-hit work. Freshman Ryleigh White allowed one hit and K'ed two in a single inning of relief.

The Details

vs. UTA: It was Smith that ignited the Longhorns offense in the bottom of the second as the freshman catcher bashed a one-out double to the wall in right center. With two down, Popelka beat out a bunt single to station runners at the corners. The speed game soon paid off as the pair pulled a double steal to hand Texas a 1-0 lead.

UTA answered back with a run in the top of the third to tie things up at 1-1. With a pair of Mavs on base after a walk and a wild pitch on a strikeout that should have ended the inning, third baseman KJ Murphy took advantage by chopping a two-out RBI single up the middle.

O'Leary settled into a groove over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, retiring all nine batters she faced. The 6-2 right hander struck out the side in the fifth and added another K in the sixth to establish a new career-high with nine strikeouts.

The Mavs seriously threatened to break the deadlock in the top of the seventh. With catcher Sophie Wideman on first after a one-out base knock, a groundout and a passed ball moved pinch runner Jaden Hoelker to third with two retired. UTA shortstop Emily Evans hit a threatening liner up the middle, but from her defensive position at short, Parker raced over to make a terrific diving catch to preserve the tie.

Granted an opportunity to walk things off in the bottom of the seventh, the Longhorns didn't waste it. Popelka kick-started the action by singling to center. Rhodes followed with a base knock to left center, and suddenly, the Longhorns had two in scoring position. Parker stepped into the box and dropped a perfect bunt out in front of the plate as Popelka raced home from third to finalize the 2-1, walk-off win.

vs. UTSA: Texas wasted no time grabbing the lead against the Roadrunners as Rhodes started the bottom of the first by slamming her 10th HR of the season off the center field scoreboard.

With Jacobsen limiting UTSA to just one base runner (via error) over the opening two frames, Texas exploded for four more runs in the second to grab a 5-0 advantage. Smith opened the frame with a walk and soon raced around to score as Day rattled a triple off the wall in right center. Following a Popelka infield single, Rhodes stepped up and blasted her second HR of the day off the scoreboard.

The Roadrunners strung together a major third-inning threat by loading the bases with two outs via a single and consecutive walks. Jacobsen responded, however, by catching UTSA third baseman Madison Washington looking at a called strike three to escape a major jam.

Following Day and Popelka singles in the bottom of the fourth, Rhodes struck again with one retired by launching her third HR of the contest out to left to make it 8-0.

Needing one tally to keep the run-rule from being brought into play, UTSA got the first two aboard via an infield single and a hit-by-pitch to open the fifth against reliever White. The rookie hurler soon battled her way out of trouble, however, by registering two strikeouts and inducing a fielder's choice force to third.