The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
No. 7/9 Softball preview: Texas Tech
03.31.2021 | Softball
The Longhorns prep to open Big 12 Conference play by hosting Texas Tech over April 1-3
No. 7/9 Texas (24-3, 0-0 Big 12) hosts Texas Tech (16-13, 0-3 Big 12) | April 1-3 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Thursday, April 1
6:00pm Texas Tech vs. #7/9 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
Friday, April 2
6:00pm Texas Tech vs. #7/9 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
Saturday, April 3
1:00pm Texas Tech vs. #7/9 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
TEXAS CLEAR BAG POLICY: Please note that there is a Clear Bag Policy in effect for fans when attending Texas Athletic events. For more details, please visit this LINK
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Live Stats: LINK
Television: All three games are slated for broadcast on Longhorn Network and WATCH ESPN with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color).
Radio: Texas' games are scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can also be heard locally on 105.3 FM as part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- Texas enters Thursday with a 16-7 all-time record in Big 12 Conference openers. UT has only faced Texas Tech to begin the league campaign once back in 2012, winning 8-0 (6 inn.).
- Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Washington is within striking distance of a long-standing Texas career record. The Humble, Texas, native has 47 doubles, just two from surpassing Jodi Reeves' (1997-2000) program record mark of 48 doubles that has stood for more than 20 years.
- Senior Shannon Rhodes currently ranks SEVENTH in NCAA Division I in HR's (12) and RBIs (35). She's also 19th in total bases (72) and 20th in slugging percentage (.923).
- Junior catcher/utility Mary Iakopo is currently riding a 15-game reached base streak and a 13-game hitting streak (both are career longs). Over that stretch, the Carson, Calif., native is hitting .419 (18-for-43) with two doubles, four HR's, 18 RBIs and a 1.204 OPS.
- Texas is currently riding a seven-game winning streak. This is already the third winning skein of at least seven games for the 2021 Longhorns (streaks of 10, seven & seven games).
- The 2010 Longhorns set the school single-season record with 88 HR's (41 after 27 games). This year's Texas squad is ahead of that pace with 43 HR's after 27 games.
- No player in Texas history has hit more HR's over the first 27 games of the year than senior Shannon Rhodes has in 2021 (12 HR's). The closest to the mark was Tallie Thrasher (10 HR's in 27 games in 2007).
- Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson was listed at No. 2 in the March 18 version of ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays for her terrific diving catch during the fourth inning of the 4-0 shutout of No. 15 Louisiana.
- Over the past two seasons, Texas has posted a 48-6 overall record. Five of those six losses have come by just one run with the lone multiple-tally defeat occurring at No. 13 LSU on March 6, 2021, 7-2. Texas hasn't lost at home by more than one run since April 20, 2019, against Oklahoma (L, 2-9). That's a stretch of 45 home contests.
