The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
26-3, 2-0
Texas Tech
16-15, 0-5
No. 7/9 Softball rolls past Texas Tech to take Big 12 series, 10-1 (5 inn.)
04.02.2021 | Softball
Freshman designated player Jordyn Whitaker blasted her first career grand slam during the victory
AUSTIN, Texas – Three multi-run offensive innings, highlighted by freshman designated player Jordyn Whitaker's first career grand slam, backed an efficient outing from graduate transfer pitcher Molly Jacobsen as No. 7/9 Texas softball (26-3, 2-0 Big 12 Conference) secured a series victory over Texas Tech (16-15, 0-5 Big 12 Conference) behind a commanding, 10-1 (5 inn.) win on Friday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
Important Notes
- Whitaker's grand slam was the second of the season for the Longhorns (previous was Shannon Rhodes on March 12 against Texas Southern) and the first of her brief collegiate career.
- Junior catcher Mary Iakopo's first-inning single extended her career-long hitting streak to 15 games and her career-best streak of reaching base safely to 17 games.
- Texas registered seven two-out RBIs in the win over the Red Raiders to give the squad 77 for the season. Overall, 37% of the Longhorns 210 total RBIs have come with two retired in a frame in 2021.
- Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson now owns a team-high 14 multi-hit efforts in 23 games played this season and has reached base safely in 21 of her 23 appearances.
- At 26-3 overall, this edition of the Burnt Orange & White remains tied with the 2011 Longhorns for the third-best start to a campaign in program history.
- Texas improved to 21-1 at McCombs Field in 2021 and is now 64-9 at home under the guidance of head coach Mike White.
- Sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker blasted her career-high third HR of the season during a first-inning outburst.
- Jacobsen became the first Texas pitcher to reach double-figures in wins this season by improving to 10-2 overall from the circle.
Major Players
Whitaker (1-for-2, run, grand slam HR, four RBIs); Jefferson (3-for-3, two runs); Parker (1-for-2, run, walk, HR, two RBIs); junior catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-3, run, RBI)
In the Circle
Jacobsen (10-2) earned the victory after allowing just one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work.
The Details
Texas Tech used the long ball to grab a first-inning lead as center fielder Karli Hamilton hit a two-out solo HR to center to make it 1-0.
Bidding to answer right back, the Longhorns got a leadoff bunt from Jefferson to kick start what eventually became a three-run outburst. With the UT speedster in scoring position and two retired, Iakopo drove a RBI single to center to tie the game. Parker immediately followed by stepping into the box and blasting a two-run HR off the scoreboard in center to make it 3-1.
The Red Raiders threatened again in the top of the second as Breanna Russell's infield single and a Kennedy Crites double down the left field line stationed two in scoring position with two down. Jacobsen eventually struck out the side around the two hits as the Adel, Iowa, native caught second baseman Alanna Barrazza looking at strike three to leave the duo stranded.
The Longhorns strung together another two-out rally in the third off TTU starter Erin Edmoundson. Parker walked, redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth singled sharply to short and junior left fielder Lauren Burke also earned a free pass to load the bases. That set the stage for Whitaker's fireworks as the Jacksonville, Texas, product somehow reached across the plate and half swung while launching a grand slam out to center for a 7-1 lead.
With Jacobsen in the middle of retiring eight straight Red Raiders over a stretch from the second through the fifth innings, Texas brought the run-rule into play during the bottom of the fourth. Singles to start the frame from Jefferson and Rhodes, a sac bunt by sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan, two Tech errors and a Burke RBI groundout all combined for three tallies to boost the UT advantage out to 10-1.
From there, Texas Tech managed a one-out Crites single up the middle in the top of the fifth, but nothing else as Jacobsen induced a fly out to left and a chopper to first to conclude the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jacobsen, Molly (10-2)
L: Edmoundson (7-6)
Batting:
2B: Crites,K 1
HR: Hamilton,K 1
RBI: Hamilton,K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hamilton,K 1
Batting:
HR: Parker, McKenzie 1 ; Whitaker, Jordyn 1
RBI: Sullivan, Colleen 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Parker, McKenzie 2 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Whitaker, Jordyn 4
SH: Rhodes, Shannon 1 ; Sullivan, Colleen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Rhodes, Shannon 1 ; Corona, Camille 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Parker, McKenzie 2 ; Ellsworth, Taylor 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Whitaker, Jordyn 1
SB: Parker, McKenzie 1
