No. 9/12 Softball sweeps Saturday doubleheader from Kansas

Saturday, April 24

Austin, Texas

1 p.m. CT

University of Texas

33-6, 7-3

Kansas

22-18, 2-8

Kansas

Texas

No. 9/12 Softball sweeps Saturday doubleheader from Kansas

04.24.2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Eight different Longhorns managed hits while out-scoring the Jayhawks by a combined score of 18-2

AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 9/12 Texas softball (34-6, 8-3 Big 12 Conference) got hits from eight different Longhorns and strong pitching performances from freshman Ryleigh White and sophomore Shea O'Leary in sweeping a league doubleheader from Kansas (22-19, 2-9 Big 12 Conference), 8-1 and 10-1 (5 inn.).

Important Notes

The Longhorns held a make-up "Senior Day" for 2020 grads Reagan Hathaway and Kaitlyn Slack prior to game two. The duo were denied their ceremony last spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Texas improved to 25-1 at McCombs Field this season to move within two home victories of tying the 2019 Longhorns for the fifth-most home wins in program history.
Texas now owns 14 run-rule victories this season, just one from equaling the 2019 Longhorns' single-season record (15).
Senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes continued her torrid HR pace by hitting her team-leading 15th of the season in Saturday's opener to remain on a school record pace of a HR every 8.0 AB's. Back during the 2012 season, former Longhorns standout Taylor Hoagland established the school single-season mark of 18 HR's by hitting a big fly every 9.9 AB's.
Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson managed two combined hits on Saturday to move within nine of breaking former Longhorns standout Brejae Washington's career hits mark (254).
Texas is a perfect 29-0 when out-hitting opponents this year and improved to 90-11 under the guidance of head coach Mike White when putting more hits up on the scoreboard.
Texas is now 41-14 all-time against Kansas, including 20-4 in Austin match-ups, and has won the last 11 series meetings in a row.

Major Players

Game 1: Senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes (2-for-4, two runs, HR, two RBIs); freshman catcher JJ Smith (1-for-3, triple, two RBIs); junior left fielder Lauren Burke (1-for-4, two RBIs); junior designated player Mary Iakopo (1-for-1, run, double, RBI); sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan (1-for-1, two walks, RBI)

Game 2: Rhodes (2-for-3, double, three RBIs); Burke (1-for-3, double, two RBIs); junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3, two runs, walk, two RBIs)

In the Circle

Game 1: Freshman Ryleigh White (5-1) earned the win after allowing just one hit, walking three and striking out three over 4.2 scoreless innings of relief.

Game 2: Sophomore Shea O'Leary (10-2) permitted one earned run on five hits with three walks and two K's during a complete-game effort.

The Details

Game 1: Kansas strung together a first-inning rally off Jacobsen to grab a quick 1-0 lead. Center fielder Brittany Jackson got it started with a leadoff single to right before advancing to second on a sac bunt. After a hit batter, catcher Shelby Gayre drove a one-out RBI base knock to left.

After leaving two stranded in the first, the Longhorns successfully grabbed the advantage in the bottom of the second. With one down and both sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker and freshman third baseman Alyssa Washington aboard on singles, rookie catcher JJ Smith lined a two-run triple down into the right field corner to make it 2-1.

The Longhorns offense erupted for three runs in the bottom of the third. With Rhodes (single) and freshman right fielder Jordyn Whitaker (hit-by-pitch) on base to start the frame, junior designated player Mary Iakopo blasted a RBI double into left center. Junior left fielder Lauren Burke stepped up and immediately followed with a two-run base knock through the right side to expand the gap to 5-1.

With reliever White preventing the Jayhawks offense from adding anything, the Burnt Orange & White used the long ball to put two more runs up in the bottom of the fourth for a 7-1 advantage. Jefferson kicked the outburst off with a perfect bunt single and quickly came around to score on Rhodes' team-leading 15th HR of the season.

White demonstrated impressive toughness as Kansas threatened with two on and two out in the top of the fifth. Third baseman Ashlyn Anderson hit a sharp liner right back to the circle that rattled hard off the hurler's collarbone/neck area. Somehow, White managed to pick up the ball and throw on to first for an inning-ending out.

After being hit in the circle, White headed right back out to start the sixth. The Washington Township, N.J., product wasted no time by retiring the Jayhawks in order with her second strikeout.

A Texas error and a Kansas walk put two more on for KU with two retired in the top of the seventh. White finished things off, however, by striking out Gayre to end the contest.

Game 2: Kansas threatened right from the start of game two, putting two aboard with one out on a Jackson leadoff single and a Morgyn Wynne double to right. That's when the Texas defense made its first of several big plays in the contest as Anderson dropped a sac bunt up the third-base line. UT's Bree Cantu raced in from third to corral the ball and tossed home to Smith for a tag to prevent a KU run.

After leaving two aboard in the first, Texas quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the second on three straight walks to Parker, freshman Whitaker (14-pitch at-bat) and Smith. A two-RBI Jefferson single to right center, an errant throw on a steal attempt and a Rhodes RBI double just inside the third-base bag and down into the corner boosted the Longhorns to a 4-0 advantage.

In the top of the third, Kansas threatened again by packing the bags with one down. Anderson stepped up and hit a chopper back to O'Leary in the circle. The 6-2 right hander tossed home for another force at the plate. Designated player Madison Hirsch popped a ball up to the left side of the plate in foul ground. From her catching position, Smith fought around the umpire to race over and make an inning-ending diving grab.

The Burnt Orange & White offense exploded for six runs on just three hits in the bottom of the third to grab a 10-0 lead. A Taylor Ellsworth sac fly, a two-RBI Rhodes single and Burke's two-run double to left center did the major damage during the assault.

Two hit batters and a base knock to right center got Kansas in business to begin the top of the fourth. O'Leary again fought her way out of danger on a strikeout, a third fielder's choice force at the plate of the contest and a bouncer to third.

The Jayhawks left stranded count grew to nine for the game after loading the bases again starting the fifth. A 6-4-3 double play eventually broke up O'Leary's shutout bid as KU plated its only run of the contest. Rhodes soon raced in from center to make a sliding catch of Taryn Travieso's fly ball to short left center to complete the run-rule victory.