No. 7/12 Softball loses series opener to No. 11/9 Oklahoma State, 3-1

Friday, April 30

Austin, Texas

2 p.m. CT

University of Texas

35-7, 9-4

#11/9 Oklahoma State

37-6, 12-1

Oklahoma State

Texas

No. 7/12 Softball loses series opener to No. 11/9 Oklahoma State, 3-1

04.30.2021 | Softball

Box Score

Texas’ offense managed a season-high eight hits off Cowgirl ace Carrie Eberle but left four runners stranded

AUSTIN, Texas – Following a one-hour and thirty-minute rain delay on Friday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 7/12 Texas softball (35-7, 9-4 Big 12 Conference) banged out a season-high eight hits off No. 11/9 Oklahoma State (37-6, 12-1 Big 12 Conference) ace Carrie Eberle, but was victimized by three double plays and left four runners stranded in dropping the series opener to the Cowgirls, 3-1.

Important Notes

Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson went 1-for-3 on Friday and now needs just seven more hits to break former Longhorns standout Brejae Washington's Texas career hits record (254).
Junior catcher Mary Iakopo blasted her 14th HR to climb within one of tying Shannon Rhodes for the team HR lead. The Carson, Calif., native is averaging a HR every 7.4 AB's to remain well ahead of the pace set by Taylor Hoagland in setting her school single-season record of 18 HR's back in 2012 (HR every 9.9 AB's).
Today's loss was the first for the Longhorns when out-hitting an opponent this year (now 30-1).
This marked Texas' first home loss by more than one run since April 20, 2019, a stretch of 53 home contests.
Texas' season-long 14-game home winning streak was ended by Friday's 3-1 defeat.
The Longhorns still lead their series over Oklahoma State by a total of 35-23, including 19-10 in Austin.

Major Players

Junior catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-3, run, HR, RBI); junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3); sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-3); senior center fielder Kaitlyn Washington (1-for-3); freshman right fielder JJ Smith (1-for-2); sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan (1-for-3); freshman designated player Courtney Day (1-for-3); junior left fielder Lauren Burke (1-for-3)

In the Circle

Sophomore Shea O'Leary (10-3) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on six hits with one strikeout in a complete-game effort.

The Details

Oklahoma State strung together a two-out scoring rally in the top of the first. With a runner aboard after a hit-by-pitch, designated player Hayley Busby and third baseman Sydney Pennington registered consecutive RBI doubles for a 2-0 OSU lead. A Reagan Wright single to left threatened to add another, but Burke came up with a strong throw to the plate allowing the Longhorns to catch Pennington in a rundown to end the frame.

The Longhorns managed their first two hits off Eberle in the bottom of the third as Sullivan and Smith singled to put two on with one out. Unfortunately, a bouncer to third and a strikeout left the duo in scoring position.

With O'Leary having settled down from the circle by retiring nine Cowgirls in a row from the second through the fourth innings, the Burnt Orange & White offense got to work in the bottom of the fourth.

Burke started the fourth with what appeared to be a double to the wall in left center. The Eugene, Ore., native was called out on appeal for missing first, however, to clear the base paths. That cost Texas a run as Iakopo stepped to the dish and immediately followed with a HR to left to cut the UT deficit to 2-1. After Parker and Day managed consecutive one-out singles to keep the offense going, Sullivan came to the plate and lifted a promising blooper to shallow right center. OSU's Chyenne Factor raced in, made the catch on the run and successfully doubled off Parker to end the outburst.

The Cowgirls threatened again in the top of the fifth as a hit batter, a bunt single and a throwing error stationed runners at the corners with no outs. Iakopo managed a huge play by throwing out a runner trying to steal second. O'Leary eventually concluded the threat by inducing a pop-up and a groundout.

Kaitlyn Washington led off the Texas fifth with a single to center but was soon wiped off the bags on a 4-6-3 double play. The Longhorns also got the leadoff on in the sixth, as Burke singled and moved to second with one out, but a lineout double play to short also killed that scoring chance.

Oklahoma State raised it advantage to 3-1 in the top of the sixth as first baseman Alysen Febrey hit a solo HR to left center.

Eberle closed things out in the bottom of the seventh by retiring the Longhorns in order on two groundouts and a fly out.