The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#9/7 Oklahoma State
No. 10/13 Softball preview: Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship
05.12.2021 | Softball
The Longhorns prep to open the postseason at the league's showcase event in Oklahoma City
No. 10/13 Texas (38-9, 12-6 Big 12) at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship | May 14-15 | Oklahoma City, Okla.
Pool Play Schedule:
Friday, May 14
11:00am #10/13 TEXAS vs. #9/7 Oklahoma State – ESPNU
2:00pm Iowa State vs. #10/13 TEXAS – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. (OG&E Energy Field & Integris Field)
Television: The Oklahoma State game is scheduled for live broadcast on ESPNU with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color). The Iowa State game is slated for broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Chad McKee (play-by-play) and DJ Sanchez (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 the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship holding a 27-21 overall record over 17 appearances in the event. UT has won the title on four occasions: 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005
- Our pool play schedule at the 2021 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship should look familiar as Texas played both Oklahoma State and Iowa State in pool play on Friday at the 2019 event. The Longhorns will be looking for more success this time after going 0-2 against the Cowgirls and Cyclones during that visit.
- Senior outfielder Shannon Rhodes has truly been one of the top offensive threats in the nation this season for the Longhorns as the Fort Worth, Texas, native currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division I in RBIs with 54. That RBI total is good for fourth all-time in a single-season in program history.
- The Longhorns have now hit multiple HR's in a game on 21 separate occasions this year. Texas' season-high was five HR's during wins at Houston (March 3) and against Tarleton State (March 13). Texas has also hit at least one HR in 34-of-47 contests this season.
- Three seems to be the magic number for Texas success as the Longhorns are 35-2 when scoring at least three times in a game this season and 3-7 when plating two-or-fewer runs.
- Janae Jefferson made the cut to 25 national finalists for the prestigious USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award (April 23) for the first time in her career. Texas joined Oklahoma & Oklahoma State as the three Big 12 schools with an inclusion.
- Sophomore pitcher Shea O'Leary is quickly becoming the team's late-game closer. The 6-2 right hander has made eight appearances out of the bullpen this season, posting three saves while registering a 0.82 ERA, a 1-0 record and 15 strikeouts over 17.0 innings. During her career, O'Leary is 4-2 with a 0.91 ERA, four saves and 32 K's in 38.1 frames of relief work (18 appearances).
- Texas' offense has been prolific for the majority of the 2021 season as the Longhorns rank third in NCAA Division I (as of May 10) in batting average (.355), fifth in on-base percentage (.432), sixth in slugging percentage (.597), eighth in scoring (7.02) and 10th in HR's-per-game (1.53).
- With 59 stolen bases so far, this marks the most swipes for a Texas team over its first 47 games of a season since stealing 75 over that stretch back in 2014 (went 82-of-99 that year).
- Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Washington is on the cusp of breaking a long-standing Texas career record. The Humble, Texas, native has now tied the mark with 48 doubles, just one from surpassing Jodi Reeves' (1997-2000) program record that has stood for more than 20 years.
- The 2010 Longhorns set the school single-season record with 88 HR's (had 69 after 47 games). This year's Texas squad is ahead of that pace with 72 HR's after 47 games. UT's 72 HR's this season are already the second-most in a single campaign in program history.
- No player in Texas history has hit more HR's over the first 47 games of the year than senior Shannon Rhodes and junior Mary Iakopo have in 2021 (15 HR's). The closest to the mark were Lindsey Stephens (14 HR's over the first 47 games of 2014) and school single-season record holder Taylor Hoagland (14 HR's over the first 47 games in 2012).
