No. 10/13 Softball splits on Friday at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship

Friday, May 14

Oklahoma City, Okla.

11 a.m. CT

University of Texas

38-10

#9/7 Oklahoma State

41-8

Texas

Oklahoma State

No. 10/13 Softball splits on Friday at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship

05.14.2021 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Longhorns left 12 runners stranded during a tough, 3-2 (9 inn.) loss to No. 9/7 Oklahoma State

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Friday at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship, No. 10/13 Texas softball (39-10) left 12 runners stranded in a difficult, 3-2 (9 inn.) loss to No. 9/7 Oklahoma State (41-8) before rebounding to complete pool play with a 7-4 win over Iowa State (31-20).

Important Notes

The Longhorns now wait for the completion of Friday night's games in order to learn their opponent and game time for Saturday's placing round at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship.
Texas is now 28-22 overall in 18 appearances at the Big 12 Championship dating back to 1997.
With two HR's against the Cyclones, the Longhorns have now hit multiple HR's in a game on 22 separate occasions this season.
Sophomore pitcher Shea O'Leary tossed a career-high 8.2 innings during the tough loss to No. 9/7 Oklahoma State.
Junior left fielder Lauren Burke led the UT offense average-wise at .500 (4-for-8) on Friday, while redshirt junior designated player Taylor Ellsworth (.429, 3-for-7, two RBIs) and sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (.400, 2-for-5, HR, three RBIs) topped the club in RBIs.
Texas is now 34-1 this season when out-hitting an opponent and 27-2 when scoring first in a game.

Major Players

vs. Oklahoma State: Redshirt junior designated player Taylor Ellsworth (3-for-4, walk, two RBIs); junior left fielder Lauren Burke (3-for-5)

vs. Iowa State: Sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (2-for-3, two runs, HR, three RBIs); senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes (2-for-3, two runs); sophomore designated player Colleen Sullivan (1-for-2, double, RBI); senior pinch hitter Kaitlyn Washington (1-for-1, run, HR, RBI); junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-4, run); Burke (1-for-3, RBI); freshman pinch hitter Alyssa Washington (1-for-1, RBI)

In the Circle

vs. Oklahoma State: Sophomore Shea O'Leary (12-4) suffered a tough loss after permitting two earned runs on nine hits with a walk and four K's over a career-high 8.2 innings of work.

vs. Iowa State: O'Leary (13-4) picked up the win after allowing four earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts over 6.1 frames. Graduate transfer Molly Jacobsen allowed one hit during two-thirds of an inning of relief.

The Details

vs. Oklahoma State: The Longhorns jumped in front in the top of the first behind a two-out RBI. With runners at the corners, after a Rhodes hit-by-pitch and a Burke single up the middle, Ellsworth stepped into the box and ripped a RBI single that ricocheted off the third-base bag and down the left field line to make it 1-0.

Jefferson kick-started another Texas rally with a single to open the top of the third. On a popped-up bunt in foul ground, the speedster somehow tagged up and advanced 60 feet into scoring position. Stationed at third following a fly out to right, Jefferson soon scampered home on another two-out Ellsworth RBI base knock to left as the lead expanded to 2-0.

Oklahoma State tied things up in the bottom of the third as shortstop Kiley Naomi hit a two-run HR down the left field line.

The story of the game offensively for the Longhorns was runners stranded as UT left 12 on in the contest, including two aboard in both the fourth and fifth innings.

Texas' biggest missed opportunity came in the top of the seventh as Burke and Ellsworth singles and a Parker walk loaded the bases full of Longhorns with only one retired. Oklahoma State reliever Carrie Eberle fought her way out of the jam, however, with a strikeout and by inducing a bouncer to third.

Oklahoma State threatened to walk the game off in the bottom of the seventh as the Cowgirls stationed runners at the corners with just one out. OSU left fielder Chelsea Alexander took off on a steal attempt of second but was cut down on a strong Iakopo throw from behind the plate for a huge second out. The OSU runner at third was soon left standing 60 feet from pay dirt as center fielder Chyenne Factor fouled out harmlessly to right.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Oklahoma State got a single through the right side from second baseman Karli Petty. O'Leary managed to strikeout Alexander in an apparent end to the frame, but the ball got away behind the plate. With Alexander on the run to first, Iakopo's throw from the left side of home plate was wide of first and rolled along the wall down the right field line. Junior MK Tedder raced over to corral the loose ball, but her throw home proved too late to get Petty as she crossed with an unearned game-winning run.

vs. Iowa State: Looking to put the disappointment of the day's opener behind them, the Longhorns wasted no time stringing together a run-scoring rally against Iowa State in the bottom of the first. Jefferson singled back to the circle to open Texas' first at-bat and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Burke continued her red-hot Friday at the dish by lacing a RBI single to right center for a 1-0 advantage.

Starting her second-straight game on Friday, O'Leary settled right into the circle, retiring the first 10 Cyclones she faced in the contest.

Iowa State finally managed to get something going with one down in the top of the fourth as singles from shortstop Sami Williams, catcher Mikayla Ramos and designated player Alesia Ranches all combined together for a run to dead-lock the contest at 1-1.

Things didn't remain tied for long as a Parker RBI single to center and a Sullivan RBI double down the left field line boosted Texas back in front in the bottom of the fourth, 3-1.

With O'Leary back in control after the one tough frame, Texas blew things open in the bottom of the sixth. Senior pinch hitter Kaitlyn Washington got the outburst started by launching a solo shot to right. Following a Rhodes base knock, Parker crushed a two-run bomb to right center. A two-out RBI single to center from freshman pinch hitter Alyssa Washington eventually boosted the Longhorns to a 7-1 lead.

Facing one final chance to battle back into the game, the Cyclones refused to go quietly in the seventh as three singles plated a run and knocked O'Leary out of the contest. Jacobsen entered in relief for Texas and allowed a RBI single and a run-scoring fielder's choice before inducing a pop-up to second to close out the 7-4 win.