No. 7/12 Softball’s rally bid falls short to No. 11/9 Oklahoma State, 6-4

Sunday, May 2

Austin, Texas

12 p.m. CT

University of Texas

35-9, 9-6

#11/9 Oklahoma State

39-6, 14-1

Oklahoma State

Texas

No. 7/12 Softball’s rally bid falls short to No. 11/9 Oklahoma State, 6-4

05.02.2021 | Softball

Box Score

Texas’ offense had the potential tying run on second base in the sixth; left 10 runners stranded in the game

AUSTIN, Texas – On Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 7/12 Texas softball (35-9, 9-6 Big 12 Conference) had the potential tying run on second base in the sixth inning and brought it to the plate in the seventh, but couldn't complete its comeback bid as the Longhorns left 10 total base runners stranded during a 6-4 loss to No. 11/9 Oklahoma State (39-6, 14-1 Big 12 Conference).

Important Notes

Sophomore pitcher Shea O'Leary continues to excel out of the Texas bullpen. The 6-2 right-hander has made eight relief appearances this season, posting a 0.82 combined ERA, a 1-0 record and 15 strikeouts over 17 innings of work.
Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson went 1-for-3 on Sunday to climb within six hits (249 hits) of breaking former Longhorns standout Brejae Washington's career hits record (254).
Redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth batted a team-best .600 (3-for-5) during the Oklahoma State series with two walks, a HR and a .714 on-base percentage.

Major Players

Senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes (2-for-4, RBI); junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3, run, RBI); freshman third baseman Alyssa Washington (1-for-3, RBI); redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth (1-for-2, two walks); freshman designated player JJ Smith (1-for-3, run, double)

In the Circle

Graduate transfer Molly Jacobsen (12-4) suffered the loss in the circle after allowing five earned runs on eight hits with a walk and two strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Sophomore Shea O'Leary permitted just one hit, walked one and struck out two in 3.0 frames of relief work.

The Details

Oklahoma State jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as designated player Hayley Busby drove a two-out RBI double to right center.

Bidding to answer right back in Texas' initial at-bat, the Longhorns got two aboard with one out on a Cowgirl fielding error and a Lauren Burke walk. Unfortunately, starter Carrie Eberle battled her way out of trouble by inducing a fly out to center and registering a K.

The Burnt Orange & White eventually strung together a scoring outburst against OSU's ace in the bottom of the second. Sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan kicked things off with a walk, freshman designated player JJ Smith blasted a double to left center and Alyssa Washington followed with a RBI single through the left side to tie things up at 1-1. Jefferson then stepped to the plate and lifted a sacrifice fly to left that plated Smith for a 2-1 advantage.

The Cowgirls answered back in a big way during the top of the third by tying things up on a Texas throwing error and a hotly-contested play at the plate. Third baseman Sydney Pennington later followed with a two-out, three-run HR down the line to left to boost OSU back in front, 5-2.

Oklahoma State added a Kiley Naomi sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 6-2.

Texas started its comeback bid in the bottom of the fourth as a Cowgirl throwing error, a Rhodes RBI single to left center and a Burke RBI groundout combined for a pair of unearned runs to cut the deficit in half at 6-4.

With O'Leary keeping the Oklahoma State offense from adding anything, the Longhorns continued to threaten in the sixth. Jefferson and Rhodes delivered back-to-back one-out singles and moved up 60 feet on a groundout. Unfortunately, with two down and the potential tying run in scoring position, a pop-up to third ended the threat.

Following a one-out Ellsworth single, UT also brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Facing a save situation, Oklahoma State game two winner Kelly Maxwell finished things off from the circle on a fly out to right and a groundout to first.