No. 11/13 Softball opens NCAAs with 12-0 (5 inn.) rout of Saint Francis

Friday, May 21

Austin, Texas

4 p.m. CT

University of Texas

40-11

Saint Francis

40-9

Saint Francis

Texas

No. 11/13 Softball opens NCAAs with 12-0 (5 inn.) rout of Saint Francis

05.21.2021 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns secured their 40th win of the season for the 13th time in program history

AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday afternoon in NCAA Austin Regional action at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 12 national seed Texas (40-11) got its NCAA road off to a strong start by rolling past Northeast Conference champion Saint Francis (40-9), 12-0 (5 inn.).

Important Notes

Texas secured its 40th victory in a season for the 13th time in program history and for the second time in head coach Mike White's tenure on the Forty Acres.
The Longhorns picked up their 16th run-rule win of the season to break the old program mark of 15 formerly held by the 2019 squad.
Texas has won five straight regional games dating back to 2019 and is 43-28 in NCAA Regional play.
Texas has scored at least three runs in an inning 59 times this season and at least once in 34-of-51 games.
The Longhorns secured their 28th home win of the year, tying the 2003 Longhorns for the fourth-most home wins all-time.
By leading off the game with a double, junior second baseman Janae Jefferson raised her average when leading off any frame in 2021 to a remarkable .563 (36-for-64).

Major Players

Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (3-for-4, two runs, double, two RBIs); junior left fielder Lauren Burke (2-for-3, two runs, walk, two RBIs); redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth (two sacrifice flies, two RBIs); freshman third baseman Camille Corona (1-for-2, two runs, RBI); senior designated player Kaitlyn Washington (1-for-2, walk, RBI)

In the Circle

Sophomore Shea O'Leary (14-4) picked up the win after allowing one hit and striking out two on just 23 pitches over 3.0 innings of work. Freshman Ryleigh White struck out a pair over 2.0 perfect innings of relief.

The Details

Jefferson got the Texas offense off and running by leading off the bottom of the first with a long double off the wall in center. Senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes followed with a bunt single and Burke battled to draw a walk as the Longhorns quickly loaded the bases with still no outs. Texas grabbed a 1-0 lead as Ellsworth stepped up and lifted a sacrifice fly to right. From there, the Burnt Orange & White plated runs on a passed ball, a wild pitch and a fielding error to extend the advantage to a commanding 4-0.

After allowing a leadoff Saint Francis single to open the contest, O'Leary settled into the circle by retiring nine straight Red Flash batters through the top of the third.

The Texas lead grew to 6-0 in the third on a perfect Corona run-scoring bunt single and a Jefferson RBI base knock to deep short.

With White effective in relief, the Longhorns sent 11 to the plate in erupting for six runs during the bottom of the fourth. A Saint Francis error and a Mary Iakopo double to left kick-started the assault by putting the first two on in the frame. Ellsworth followed with her second sac fly of the game, sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker walked for the third time and sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan was credited a RBI on a groundout. From there, a Kaitlyn Washington RBI single to right, a Jefferson RBI single up the middle and Burke's two-RBI base knock to right center boosted the advantage to 12-0.

From there, White retired the final three Red Flash batters she faced in the top of the fifth to bring about the run-rule.

NCAA Austin Regional Schedule

Fri., May 21

4 p.m. CT Saint Francis (40-8) vs. TEXAS (39-11) -- TEXAS 12-0 (5 inn.)

6:30 p.m. CT Texas State (38-12) vs. Oregon (37-15) (Game Two)

Sat., May 22

1 p.m. CT TEXAS (40-11) vs. Game 2 Winner (Game Three)

3:30 p.m. CT Saint Francis (40-9) vs. Game 2 Loser (Game Four)

6 p.m. CT Game 3 Loser vs. Game Four Winner (Game Five)

Sun., May 23

3 p.m. CT Game 3 Winner vs. Game Five Winner (Game Six)

5:30 p.m. CT (If necessary) rematch of Game Six