The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
No. 11/13 Softball blanks Texas State in NCAA Regional play, 6-0
05.22.2021 | Softball
The Longhorns now advance on to Sunday’s championship round slated to begin at 3 p.m. CT
AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon in NCAA Austin Regional play at Red & Charline McCombs Field, a Shea O'Leary pitching gem and key RBIs from sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker, senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes and redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth helped power No. 12 national seed Texas (41-11) to a 6-0 victory over Texas State (39-13).
With the win, the Longhorns now advance to Sunday's championship round slated for 3 p.m. CT, and if necessary, 5:30 p.m. CT.
Important Notes
- Texas has won six straight regional games dating back to 2019 and is now 44-28 in NCAA Regional play.
- Sophomore pitcher Shea O'Leary set a new personal single-season record with her 15th win of the season, topping the 14 wins she registered as a freshman back in 2019.
- Texas improved to 29-2 when scoring first in 2021 and 81-7 under the guidance of head coach Mike White.
- The Longhorns secured their 29th home win of the year, tying the 2013 Longhorns for the third-most home wins in a single-season all-time.
- Texas improved to 3-0 this season against Texas State and have now won four straight in the series over the Bobcats.
- Texas is 38-2 this year when scoring at least three runs in a game.
- Sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker continued to improve on her personal single-season high by blasting her eighth HR in the win over TXST.
- The Longhorns will be chasing their seventh Austin Regional title on Sunday (2003, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2019).
Major Players
Sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (2-for-4, two runs, double, HR, two RBIs); redshirt junior right fielder Taylor Ellsworth (1-for-2, sac fly, RBI); senior center fielder Shannon Rhodes (1-for-3, run, walk, double, RBI)
In the Circle
Sophomore Shea O'Leary (15-4) picked up her second straight NCAA Regional win by scattering three hits, walking two and striking out six over a complete-game effort.
The Details
Parker got the Longhorns offense going with one out in the top of the second by lining a double the other way inside the third base line and down into the corner. After a UT fly out, Smith hit a chopper to first that was misplayed by Texas State's Hailey MacKay. With the ball loose down the right field line, Parker raced around from second to score an unearned run to grant Texas a 1-0 advantage.
The Burnt Orange & White got things rolling again in the top of the third as Jefferson walked and Rhodes launched a double to right to station two aboard with no outs. On a swinging strikeout, a passed ball allowed Jefferson to scamper home with UT's second tally. Ellsworth soon followed with a sac fly to right that was caught near the line to plate another for a 3-0 advantage.
After retiring nine straight Bobcats, O'Leary finally allowed another base runner on a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth. The Texas "D" wasted no time turning a 6-4-3 double play, however, to clear the bases.
Texas State strung together its most dangerous threat of the game in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with one out on a leadoff double, a walk and a hit batter. UT's 6-2 right hander proved up to the task, escaping a massive jam with consecutive strikeouts of Bobcat third baseman Baylee Lemons and left fielder Hannah Earls.
The Longhorns lead continued to grow in the top of the sixth as Ellsworth led off with a single and Parker followed with a two-run blast off the scoreboard in center. Following base knocks from Kaitlyn Washington, freshman pinch hitter Courtney Day and Jefferson, Rhodes fought to draw a bases-loaded walk and force in a run to make it 6-0.
With one last chance to battle back into the game in the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats went down in order on a fly out, a swinging strikeout and a groundout to third.
NCAA Austin Regional Schedule
Fri., May 21
4 p.m. CT Saint Francis (PA) (40-8) vs. TEXAS (39-11) – TEXAS, 12-0 (5 inn.)
6:30 p.m. CT Texas State (38-12) vs. Oregon (37-15) – Texas State, 5-1
Sat., May 22
4 p.m. CT TEXAS (40-11) vs. Texas State (Game Three) – TEXAS, 6-0
6:30 p.m. CT Oregon vs. Saint Francis (Game Four)
9 p.m. CT Texas State vs. Game Four Winner (Game Five)
Sun., May 23
3 p.m. CT TEXAS (41-11) vs. Game Five Winner (Game Six)
5:30 p.m. CT (If necessary) rematch of Game Six
