No. 11/13 Softball battles past No. 7/5 Oklahoma State to force decisive third game, 4-2

Saturday, May 29

Stillwater, Okla.

3 p.m. CT

University of Texas

43-13

#7/5 Oklahoma State

46-10

Oklahoma State

Texas

No. 11/13 Softball battles past No. 7/5 Oklahoma State to force decisive third game, 4-2

05.29.2021 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns and Cowgirls will battle for a berth in the WCWS on Sunday at 3:15 p.m. CT on ESPN

STILLWATER, Okla. – Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday in NCAA Stillwater Super Regional action at Cowgirl Stadium, No. 12-national seed Texas (43-13) utilized key HR's from freshman right fielder Jordyn Whitaker and junior catcher Mary Iakopo, as well as a strong pitching effort by sophomore Shea O'Leary, to knock-off No. 5-national seed Oklahoma State (46-10) and force a decisive third game with a berth in the WCWS at stake.

Game three of the NCAA Stillwater Super Regional is set for Sun. May 30, at 3:15 p.m. CT live on ESPN.

Important Notes

By going 2-for-3 with a RBI on Saturday, junior second baseman Janae Jefferson raised her 2021 NCAA Tournament batting average even higher to .579 (11-for-19) overall in six games.
Freshman outfielder Jordyn Whitaker is making the most of her first NCAA Tournament experience, posting a .667 (4-for-6) average while also hitting the game-tying HR during Saturday's win at OSU.
By erasing a 1-0, fifth-inning deficit against Oklahoma State, Texas managed its 14th comeback victory when trailing at any point of a game in 2021.
Junior catcher Mary Iakopo's HR was her 16th of the season, breaking a tie for the team-lead with Shannon Rhodes.
Iakopo's 16 HR's now tie her for second all-time in a single-season in Texas program history with former UT All-American Lindsey Stephens (16 HR's in 2014).
Texas has now hit at least two HR's in a single game 23 times this season (22-1 record in those instances).
With the victory, Texas improved to 9-5 all-time over six NCAA Super Regional appearances.
Texas improved to a remarkable 38-1 this season when out-hitting an opponent.
Texas will be looking to win its fourth NCAA Super Regional on Sunday (2005, 2006, 2013) and its first ever on the road.

Major Players

Freshman right fielder Jordyn Whitaker (1-for-3, run, HR, RBI); junior catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-3, run, HR, two RBIs); junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-3, RBI); redshirt junior designated player Taylor Ellsworth (1-for-3, run, double); sophomore shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-2, walk, run)

In the Circle

Sophomore Shea O'Leary (16-5) earned the victory after permitting two earned runs on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts over a complete-game effort.

The Details

Oklahoma State used the long ball to grab a lead in the top of the third as shortstop Kiley Naomi hit a solo HR to left to make it 1-0.

After being held to just two total base runners over the first four innings by OSU starter Kelly Maxwell, the Longhorns finally got a threat brewing in the bottom of the fifth. Parker and sophomore first baseman Colleen Sullivan kicked it all off with one-out singles. Jefferson stepped to the plate facing a huge two-out spot and delivered the clutch hit by lining a base knock up the middle to tie the contest at 1-1.

After O'Leary retired the Cowgirls in order in the top of the sixth, Texas' offense erupted for a three-spot in the bottom half. Whitaker quickly untied the match-up by launching a solo shot just over the wall in left. Following an Ellsworth bloop double to short center and a Shannon Rhodes sacrifice bunt, Iakopo launched a two-run blast the other way to right to boost UT to a 4-1 advantage.

With the Longhorns suddenly needing just three more outs to force a deciding third game on Sunday, O'Leary allowed leadoff hitter Sydney Pennington to drive a solo shot to left to cut the OSU deficit to 4-2 in the top of the seventh. That was as close as the Cowgirls would get, however, as Texas' 6-2 right hander retired the next three she faced to seal the win.

NCAA Stillwater Super Regional Schedule

Friday, May 28

4 p.m. CT NO. 12-SEED TEXAS at No. 5-seed Oklahoma State – Oklahoma State, 6-1

Saturday, May 29

3 p.m. CT No. 5-seed Oklahoma State vs. NO. 12-SEED TEXAS – TEXAS, 4-2

Sunday, May 30

3:15 p.m. CT NO. 12-SEED TEXAS at No. 5-seed Oklahoma State – ESPN