The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 11/14 Softball preview: Baylor
05.06.2021 | Softball
The Longhorns close out the regular-season with their annual split home/road series against the Lady Bears
No. 11/14 Texas (35-9, 9-6 Big 12) versus Baylor (27-15, 8-6 Big 12) | May 7-9 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas & Getterman Stadium, Waco, Texas
Schedule:
Friday, May 7
6:00pm Baylor vs. #11/14 TEXAS – LONGHORN NETWORK
Saturday, May 8
3:00pm #11/14 TEXAS at Baylor – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
Sunday, May 9
1:00pm #11/14 TEXAS at Baylor – Big 12 Now on ESPN+
TEXAS CLEAR BAG POLICY: Please note that there is a Clear Bag Policy in effect for fans when attending Texas Athletic events. For more details, please visit this LINK
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field) & Waco, Texas (Getterman Stadium)
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Television: Game one is scheduled for broadcast on Longhorn Network and WATCH ESPN with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Megan Willis (color). Games two and three are slated for broadcast on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with John Morris (play-by-play) and Jordan Strickland (color).
Radio: Texas' games are scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can also be heard locally on 105.3 FM as part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.
Base Knocks:
- Prior to Friday's series opener against Baylor, Texas will honor the careers of Shannon Rhodes, Kaitlyn Washington, Taylor Ellsworth, Molly Jacobsen and MK Tedder as part of "Senior Day" festivities.
- Junior second baseman Janae Jefferson is quickly closing in on the Texas career hits record. With 249 career hits entering this weekend, the Humble, Texas, native needs just SIX more to break Brejae Washington's (2011-14) UT career record of 254 hits.
- Three seems to be the magic number for Texas success as the Longhorns are 32-2 when scoring at least three times in a game this season and 3-7 when plating two-or-fewer runs.
- Jefferson is truly the consummate leadoff hitter as the Humble, Texas, native is batting a staggering .519 (27-of-52) when leading off any frame in 2021.
- Jefferson made the cut to 25 national finalists for the prestigious USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award (April 23) for the first time in her career. Texas joined Oklahoma & Oklahoma State as the three Big 12 schools with an inclusion.
- The Longhorns have now hit multiple HR's in a game on 20 separate occasions this year. Texas' season-high was five HR's during wins at Houston (March 3) and against Tarleton State (March 13). Texas has also hit at least one HR in 33-of-44 contests this season.
- Sophomore pitcher Shea O'Leary is quickly becoming the team's late-game closer. The 6-2 right hander has made eight appearances out of the bullpen this season, posting three saves while registering a 0.82 ERA, a 1-0 record and 15 strikeouts over 17.0 innings. During her career, O'Leary is 4-2 with a 0.91 ERA, four saves and 32 K's in 38.1 frames of relief work (18 appearances).
- With 55 stolen bases so far, this marks the most swipes for a Texas team over its first 44 games of a season since stealing 72 over that stretch back in 2014 (went 82-of-99 that year).
- Senior outfielder Kaitlyn Washington remains within striking distance of a long-standing Texas career record. The Humble, Texas, native has 47 doubles, just two from surpassing Jodi Reeves' (1997-2000) program record mark of 48 doubles that has stood for more than 20 years.
- The 2010 Longhorns set the school single-season record with 88 HR's (had 66 after 44 games). This year's Texas squad is ahead of that pace with 70 HR's after 44 games. UT's 70 HR's this season are already tied for the second-most in a single campaign in program history.
- Texas is 20-1 when scoring in the first inning this season. Under the guidance of head coach Mike White, the Longhorns are an impressive 46-5 since the start of the 2019 campaign when scoring in the opening frame.
- The Longhorns have out-hit 31 of their 44 opponents in 2021 (30-1 this season when doing so). Since the arrival of head coach Mike White prior to the 2019 campaign, Texas is an impressive 91-12 when out-hitting an opponent.
