No. 10/8 Softball splits on day one of the FGCU Kickoff Classic

Friday, February 11

Fort Myers, Fla.

4 p.m. CT

University of Texas

1-0

#15/14 Clemson

2-1

Clemson

Texas

No. 10/8 Softball splits on day one of the FGCU Kickoff Classic

02.11.2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Longhorns blanked No. 15/14 Clemson (4-0) before falling to FGCU (6-4) in the nightcap

FORT MYERS, Fla. – On Friday evening at the FGCU Softball Complex, No. 10/8 Texas (1-1) extended its undefeated run in season openers to 26 with a 4-0 blanking of No. 15/14 Clemson (2-1) before dropping a 6-4 decision to home-standing FGCU (2-1) in the nightcap.

Important Notes

With the 4-0 victory over No. 15/14 Clemson, Texas improved to a perfect 26-0 all-time in season openers. UT has out-scored those 26 opponents by a total of 173-13 with 17 shutouts.
The victory over No. 15/14 Clemson marked Texas' first season-opening win over a ranked team since 2014 when the Longhorns won at No. 17 LSU, 6-1.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson & senior catcher Mary Iakopo each made their 200th career starts during the win over No. 15/14 Clemson.
Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini registered her first Texas win and 65th career pitching triumph in topping the Tigers.
Junior first baseman Courtney Day blasted Texas' first HR of the season during the loss to FGCU.
Junior left fielder Lou Gilbert (played both games), sophomore right fielder Bella Dayton (played both games, freshman pinch runner Mya Holmes (vs. No. 15/14 Clemson) and sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech (vs. FGCU) all made their Texas debuts on Friday.

Major Players

vs. No. 15/14 Clemson: Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-3, two runs, walk); junior shortstop McKenzie Parker (2-for-3, two RBIs); senior center fielder Lauren Burke (1-for-2, RBI)

vs. FGCU: Junior first baseman Courtney Day ( 2-for-3, double., solo HR, RBI); senior designated player Mary Iakopo (1-for-3, two RBIs); Jefferson (1-for-3, two runs)

In the Circle

vs. No. 15/14 Clemson: Senior transfer pitcher Hailey Dolcini scattered six hits, walked one and struck out four in tossing her first Texas complete-game shutout.

vs. FGCU: Junior Shea O'Leary (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs on three hits with one strikeout over 2.0 innings. In relief, sophomore Estelle Czech permitted no earned runs on six hits with no walks and four K's in 4.0 frames.

The Details

vs. No. 15/14 Clemson:

After a one-two-three first inning for Dolcini, Jefferson got the Longhorns off to a quick start in the bottom half with a leadoff single. With the speedster standing on third following a ground ball and a wild pitch, Parker knocked in Texas' first run of the year on a RBI base knock through the right side to make it 1-0.

Clemson managed its initial base runner of the game with one out in the top of the second as shortstop Alia Logoleo chopped a single back through the middle. She never moved from that spot, however, as Dolcini retired the next two batters she faced on a shallow pop to center and her first Texas strikeout.

The Tigers strung together their first real scoring chance of the contest in the top of the third on back-to-back, one-out singles by catcher JoJo Hyatt and left fielder Sam Russ. That's when the Texas "D"' flexed its muscle as sophomore third baseman Bree Cantu nabbed a bouncer, stepped on the third-base bag and fired a strike across the diamond for a huge, inning-ending double play.

Texas stretched things out on the scoreboard by putting up a three-spot in the bottom of the third. With Jefferson standing 60 feet from pay dirt after a leadoff walk, a ground ball and a stolen base, Parker managed her second RBI single of the game to boost the lead to 2-0. From there, a fielder's choice, a Jordyn Whitaker hit-by-pitch, a Burke RBI single and a wild pitch that plated transfer Bella Dayton combined for a 4-0 UT lead.

Clemson third baseman Maddie Moore opened the fifth with a walk to break up Dolcini's string of five straight retired. The free pass didn't faze Texas' 6-0 righty as Dolcini registered consecutive K's to conclude the frame.

The Tigers put together a two-out scoring opportunity in the sixth on consecutive singles from Tiger All-American pitcher/designated player Valerie Cagle and left fielder Marissa Guimbarda. Logoleo stepped to the dish and hit a high fly ball down the right field line. Dayton raced over and had the ball hit off her glove as she collided with the fence. The ricochet popped about three feet up in the air before Dayton was able to pull it in with her bare hand to end another huge threat.

Second baseman Cammy Pereira granted Clemson some life in the top of the seventh by doubling to center. Dolcini swiftly responded to the threat by retiring the next three Tigers in order to complete the 4-0 shutout.

vs. FGCU:

Texas wasted no time jumping to a quick lead against FGCU in the top of the first. Jefferson got things started again with a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sac bunt and took third on a passed ball. With runners on the corners after a Parker free pass, Iakopo blooped a RBI single to center for a 1-0 advantage.

Day utilized the long ball to double the Longhorns lead during the top of the second as the sophomore first baseman lined a shot out to left to make it 2-0.

A hit batter and a single got FGCU in business beginning its half of the second against O'Leary. Pitcher Emily Estroff stepped up and launched a triple to right that dropped just inside the chalk to tie things up at 2-2. Shortstop Reedy Davenport followed with a RBI double down into the left field corner and then a wild pitch scored another to push the Eagles in front, 4-2.

Two Texas defensive errors and a single to left got the Eagles right back in business with one out in the third. Given the chance to do more damage, Estroff delivered again by lining a run-scoring single up the middle. Davenport followed with a pop-up that bounced off the glove of an on-the-run Czech over near the first-base line to plate the second unearned run of the inning for a 6-2 lead.

Looking to provide a spark from the No. 9 slot, sophomore third baseman Camille Corona did just that starting the fifth by beating out a bunt single. Jefferson followed with a chopper to second that was misplayed by FGCU's Hope Hernandez, and suddenly, the Longhorns had two aboard with no outs. Following a Parker walk to load the bases, Iakopo blasted a towering drive to left center. FGCU's Riley Oakes drifted back to the fence, but dropped the ball as Jefferson and Corona scored easily to cut the deficit in half at 6-4.

Texas seriously threatened in the top of the sixth as a Day double and a JJ Smith walk stationed two on the base paths with just one retired. Unfortunately, a bouncer back to the circle and a lineout into foul ground down the left field line left the duo stranded.

With one final chance in regulation, Texas blasted two line drives to left and hit a high fly ball to center to end the contest.