No. 10/8 Softball sweeps Boston College & FGCU

Saturday, February 12

Fort Myers, Fla.

4 p.m. CT

University of Texas

2-1

Boston College

2-1

Texas

Boston College

02.12.2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Texas’ offense hit .333 combined over the two match-ups with 10 extra-base hits (five HR’s)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – No. 10/8 Texas softball (3-1) climbed back into the win column on Saturday evening at the FGCU Softball Complex by getting two strong pitching performances while bashing five total HR's to sweep match-ups from Boston College (7-0) and FGCU (10-2, 6 inn.).

Important Notes

Sophomore transfer pitcher Logan Hulon took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of her Texas debut before settling for a two-hit shutout of Boston College.
Against Boston College, senior first baseman Mary Iakopo blasted her first HR of the season and the 40th of her career combining stints at both Oregon & Texas.
Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini struck out 12 against FGCU to reach double-digits in K's for the first time at Texas and for the 17th time in her career combining UC Riverside, Fresno State & Texas.
With her fourth K against FGCU, Dolcini reached the 600-strikeout plateau in her career.
Sophomore transfer Bella Dayton registered her first Texas hit, double and RBI in the top of the fourth of the victory over FGCU.
Hulon and freshman pinch hitter Vanessa Quiroga each made their Texas debuts during the victory over Boston College.

Major Players

vs. Boston College: Sophomore left fielder Bree Cantu (2-for-2, walk, HR, three RBIs); senior first baseman Mary Iakopo (1-for-2, two runs, HR, two RBIs); junior shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-3, run, walk, double)

vs. FGCU: Sophomore designated player Courtney Day (2-for-4, two runs, double, HR, three RBIs); sophomore third baseman Alyssa Washington (2-for-3, walk, HR, RBI); sophomore pinch hitter Jordyn Whitaker (1-for-1, HR, two RBIs); Parker (2-for-4, two runs); Iakopo (2-for-4, run, RBI); Cantu (1-for-2, run, RBI); sophomore catcher JJ Smith (2-for-4, run, RBI)

In the Circle

vs. Boston College: Sophomore Logan Hulon took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of her Texas debut before settling for a two-hit, complete-game shutout with one walk and five strikeouts.

vs. FGCU: Senior Hailey Dolcini improved to 2-0 by allowing one earned run on two hits with three walks and 12 strikeouts over a complete-game performance.

The Details

vs. Boston College:

Texas utilized the long ball to grab an early lead in the top of the first. With a runner aboard after a Parker walk and a Day fielder's choice, Iakopo stepped up and crushed a two-run HR to left to make it 2-0.

Meanwhile for the Horns, Hulon was dealing early from the circle in her Texas debut. The sophomore transfer struck out two while retiring six of the first seven Boston College batters she faced.

A two-out Day walk ignited another run-scoring rally for the Burnt Orange & White in the third. With Iakopo also on via hit-by-pitch, Cantu ripped a run-scoring single up the middle past diving BC shortstop Nicole Giery for a 3-0 advantage.

After Parker began the Texas fifth with a leadoff double to right center, both Day and Iakopo were struck by Susannah Anderson pitches to load the bases with still no outs. That set the stage for more Cantu production as her walk forced in a run to boost the Horns in front, 4-0. From there, Smith was hit by a bases-loaded pitch and Washington blasted a sacrifice fly to deep left to make it 6-0.

A two-out walk by Boston College's Ellie Mataya broke up a string of 15 straight batters retired by Hulon in the bottom of the sixth. That was all the Eagles would get, however, as a bouncer to third was handled by Washington to end the frame.

Cantu contributed her third RBI for the Longhorns starting the seventh as the sophomore hammered a solo shot to center for a 7-0 advantage.

Needing just three more outs to toss a debut no-hitter, Hulon couldn't quite finish it off as BC designated player Hannah Slike christened the bottom of the seventh with a double off the wall in center. Left fielder Darien McDonough immediately followed with a single, but that was all for the Eagles as the Texas "D" completed the two-hit shutout on a line drive double play to short.

vs. FGCU:

Texas squandered an early opportunity to jump in front in the first by leaving a pair stranded against FGCU starter Ally Hulme.

In the circle for the Longhorns, Dolcini walked the opening batter of the contest, but then proceeded to strikeout five of the next six she faced to send the game to the third scoreless.

FGCU eventually broke the deadlock with the benefit of a little Texas defensive help in the bottom of the third. With a runner at first after a leadoff walk, center fielder Riley Oakes hit a sharp grounder to third. The play was made on a dive, but a throw to second attempting to get the lead runner rolled all the way to the wall in right center to hand the Eagles an unearned, 1-0 lead. Second baseman Emily Estroff followed one batter later with a RBI double to left center to double the advantage.

The Longhorns answered back immediately with a four-spot in the top of the fourth. Day got the Burnt Orange-tinted assault started by driving a leadoff double to left center. Iakopo stepped into the box and hammered a shot to deep center that hit near the top of the wall for a run-scoring triple. Cantu soon followed with a sacrifice fly to tie things up. The game wouldn't stay tied for long, however, as Washington crushed a towering solo HR to left center for a 3-2 lead. After a Smith single, transfer Bella Dayton registered her first Texas hit, double and RBI on a drive to center to boost the count to 4-2.

The Eagles got a runner as far as second during the bottom of the fourth. That's when Cantu came through with a huge two-out defensive play, racing in from her spot in left to make a run-saving diving catch.

The Texas offensive onslaught continued into the fifth as Day smashed a two-run HR to left center, and Smith drove a RBI single through the right side to make it 7-2.

Meanwhile, Dolcini continued her commanding work from the circle to the tune of nine strikeouts over five innings of work.

The Burnt Orange & White added three more runs in the top of the sixth to reach double-digits. Jefferson kicked things off with a double to right. From there, a run-scoring fielder's choice and a Whitaker two-run blast finalized Texas' offensive output at 10 tallies.

Suddenly facing the chance to end the game by run-rule, Dolcini finished things out in style in the sixth by striking out the FGCU side.