No. 10/8 Softball blanks Boston College, 5-0

Sunday, February 13

Fort Myers, Fla.

10:30 a.m. CT

University of Texas

4-1

Boston College

2-2

Boston College

Texas

02.13.2022 | Softball

Box Score

Sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech picked up her first Texas win from the circle behind five one-hit innings

FORT MYERS, Fla. – On Sunday morning at the FGCU Softball Complex, No. 10/8 Texas softball (4-1) finished off its opening weekend by shutting out Boston College (2-2), 5-0.

Important Notes

During the FGCU Kickoff Classic, Texas' offense scored 30 runs and registered 13 extra-base hits, including seven HR's, while the pitching staff posted a 1.27 ERA with three shutouts.
Sophomore transfer pitcher Estelle Czech picked up her first Texas victory by tossing five innings of one-hit ball.
Junior shortstop McKenzie Parker blasted her first HR of the season and the ninth of her career on a two-run shot in the fourth.

Major Players

Junior shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-4, HR, two RBIs); sophomore catcher Bree Cantu (0-for-1, sac fly, RBI); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3, run scored)

In the Circle

Sophomore transfer Estelle Czech earned her first Texas victory after allowing just one hit over 5.0 innings of work with no walks and no strikeouts. Junior Shea O'Leary permitted one hit, walked none and struck out two over 2.0 frames of relief.

The Details

After leaving a pair stranded in the first, the Longhorns utilized a Lauren Burke leadoff single and walks issued to both sophomore right fielder Jordyn Whitaker and Jefferson to load the bases with two down in the second. Unfortunately, a strikeout raised the Texas left-on-base count to five over the opening two innings.

With Czech keeping Boston College quiet from the circle, the Burnt Orange & White finally broke through in the bottom of the third. Sophomore designated player Courtney Day drew a leadoff walk to get things started. Pinch runner Lou Gilbert entered the contest, quickly swiped second and advanced to third on a sac bunt. That set Cantu up to deliver the game's first run as the sophomore catcher launched a sacrifice fly to deep left for a 1-0 advantage.

BC catcher Hannah Slike appeared to have extra bases in mind starting the top of the fourth. Newly entered into the game as the right fielder, Gilbert raced over into deep right center and made a terrific over-the-shoulder running grab to key a one-two-three inning.

Back-to-back walks to Whitaker and sophomore center fielder Bella Dayton got Texas back in business starting the bottom of the fourth. Jefferson stepped to the dish and dropped a perfect bunt out to the left of the plate. The three-time All-American raced down the line to beat out a single as Boston College third baseman Kennedy Labshere's throw traveled wide of the bag to allow both Longhorns runners to score. It only took one pitch from Eagle reliever Peyton Schnackenberg for Parker to boost the gap to 5-0 as the Conroe, Texas, native hammered a two-run HR to center.

From there a combo of Czech and O'Leary combined to limit the Eagles to just two base runners (error & single) over the final three frames in completing the 5-0 shutout.