No. 11/9 Softball drops two at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invite

Saturday, February 19

Clearwater, Fla.

3 p.m. CT

University of Texas

5-4

#3 UCLA

6-2

TEXAS

UCLA

No. 11/9 Softball drops two at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invite

02.19.2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Longhorns wrap up the event on Sun., Feb. 20, against Notre Dame at 11 a.m. CT (ESPN+)

CLEARWATER, Fla. – On Saturday at the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational, No. 11/9 Texas softball (5-5) battled No. 3 UCLA (6-2) to the end in a 2-1 loss before dropping its nightcap to No. 24 UCF (6-4), 15-10.

Notes

Freshman catcher Katie Cimusz blasted her first collegiate HR (two-run) in the third inning vs. No. 24 UCF.
Junior right fielder Lou Gilbert was credited with her first Texas hit and RBI on a run-scoring single in the second inning against No. 3 UCLA.
Texas dropped to 3-5 all-time in two trips (2019, 2022) to the St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invitational.
UCLA upped its series advantage over Texas to 12-6, while UCF prevailed in its first-ever meeting against the Longhorns.

Major Players

vs. No. 3 UCLA: Junior right fielder Lou Gilbert (1-for-3, RBI); senior left fielder Lauren Burke (2-for-3); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-4)

vs. No. 24 UCF: Junior shortstop McKenzie Parker (2-for-3, run, double, three RBIs); freshman catcher Katie Cimusz (1-for-2, two runs, walk, HR, two RBIs); senior first baseman Mary Iakopo (2-for-3, two runs, walk, two doubles, RBI); freshman third baseman Mia Scott (2-for-3, two runs, walk); Burke (1-for-4, run, RBI); Jefferson (1-for-2, run, two walks, double)

In the Circle

vs. No. 3 UCLA: Freshman Sophia Simpson (1-1) pitched well against the No. 3 Bruins, allowing two earned runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work. Sophomore Estelle Czech struck out one and allowed two hits in one frame of scoreless relief.

vs. No. 24 UCF: Junior Shea O'Leary (0-3) suffered the loss in relief after allowing three earned runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts over a single inning of work.

The Details

vs. No. 3 UCLA:

After Texas left a runner stranded at third in the top of the first, UCLA secured a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom half. A leadoff Kinsley Washington double was quickly cashed in as a wild pitch and a passed ball allowed the runner to scamper home for a quick 1-0 lead. Right fielder Aaliyah Jordan soon followed with a solo HR off the scoreboard in right to double the Bruins advantage.

The Horns pulled a run back in the top of the second thanks to a key UCLA error. Day opened the frame reaching base via a dropped pop-up at second. With pinch runner Alyssa Popelka in scoring position and two out, junior right fielder Lou Gilbert managed her first Texas hit and RBI on a clutch single up the middle to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Longhorns managed a two-out base runner off Bruin ace Megan Faraimo during both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fifth, Jefferson singled up the middle with two outs to put the tying run aboard. Unfortunately, Iakopo hit a ball hard but lined straight to UCLA second baseman Savannah Pola for the inning-ending out.

Bidding for some valuable insurance, UCLA managed to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Estelle Czech entered the game in relief and eventually coerced two fielder's choice bouncers that led to a pair of outs at the plate before recording a K to end the threat.

Faced with one last chance to extend the contest in the top of the seventh, Burke kicked off the inning with an infield single to second. Sophomore pinch hitter Jordyn Whitaker was struck by a pitch to put two aboard with still no outs. Unfortunately, a potential sacrifice bunt was popped up for a vital first out. From there, UCLA's Faraimo coerced consecutive pop-ups to end the contest.

vs. No. 24 UCF:

It was Texas that jumped in front with a pair of first-inning runs in the nightcap. Jefferson ignited things with a leadoff walk before racing around to score on Iakopo's double to left center. With two aboard after a Scott base knock and stolen base, sophomore designated player Courtney Day registered a RBI on a groundout to second to make it 2-0.

UCF answered right back with two unearned runs on no hits in the top of the second through the assistance of numerous Texas miscues.

Texas' Cimusz reached on a one-out UCF error in the bottom of the second and eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 3-2 advantage.

Back-and-forth things went in the top of the third as the Knights grabbed their first lead at 4-3 on a two-run Ashleigh Griffin HR to left.

Three hits, a walk and an error combined for four Texas tallies in the bottom of the third to boost the Burnt Orange & White in front, 7-4. The big blow of the frame came with two outs as Cimusz blasted a two-run shot to center for her first collegiate HR. The Horns almost added another starting the inning as Scott singled to right and tried to circle the bases as the ball got past UCF's Denali Schappacher. Unfortunately, the freshman third baseman got cut down at home on a perfect relay for the first out of the frame. Later in the inning, junior Lou Gilbert attempted to score from third on a wild pitch only to be thrown out at the plate.

Each squad put up a two-spot in the fourth as Parker launched a two-run double to the wall in right center to make it 9-6. It could have been more, but Texas lost another potential run on a play at the plate as Jefferson was caught trying to score on a wild pitch.

After scoring once in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch, UCF strung together a seven-run outburst in the sixth through the combo of a Texas error, four singles, three walks and both a run-scoring wild pitch and passed ball.

Parker cashed in another Iakopo double in the sixth as her RBI single through the left side cut the deficit to 14-10.

After UCF added another run in the seventh, Texas stepped up with one final chance to claw back into the contest but was retired in order in the bottom half to finish the game.