The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
North Texas
No. 23/24 Softball preview: North Texas and the Texas Classic
02.22.2022 | Softball
The Longhorns return to McCombs Field for a seven-game home stand starting Wednesday
No. 23/24 Texas (5-6) hosts North Texas (7-2) & the Texas Classic | Feb. 23-27 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Wednesday, February 23
4 p.m. North Texas vs. #23/24 TEXAS – LHN
TEXAS CLASSIC
Thursday, February 24
4 p.m. UTSA vs. Texas State – LHN
6:30 p.m. UTSA vs. #23/24 TEXAS – LHN
Friday, February 25
11:30 a.m. Texas State vs. Tulsa – LHN
2 p.m. #22 Arizona State vs. #23/24 TEXAS – LHN
4:30 p.m. Tulsa vs. #22 Arizona State – LHN
Saturday, February 26
9 a.m. Tulsa vs. UTSA – LHN
11:30 a.m. Tulsa vs. #23/24 TEXAS – LHN
2 p.m. Texas State vs. #22 Arizona State – LHN
4:30 p.m. Texas State vs. #23/24 TEXAS – LHN
7 p.m. #22 Arizona State vs. UTSA – LHN
Sunday, February 27
10 a.m. Tulsa vs. Texas State – LHN
12:30 p.m. #22 Arizona State vs. #23/24 TEXAS – LHN
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: All games are scheduled to be broadcast on Longhorn Network and WATCH ESPN with Alex Loeb/Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Cat Osterman/Erin Miller (color)
Radio: Texas' games this season are scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can usually 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:
- Texas freshman third baseman Mia Scott is off to a strong start to her collegiate career, hitting .438 over six games played with two triples, two RBIs and three steals. During the recently-completed St. Pete/Clearwater Elite Invite, Scott was a highlight after leading the team with a .385 average (5-for-13) and three steals.
- Junior shortstop McKenzie Parker is delivering for the Longhorns when given the opportunity with runners in scoring position this season, hitting a team-high .545 (6-for-11) in such situations with seven RBIs. Parker had three RBIs with RISP against No. 24 UCF and two RBIs each in wins over No. 15 Clemson & Boston College.
- In the circle, freshman Sophia Simpson has impressed in her two career starts against McNeese State & No. 3 UCLA. Combining the two appearances, she has posted a 2.25 ERA with 12 K's over 9.1 innings of work. Simpson limited the powerful Bruins offense to just two runs on six hits over 5.0 innings while taking a tough, 2-1 loss in Clearwater.
- Texas senior second baseman Janae Jefferson continues to excel from the leadoff spot in the lineup as the three-time NFCA All-American is batting .529 as the leadoff of any inning in 2022, going 9-for-17 at the plate in those situations.
- Senior catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo has reached base safely in 8-of-11 games played so far in 2022 while hitting safely in 7-of-11. Iakopo & Parker are currently tied for the team lead with four multi-hit games.
- Mia Scott registered quite the collegiate debut at home against McNeese State as the third baseman tied a school single-game record with two triples as part of a 2-for-3, two-run, RBI effort in Texas' 8-4 win.
- In three-plus seasons under head coach Mike White, Texas is 105-9 when scoring three-or-more runs in a game, 103-10 when out-hitting its opponent, 86-10 when scoring first and 52-9 when scoring during the first inning.
- Softball America put three Longhorns on its various preseason All-American Teams. Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson was tabbed to the first team, while junior pitcher Shea O'Leary and senior transfer pitcher Hailey Dolcini were named to the second and third teams, respectively.
- Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson, senior catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo and junior pitcher Shea O'Leary were three of just 12 total players named to the inaugural Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team.
- Softball America listed five Longhorns among its 2022 Preseason Top 100 player rankings: No. 6 Janae Jefferson, No. 27 Shea O'Leary, No. 31 Hailey Dolcini, No. 73 Mary Iakopo & No. 94 Lauren Burke.
- D1Softball released a Top 150 national player ranking prior to the start of the 2022 campaign with six Longhorns cited: No. 12 Janae Jefferson, No. 44 Hailey Dolcini, No. 66 Lou Gilbert, No. 71 Mary Iakopo, No. 85 Shea O'Leary & No. 105 McKenzie Parker.
- Texas senior second baseman Janae Jefferson and senior transfer pitcher Hailey Dolcini were included as two of 50 student-athletes named to the 2022 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. Both players were top 25 finalists for the award during the 2021 campaign.
- Texas is certainly challenging itself schedule-wise during the 2022 season as the Longhorns are slated to play 27 total games against 14 teams ranked or receiving votes in the 2022 USA Today/NFCA preseason poll. That includes the entirety of the top 5: No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 UCLA, No. 4 Florida State & No. 5 Oklahoma State, as well as No. 14 LSU, No. 15 Clemson, No. 21 Arizona State and No. 23 Louisiana. Texas will also battle "teams receiving votes" in UCF, Minnesota, Auburn, Notre Dame and Iowa State.
