No. 23/24 Softball drops a 2-0 decision to No. 22 Arizona State

Friday, February 25

Austin, Texas

2 p.m. CT

University of Texas

5-7

#22 Arizona State

8-3

Arizona State

Texas

No. 23/24 Softball drops a 2-0 decision to No. 22 Arizona State

02.25.2022 | Softball

Box Score

Two Texas pitchers combined to allow just two hits while striking out five during the close loss

AUSTIN, Texas – With wind chills hovering around freezing on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Texas Classic at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 23/24 Texas softball (5-7) tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with two outs before falling to No. 22 Arizona State (8-3), 2-0.

Major Players

Senior first baseman Mary Iakopo (1-for-3, double); freshman third baseman Mia Scott (1-for-2); junior shortstop McKenzie Parker (1-for-3); sophomore left fielder Alyssa Popelka (1-for-1).

In the Circle

Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini (2-2) was dealt a tough loss in the circle after allowing two earned runs on just one hit with four walks and two strikeouts over 5.1 innings. Sophomore Estelle Czech struck out three in 1.2 frames of one-hit relief work.

The Details

Arizona State wasted no time grabbing an early lead as the Sun Devils quickly loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first on two walks and a hit batter. Shortstop Alynah Torres stepped to the dish and made it 1-0 on a sacrifice fly to center. With two still on, Dolcini limited the damage from the circle by inducing consecutive ASU fly outs.

Texas also threatened in the opening frame as Scott walked with one down, stole second and moved to third on a groundout. Unfortunately, a swinging strikeout left the Angelton, Texas, native stranded 60 feet from pay dirt.

The Longhorns managed a runner in both the second (leadoff error) and third (one-out single) innings only to have Arizona State quickly clear the base paths on double plays.

Texas got the leadoff aboard beginning the bottom of the fourth as Scott singled up the middle. The freshman speedster tried to swipe second but was gunned down on a strong throw by ASU catcher Jessica Puk. Parker soon followed with a single into the left center gap, but that was all the Burnt Orange & White could manage off Arizona State starter Mac Morgan as a strikeout ended the frame.

ASU eventually added a big insurance run in the top of the sixth as a one-out walk, a stolen base and two wild pitches combined to score second baseman Jazmyn Rollin for a 2-0 advantage.

With one final chance to battle back into the contest, Texas put together a seventh-inning rally. Iakopo kicked things off with a double off the wall in right. Following two fly outs to center, freshman catcher Katie Cimusz was hit by a pitch and sophomore pinch hitter Bree Cantu walked to load the bases. Unfortunately, with the potential winning run on first base, a swinging strikeout ended the contest.