The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Sam Houston
Softball preview: Sam Houston & the T-Mobile Crimson Classic
03.01.2022 | Softball
After a quick mid-week home match-up against the Bearkats, it's off to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to battle Miami and No. 2 Alabama
Texas (9-7) hosts Sam Houston (5-9) & visits the T-Mobile Crimson Classic | March 2-6 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas & Rhoads Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Schedule:
Wednesday, March 2
6 p.m. Sam Houston vs. TEXAS – LHN
T-MOBILE CRIMSON CLASSIC
Friday, March 4
6 p.m. TEXAS at #2 Alabama – SEC Network+
Saturday, March 5
12 p.m. Miami vs. TEXAS
2:30 p.m. TEXAS at #2 Alabama – SEC Network+
Sunday, March 6
10 a.m. Miami vs. TEXAS
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field) & Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Rhoads Stadium)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: vs. Sam Houston | at No. 2 Alabama (both games)
Television: The Sam Houston game is scheduled to be broadcast on Longhorn Network and WATCH ESPN with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Cat Osterman (color). The two games versus No. 2 Alabama are slated for broadcast on SEC Network+ with Gray Robertson (play-by-play), Cait Brooks (color) and Kyra Goldstein (reporter)
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 terrific start to her collegiate career, hitting a team-high .500 overall (15-for-30) with two doubles, two triples and seven steals. Scott currently leads the Longhorns with six multi-hit games in 2022, is batting .545 when leading off any inning and enters Wednesday riding a seven-game hitting streak (hitting .579 over that stretch).
- In the circle, freshman Sophia Simpson has impressed over her first three career starts against McNeese State, No. 3 UCLA & UTSA. Combining the three starts, she owns a 1.37 ERA with 24 K's in 15.1 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 and tossed her FIRST COLLEGIATE NO-HITTER over 6.0 frames with a career-high 12 K's versus UTSA.
- Look out for Texas' offense this season with two outs in an inning. In all, 29 of the Longhorns' 72 total RBIs (40%) have come with two outs. In all, 12 different Texas players have recorded at least one two-out RBI this season with sophomore outfielder Jordyn Whitaker leading the way with five.
- In three-plus seasons under head coach Mike White, Texas is 109-9 when scoring three-or-more runs in a game (9-2 in 2022), 106-11 when out-hitting its opponent (7-1 in 2022), 88-10 when scoring first (6-2 in 2022) and 55-9 when scoring during the first inning (6-2 in 2022).
- Junior shortstop McKenzie Parker is delivering for the Longhorns when given the opportunity with runners in scoring position this season, hitting .462 (6-for-13) 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.
- 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 .500 as the leadoff of any inning in 2022, going 10-for-20 at the plate in those situatiions.
- Senior catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo has reached base safely in 9-of-13 games played so far in 2022 while hitting safely in 8-of-13. Iakopo currently owns 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.
- 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.
