The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
17-9-1
#23/RV Louisiana
15-6
Softball sweeps doubleheader at No. 23/RV Louisiana
03.16.2022 | Softball
The Longhorns rolled in the opener, 10-2, before holding off the Ragin’ Cajuns in game two, 3-2
LAFAYETTE, La. – On Wednesday night in front of 1,947 fans at Lamson Park, Texas softball (18-9-1) combined an opportunistic offense and strong relief pitching performances from sophomore Estelle Czech and senior Hailey Dolcini in sweeping a mid-week doubleheader at No. 23/RV Louisiana (15-7), 10-2 & 3-2.
Notes
- With her sixth-inning, three-RBI double in game one, senior second baseman Janae Jefferson became the first Longhorns and fifth Big 12 Conference player to reach the 300-career hit plateau.
- Texas' seven-run sixth inning in game one marked the third-most runs the Longhorns have scored in a single-inning this season. UT previously plated eight runs in one frame against both Tulsa (Feb. 27) & Nicholls State (March 12).
- Freshman third baseman Mia Scott blasted her first career HR on a solo shot during the first inning of game two.
- Sophomore outfielder Bella Dayton extended her season-long reached base streak to 12 games, while junior designated player McKenzie Parker raised her reached base skein to 11 games.
- With her first game effort out of the bullpen, sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech lowered her relief ERA to 1.84 over eight appearances with 21 strikeouts in 19 IP. Five of those appearances have come versus ranked teams (No. 5/6 Florida State, No. 3 UCLA, No. 24 UCF, No. 22 Arizona State & No. 23/RV Louisiana).
- Texas' defense has made just 10 combined errors over its last 18 games (.976 fielding percentage).
Major Players
Game 1:
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-4, two runs, double, three RBIs); sophomore designated player McKenzie Parker (1-for-3, run, HR, three RBIs); sophomore right fielder Courtney Day (2-for-3, two runs, double); freshman first baseman Katie Cimusz (2-for-4, run); sophomore center fielder Bella Dayton (1-for-3, run, RBI)
Game 2:
Parker (1-for-2, two RBIs); freshman third baseman Mia Scott (1-for-3, HR, RBI); Dayton (1-for-1, run)
In the Circle
Game 1:
Sophomore Estelle Czech improved to 6-1 overall after allowing one earned run on three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings of relief.
Game 2:
Out of the bullpen, senior Hailey Dolcini (6-3) picked up the victory in relief after permitting two earned runs on five hits with no walks and eight K's in 5.2 frames.
The Details
Game 1:
A leadoff Jefferson walk came back to hurt Louisiana in the top of the first. With two outs and UT's three-time All-American standing in scoring position, senior catcher Mary Iakopo chopped a ball to short. Alexa Langeliers misplayed it for an error as Jefferson raced around from second for a 1-0 lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns answered back with a big threat of their own in the bottom of the first as two walks and a bunt single loaded the bases with no outs. Following a run-scoring passed ball that tied the game at 1-1, UL second baseman Stormy Kotzelnick hit a fly ball to center. The play looked like a sure sacrifice fly, but the runner trying to score from third was judged to have left early completing an important double play. Texas freshman starter Sophia Simpson limited the damage to just one run by catching designated player Karly Heath looking at strike three to end the frame.
A Cimusz leadoff single got the Longhorns offense underway in the fourth. Day stepped into the box with one out and chopped a ball that got past third baseman Jourdyn Campbell for a run-scoring error to make it 2-1.
Again, UL answered Texas' run with one of their own in the bottom of the fourth. With left fielder Kramer Eschete at second following a lead-off double, center fielder Maddie Hayden laced a two-out RBI single to left center to knot the count at 2-2.
The Burnt Orange & White loaded the bases in the sixth with one out on a Lauren Burke double, a Day single and an Alyssa Washington walk. Sophomore pinch hitter Bree Cantu was summoned off the bench facing a huge spot and walked to force in a run for a 3-2 advantage. From there, the Longhorns bats caught fire, erupting for a 9-2 lead as Jefferson cleared the bases with a double for her 300th career hit, and Parker followed later with a three-run HR to center.
Texas added one more in the top of the seventh as Dayton ripped a RBI single off the pitcher to make it 10-2.
Czech wasted no time finishing things off in the bottom of the seventh as a strikeout and consecutive groundouts ended the Longhorns' dominant victory.
Game 2:
Scott quickly boosted the Longhorns to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as the Angleton, Texas, native hit her first career HR on a solo shot to left center.
The Ragin' Cajuns strung together a threat in the bottom of the first by putting two on with one out. Facing a big early situation, UT starter Shea O'Leary got third baseman Jourdyn Campbell to bounce into an important double play to end the frame.
Texas wasted no time using a crucial Louisiana fielding error to add two unearned runs to its advantage in the top of the third. Following a one-out Dayton infield single and a UL miscue on a Jefferson bouncer to second, Parker lined a two-run single through the left side to make it 3-0.
Louisiana managed two-out base runners in both the fourth and fifth innings, but couldn't string anything together against Dolcini to get on the board.
With one final opportunity to get back into the game in the bottom of the seventh, the Ragin' Cajuns clawed it back to 3-1 starting the frame as designated player Laney Credeur hit a solo HR to left center. After two quick outs, UL got a Kramer Eschete single and a Maddie Hayden RBI double to make it 3-2. With the potential tying run standing at second, pinch hitter Samantha Graeter struck out swinging to end the contest.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Czech, Estelle (6-1)
L: Lamb, Kandra (5-4)
Batting:
2B: Jefferson, Janae 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Day, Courtney 1
HR: Parker, McKenzie 1
RBI: Jefferson, Janae 3 ; Parker, McKenzie 3 ; Dayton, Bella 1 ; Cantu, Brianna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Scott, Mia 1 ; Parker, McKenzie 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Day, Courtney 2 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Dayton, Bella 1
SB: Scott, Mia 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: Eschete, Kramer 1
RBI: Hayden, Maddie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kean, Jenna 1 ; Eschete, Kramer 1
SB: Kean, Jenna 1 ; Hayden, Maddie 1
