The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Lamar
Softball preview: Lamar & Texas State
03.21.2022 | Softball
The Longhorns host the Cardinals on Tuesday before heading down I-35 on Wednesday to battle the Bobcats
Texas (21-9-1) hosts Lamar (5-19) and travels to Texas State (14-12) | March 22-23 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas & Bobcat Softball Stadium, San Marcos, Texas
Schedule:
Tuesday, March 22
4 p.m. Lamar vs. TEXAS – LHN
Wednesday, March 23
6 p.m. TEXAS at Texas State – ESPN+
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field) & San Marcos, Texas (Bobcat Softball Stadium)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: vs. Lamar | at Texas State
Television: The Lamar game will be broadcast on Longhorn Network and WATCH ESPN with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Cat Osterman (color), while the game at Texas State will be web streamed on ESPN+.
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:
- Lamar head coach Amy Hooks played at Texas from 2008-11. She finished her time on the Forty Acres as the program's then-career HR leader (36 - now ranks in a tie for fourth).
- Texas is currently riding a season-long, 11-game unbeaten run (10-0-1) dating back to March 6 and has now won five consecutive games against ranked opponents in a single season for the first time since Feb. 24-March 6, 2013.
- As a result of a tremendous diving catch in right center during a 10-2 win at No. 23 Louisiana, sophomore outfielder Bella Dayton was listed at No. 10 on ESPN SportsCenter's "Top 10 Plays" on March 16 & 17.
- Since dropping to a .252 team batting average after a 2-0 loss to No. 22 Arizona State (Feb. 25), Texas' offense has roared to life over the last 19 games (16-2-1 record). During that stretch, the Longhorns have batted at a .344 clip with 174 hits, 39 doubles, seven triples, 22 HR's, 37 steals and a 1.006 OPS. Four players have hit above .400 over those 19 games - Courtney Day (.467), McKenzie Parker (.429), Katie Cimusz (.407) & Janae Jefferson (.403).
- Texas has shown a penchant for rallies during the 2022 campaign. In all, the Longhorns have now battled back to win or tie after trailing at any point on SEVEN OCCASIONS this season. That includes fighting back from a 10-4, fifth-inning deficit against Minnesota to a 10-10 tie (March 13) and from both a 7-0, third-inning and 10-4, sixth-inning deficit for an 11-10 victory over No. 20/18 LSU (March 19).
- Texas' defense has settled in since a tough night against UCF, posting a .975 fielding percentage while making just 14 total errors over the last 21 games (13 no-error efforts).
- Sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech has played a huge role in Texas' current 11-game unbeaten run, with a 5-0 record, a 1.65 ERA, two complete games and 29 K's over 29.2 innings while allowing a .193 batting average. Included are W's over North Texas, Drake, No. 23 Louisiana & No. 20/18 LSU (two).
- Texas junior designated player McKenzie Parker has really caught fire at the plate since returning from injury to the regular lineup on March 9. The Conroe, Texas, native is riding a 14-game reached base streak and a career-long 10-game hitting streak. Over that 10-game hit streak, Parker is batting .462 (12-for-26) with two doubles, two HR's & 13 RBIs.
- Look out for Texas' offense this season with two outs in an inning. In all, 73 of the Longhorns' 168 total RBIs (43%) have come with two outs, while 14 different Texas players have recorded at least one two-out RBI with senior catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo leading the way with 11.
- The Longhorns are off to a fast start in 2022 as far as stolen bases go. Texas' 54 steals are the most over the first 31 games of a season since the 2014 Texas squad also swiped 54 bags over that same stretch.
