No. 21/19 Softball falls to Louisiana in eight innings, 6-5

Wednesday, March 30

Austin, Texas

6 p.m. CT

University of Texas

26-10-1

Louisiana

21-8

Louisiana

Texas

No. 21/19 Softball falls to Louisiana in eight innings, 6-5

03.30.2022 | Softball

Box Score

The Ragin’ Cajuns took advantage of two key Texas errors to plate four unearned runs in the third

AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday night in front of 1,123 fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field, No. 21/19 Texas softball (26-10-1) grabbed an early 4-0 lead, but had two key third-inning errors lead to four unearned runs in an eventual 6-5 loss to Louisiana (21-8).

Notes

With her second K against Louisiana, Texas senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini recorded her 700th career strikeout.
With a 1-for-4 effort, junior designated player McKenzie Parker stretched her reached base streak to a personal single-season high 20 straight games. That streak ties for the 13th longest in program history.
Texas blasted three doubles to raise their Big 12 Conference-leading total to 66 for the season.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson went 2-for-5 to move into fourth in Big 12 Conference history for career hits with 316. She needs 17 more to break former Iowa State standout Sami Williams league record (332 hits).
Texas dropped to 14-8 all-time against Louisiana and 4-4 in Austin.
Tonight's loss ended Texas' season-long unbeaten streak at 16 games dating back to March 6.
Tonight's game marked Texas' first extra-inning contest of the season. UT has now lost its last four extra-inning games dating back to the 2021 campaign.

Major Players

Junior designated player McKenzie Parker (1-for-4, run, double, RBI); freshman first baseman Katie Cimusz (1-for-3, walk, double, RBI); sophomore left fielder Bella Dayton (2-for-4, run, double, RBI); sophomore center fielder Alyssa Popelka (2-for-3); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-5, two runs)

In the Circle

Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini (11-4) suffered a tough loss after allowing just two earned runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts over 8.0 innings of work.

The Details

After Dolcini sat down the Ragin' Cajuns in order in the top of the first, the Texas offense jumped to an early lead in the bottom half. Jefferson's leadoff single to left and three consecutive two-out walks issued to Iakopo, Cimusz and sophomore right fielder Courtney Day combined for a quick 1-0 advantage.

Dayton's bunt single to begin the bottom of the second got the Longhorns back in business against Louisiana starter Sam Landry. Jefferson stepped up and dropped a perfect bunt out in front of the plate. The Humble, Texas, product beat an eventual errant throw to the bag for a single as Dayton trotted home to score. After Parker blasted a RBI double to left to make it 3-0, Iakopo walked to put two on with two outs. Cimusz followed by roping a two-bagger down the left field line into the corner. Parker scored easily, but Iakopo was just thrown out at the plate to end the outburst at 4-0.

Two crucial fielding errors caused major trouble for Texas in the top of the third. With the bags packed after two miscues and a failed fielder's choice play on a tag attempt going to second, first baseman Stormy Kotzelnick got Louisiana on the board with a sacrifice fly to center. Second baseman Jourdyn Campbell then took full advantage of the extended inning by hitting a three-run HR to left to knot the score at 4-4.

Texas' Popelka managed infield singles and swiped second with two outs in both the fourth and sixth innings, but was left stranded in scoring position on fly outs.

After leaving a runner at second in the fifth inning and at third during the sixth frame, Louisiana finally grabbed the lead in the top of the eighth. Three consecutive hits did the damage with shortstop Melissa Mayeux's two-RBI single eventually boosting the Ragin' Cajuns to a 6-4 lead.

Needing another late rally, the Longhorns got something started with one out as UL dropped a pop-up behind the first-base bag. Granted some life, Texas immediately cut the deficit to 6-5 as Dayton lined a RBI double to the wall in left center. Unfortunately, with the tying run standing at second, back-to-back fly outs ended UT's comeback bid.