The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
#1 Oklahoma
No. 18 Softball falls to No. 1 Oklahoma, 9-1 (5 inn.)
04.15.2022 | Softball
Texas sophomore first baseman JJ Smith blasted her first HR of the season in the loss
AUSTIN, Texas – On Friday night in front of the largest crowd in Red & Charline McCombs Field history (1,687), No. 18 Texas softball (30-12-1, 6-2 Big 12 Conference) got the first HR of the season from sophomore first baseman JJ Smith, but dropped a 9-1 (5 inn.) decision to No. 1 Oklahoma (38-0, 8-0 Big 12 Conference).
Notes
- Tonight's crowd of 1,687 broke the previous McCombs Field single-game attendance mark of 1,570 that had stood since April 30, 2006 (vs. Oklahoma State).
- Smith's HR was her first of the season and the third of her brief career in the Burnt Orange & White.
- Junior designated player McKenzie Parker tied her career high with three walks.
- Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson managed her 327th career hit, just six short of breaking the Big 12 Conference career hits record (Sami Williams – 332 hits).
- Jefferson extended her reached base streak to nine games, while freshman third baseman Mia Scott, sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington and Smith all extended theirs to six games.
Major Players
Sophomore first baseman JJ Smith (1-for-2, run, HR, RBI); Jefferson (1-for-2, double); Scott (1-for-3); Washington (1-for-2); Parker (three walks)
In the Circle
Freshman starter Sophia Simpson (6-3) suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 4.0 innings of work.
The Details
Simpson tried to set a tone right from the start against the nation's top-ranked offense by striking out Sooner standouts Tiare Jennings, Jocelyn Alo and Grace Lyons in order.
After Texas left Parker stranded following a walk in the bottom of the first, Oklahoma got its first two batters aboard in the second on a walk and a hit by pitch. With one out, an errant pick-off throw to first traveled wide as center fielder Jayda Coleman raced around to score from second for an unearned 1-0 advantage.
Smith ignited the home crowd with two outs in the bottom of the second by crushing a solo shot into the top row of the new right field bleachers to dead-lock the contest at 1-1.
The Sooners answered right back in the top of the third as left fielder Alyssa Brito hit a leadoff solo HR to center to make it 2-1.
With sophomore center fielder Alyssa Popelka on via a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third, Jefferson launched a towering drive to left center. The double was played on one hop off the wall by OU's Coleman, and the center fielder made a strong throw to third to catch a sliding Popelka for an umpire-reviewed first out. Parker walked with two down to station runners at the corners for the Longhorns, but Iakopo lined out sharply to third to conclude the threat.
Oklahoma added another unearned run in the top of the fourth. After a Texas fielding miscue to start the frame, a two-out stolen base and a Jana Johns RBI single to center boosted Oklahoma's lead to 3-1.
Brito expanded OU's advantage by opening the top of the fifth with her second HR of the game. A Lyons RBI bunt single, a Johns bases-loaded walk, a two-RBI Rylie Boone base knock and a Brito RBI single made it 9-1.
Needing a rally to avoid the run-rule, Texas quickly loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Hope Trautwein on a Jefferson hit by pitch, a Scott bunt single and a Parker walk. Iakopo stepped into the box and blasted another liner but right to second as OU turned a game-ending double play.
