No. 21/19 Softball completes sweep of Iowa State, 7-2

Sunday, April 3

Austin, Texas

12 p.m. CT

University of Texas

29-10-1, 6-0

Iowa State

19-16, 0-3

Iowa State

Texas

No. 21/19 Softball completes sweep of Iowa State, 7-2

04.03.2022 | Softball

Box Score

The Longhorns have now opened Big 12 Conference play at 6-0 for the sixth time in program history

AUSTIN, Texas – Chalk up a second-straight league sweep for No. 21/19 Texas softball (29-10-1, 6-0 Big 12 Conference) as the Longhorns scored in four of six offensive innings in knocking off Iowa State (19-16, 0-3 Big 12 Conference) on Sunday afternoon in front of 1.463 fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field, 7-2.

Notes

Texas improved to 6-0 to open Big 12 Conference play for the sixth time in program history (2022, 2021, 2018, 2013, 2012, 2011).
By rallying out of any early 1-0 hole against Iowa State on Sunday, the occurrence marked the 12th time this season (and third time this weekend against ISU) that Texas has battled back to win or tie after trailing at any point in the game in 2022.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson went 1-for-3 on Sunday to register career hit No. 322. She's just 10 hits from tying the Big 12 Conference career hits record held by former Iowa State standout Sami Williams (332 hits).
Sophomore center fielder Alyssa Popelka went 2-for-3 on Sunday to finish the Iowa State series hitting a remarkable .700 (7-for-10) over the three contests with six runs scored.
With her 39th career Texas HR on Sunday, senior first baseman Mary Iakopo moved past former Longhorns great Taylor Thom (2011-14) into third place in the UT career record book.
Freshman third baseman Mia Scott registered a career-high three RBIs for the second straight game.
Texas improved to 63-4 in its all-time series against Iowa State and 28-3 overall in Austin.

Major Players

Freshman third baseman Mia Scott (2-for-3, walk, three RBIs); senior first baseman Mary Iakopo (1-for-1, two runs, three walks, HR, RBI); sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington (1-for-2, two runs, walk, RBI); sophomore center fielder Alyssa Popelka (2-for-3, two runs)

In the Circle

Sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech (9-1) earned the triumph after allowing two earned runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 5.0 innings of work. Senior Hailey Dolcini allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two in 2.0 frames of scoreless relief.

The Details

Iowa State got right to work in the top of the first as a Carli Spelhaug leadoff double and a Mikayla Ramos hit by pitch put two aboard. With one out, third baseman Kaylee Pond lined a single to center. Popelka corralled the ball and fired a strike to the plate that appeared to be in plenty of time to tag Spelhaug out. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the home plate umpire ruled obstruction as the Cyclones grabbed a 1-0 advantage.

After the Cyclones left two stranded in scoring position during the top of the second, the Longhorns tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom half as Iakopo crushed a titanic, 272-foot drive off the top of the scoreboard in center for her team-leading eighth HR of the season.

Consecutive singles from Popelka, senior second baseman Janae Jefferson and Scott packed the bases full of Burnt Orange & White with one out in the bottom of the third. That set the stage for junior designated player McKenzie Parker as the Conroe, Texas, product hammered a towering sacrifice fly to right center to score Popelka for a 2-1 lead.

Iowa State threatened again with one out in the top of the fourth as center fielder Skyler Ramos singled to short, moved to second on a Texas error and eventually ended up at third after a wild pitch. ISU designated player Ellie Spelhaug stepped into the box and swung at strike three in the dirt before taking off for first. Cimusz raced to corral the ball, fired a strike to first for the out and then handled Iakopo's toss back to the plate to drop the tag on Ramos to complete a huge, inning-ending double play.

Texas added another run on the board during the bottom of the fourth as Scott fought to draw a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-1.

The Cyclones eventually cut their deficit to 3-2 in the fifth as third baseman Kaylee Pond hit a RBI double to right.

That was as close as ISU would get as the Longhorns exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth on the combination of three hits and a pair of walks. The big blows of the inning came on an Alyssa Washington RBI single to left and Scott's two-RBI base knock up the middle.

With Dolcini on in relief for the Horns, Iowa State managed a leadoff base runner in both the sixth and seventh frames. That was all they could string together, however, as the senior pitcher retired the next three in order in each inning to complete the series sweep.