The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UT Arlington
No. 19 Softball preview: vs. UT Arlington
04.05.2022 | Softball
The Longhorns step out of Big 12 play for a mid-week home matchup against the Mavericks
No. 19 Texas (29-10-1) hosts UT Arlington (15-14) | April 6 | Red & Charline McCombs Field, Austin, Texas
Schedule:
Wednesday, April 6
6 p.m. UT Arlington vs. #19 TEXAS – LHN
Location: Austin, Texas (Red & Charline McCombs Field)
Ticket Information: LINK
Live Stats: LINK
Television: The UT Arlington game will be broadcast on Longhorn Network and WATCH ESPN with Alex Loeb (play-by-play) and Cat Osterman (analyst).
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:
- Former Texas player Jaden Hoelker is now a senior catcher at UT Arlington. As a freshman in 2019, she played in seven games for UT going 1-for-2 (.500) with two runs scored.
- Senior Mary Iakopo earned her first career nod as the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week (April 5) after hitting .545 (6-for-11) with six walks, two HR's and seven RBIs against Louisiana & Iowa State. She reached base safely in 12-of-17 plate appearances, slugged at a 1.091 clip and hit a clutch, three-run walk-off HR with two outs in last Friday's 7-5 comeback victory over the Cyclones.
- Texas sophomore outfielder Alyssa Popelka has been on fire at the plate over the last six games, posting six consecutive multi-hit efforts while hitting .722 (13-for-18) overall. The Austin, Texas, native has also swiped five bases and posted a 1.460 OPS (.737 OBP) over that stretch.
- Maybe Texas should consider putting Mary Iakopo in the leadoff spot from time to time. We only say that because the senior C/1B is hitting a remarkable .636 (14-for-22) when leading off any inning this season.
- Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson has quietly been climbing her way up the national stat rankings. The Humble, Texas, product now rates fifth in all of NCAA Division I in hits (52) and seventh in doubles (12).
- The Longhorns ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division I in total doubles with 70 (as of April 5), trailing only North Dakota State (75). Mary Iakopo (10) & Janae Jefferson (12) lead Texas.
- The Longhorns currently rank No. 14 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) that's used as one of the tools to seed postseason play and are No. 35 in strength of schedule.
- Texas has opened Big 12 play at a perfect 6-0 for the sixth time in program history and for the second straight conference season.
- Texas senior second baseman Janae Jefferson continues to excel from the leadoff spot in the lineup as the three-time NFCA All-American is batting .490 as the leadoff of any inning in 2022, going 25-for-51 at the plate in those situations.
- Texas junior DP McKenzie Parker's recent 22-game reached base streak from February 19-April 2 tied for the eighth-longest in program history.
