No. 16 Softball run-rules Texas Tech at the Big 12 Championship, 9-1 (5 inn.)

Thursday, May 12

Oklahoma City, Okla.

6 p.m. CT

University of Texas

38-16-1

Texas Tech

22-27

Texas Tech

Texas

No. 16 Softball run-rules Texas Tech at the Big 12 Championship, 9-1 (5 inn.)

05.12.2022 | Softball

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Freshman right fielder Katie Cimusz managed the game’s big blow on a three-run HR to left center

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The 2022 postseason is off to a strong start for No. 16 Texas softball (38-16-1) as the Longhorns had five different players record RBIs while blasting their way past Texas Tech (22-27) on Thursday evening in Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship action at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, 9-1 (5 inn.).

Notes

Texas advances on to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship semifinals on Fri., May 13, to face No. 7/8 Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. CT on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
Texas improved to 29-23 all-time over 19 appearances at the Big 12 Championship.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson went 2-for-3 to stretch her reached base streak to a career-high 21 games. That's tied for the 11th longest such skein in program history.
Freshman right fielder Katie Cimusz's three RBIs tied her career high (now done three times).
Jefferson's sixth inning double marked the 50th of her illustrious career in the Burnt Orange & White
Senior catcher Mary Iakopo posted two RBIs to reach the 50-RBI mark in a single season for the first time in her standout career.
Having entered Thursday tied for the NCAA Division I team lead in total doubles, Texas added one against Texas Tech to improve its single-season school record to 96.
Jefferson and freshman third baseman Mia Scott each registered two hits to lift their multiple-hit game totals during the 2022 season to 24 and 18, respectively.

Major Players

Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (2-for-3, run, double, RBI); freshman right fielder Katie Cimusz (1-for-3, run, HR, three RBIs); freshman third baseman Mia Scott (2-for-3, two runs, steal); senior catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-2, run, walk, two RBIs); senior pinch hitter Lauren Burke (1-for-1, RBI)

In the Circle

Senior pitcher Hailey Dolcini (19-7) picked up the win after allowing one earned run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over 4.0 innings of work. Freshman Sophia Simpson allowed one hit and walked one while tossing a scoreless fifth inning of relief.

The Details

Scott got the Longhorns offense started in the bottom of the first by lacing a one-out single to left. With two down in the frame, the speedster took off on a steal of second. Scott was initially called out, but the call was reversed following video replay review. That gave Iakopo a RBI opportunity, and the senior catcher delivered in the clutch by blooping a run-scoring single to right center for a 1-0 lead.

Dolcini was locked in from the circle during the early going as the Ferndale, Calif., native struck out four of the first six Tech batters she faced over the opening two innings.

The Red Raiders got on the board hit-wise with one out in the top of the third as right fielder Demi Elder ripped a single through the right side. She was aboard for what seemed like mere seconds as Iakopo quickly gunned Elder down on a steal attempt to clear the base paths.

Texas' offense got back to work in the bottom of the third as a Jefferson leadoff base knock to right, a Scott bunt single and a dropped fly ball in left packed the bags with no outs. Following an Iakopo bases-loaded walk to force in the second run of the contest, sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington lifted a fly ball to right that was also misplayed for an error allowing two more Longhorns to cross for a 4-0 advantage. The lead soon expanded to 7-0 as Cimusz stepped into the batter's box and crushed a three-run HR to left center. After a Courtney Day base knock and a wild pitch that moved pinch runner Lou Gilbert into scoring position, Jefferson made it two hits in the same inning by launching a RBI double to left center to make it 8-0.

TTU eventually broke through in the top of the fourth as an Arriana Villa leadoff single was cashed in by first baseman Ellie Bailey on a RBI double to left to cut Texas' advantage to 8-1.

Facing Simpson in relief to start the top of the fifth, TTU got a one-out base knock from left fielder Payton Jackson. The Red Raiders soon left her stranded in scoring position, however, on an inning-ending bouncer.

With the opportunity to walk the game off by run-rule in the bottom of the fifth, Texas took immediate advantage. A one-out Gilbert walk and a Bella Dayton sac bunt moved a runner into scoring position. Burke was summoned into the contest to pinch-hit and immediately ended things by driving the first pitch she got to left center to finalize the 9-1 (5 inn.) victory.