The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Saturday, June 4
Oklahoma City, Okla.
2 p.m. CT
University of Texas
vs
#1 Oklahoma
No. 16/18 Softball WCWS Preview: vs. No. 1 Oklahoma
06.03.2022 | Softball
The Red River Rivalry will be renewed on the largest stage in softball this Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ABC.
No. 16/18 Texas (44-19-1, 12-6 Big 12) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (55-2, 17-1 Big 12) at the Women's College World Series | June 4 | Oklahoma City, Okla.
Schedule:
Saturday, June 4
2 p.m. #16/18 TEXAS vs. #1 Oklahoma – ABC
**All Times Central
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. (USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium)
Television: The match-up with Oklahoma is scheduled for broadcast on ABC with Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Jessica Mendoza & Michele Smith (analysts) and Holly Rowe (reporter) on the call.
Radio: Texas' games are scheduled for radio broadcast via web stream with Andrew Haynes on the call via this LINK. The Texas broadcast can also 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:
- Pitching & defense have been HUGE keys in Texas' NCAA Tournament run. UT entered the Field of 64 with a 3.30 season staff ERA & a .955 fielding percentage. Over eight NCAA games, Texas owns a 1.40 ERA and a .987 fielding mark.
- Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson owns a program record 36 career NCAA Tournament hits. She's managed 20 hits in regional play, 15 in super regional action and got her first career WCWS hit against No. 5/6 UCLA on Thursday.
- Texas third baseman Mia Scott has managed many remarkable moments during her freshman campaign, including a key three-run double back on April 16 to help end No. 1 Oklahoma's 40-game winning streak. Her first WCWS appearance may have put all of those moments to shame. The Angleton, Texas, native broke the Texas WCWS record for single-game hits, tied the doubles mark and registered the first-ever UT triple in a WCWS contest as part of her 4-for-4, double, triple, two-RBI effort in the 7-2 win over No. 5/6 UCLA.
- Besides the many daily challenges that come from being student-athletes, two Texas players have also faced significant off-the-field obstacles during the 2021-22 school year. Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington sadly lost her father Osiris (pronounced oh-SYRE-us) suddenly back in August 2021, while sophomore outfielder Alyssa Popelka's mother Jennifer Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer during the 2022 season (now in remission as of May). Both players have chosen to use their play on the field this year to honor their parents, and remarkably, they're each having career years for the Longhorns.
- Pitcher Hailey Dolcini has been a warrior during Texas' NCAA run. The senior is 4-2 overall with a 1.60 ERA, five complete games and 23 K's in 39.1 innings. At one point, she threw 535 pitches over a seven-game span that included two wins at No. 11 Washington & a one at No. 4 Arkansas.
- Jefferson is closing in on THREE MORE Texas single season records. She needs THREE RUNS to break the school single-season runs mark, ONE GAME/START to break the single-season games/starts record and EIGHT MORE TOTAL BASES to break the single-season record for total bases.
- Senior C/1B Mary Iakopo has been on fire at the plate over the last 17 games, hitting .412 with four doubles, three HR's and a team-high 20 RBIs. She also reached base safely in 16-of-17 games & hit safely in 15-of-17 games in that stretch.
- Jefferson is also having a remarkable NCAA Tournament. The Humble, Texas, product is hitting .481 (13-for-27) over eight games with 10 runs, three doubles, three HR's (matches her pre-NCAA season total) and a 1.459 OPS.
- Sophomore outfielder Bella Dayton has turned it on during Texas' eight-game NCAA run by hitting .320 with four extra-base hits (two HR's) and five RBIs. Compare that to the regular season when Dayton batted .261 with three HR's and 17 RBIs..
- Senior C/1B Mary Iakopo is Texas' biggest threat with runners in scoring position. The Carson, Calif., native is currently hitting at a .423 clip (30-for-71) with RISP in 2022.
- Jefferson continues to excel from the leadoff spot as the three-time NFCA All-American is batting .478 as the leadoff of any inning in 2022, going 44-for-92 in those situations.
- The Longhorns are currently NO. 1 IN NCAA DIVISION I in doubles with a school single-season record 110, seven ahead of second-place Louisiana (103). Janae Jefferson currently leads Texas and rates in the national top five with 22 doubles.
- The Longhorns have proven prolific in 2022 as far as stolen bases go. Texas' 94 steals are the most in a season since the 2013 Texas squad swiped a school record 126 bags & are the fifth-most in a single season in UT history.
- Jefferson has been climbing her way up the national stat rankings. The Humble, Texas, native entered the WCWS SECOND in NCAA DI in hits (87) & FOURTH in doubles (22).
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball