No. 16/18 Softball reaches national semis with 5-2 win over Arizona

Sunday, June 5

Oklahoma City, Okla.

6 p.m.

University of Texas

45-20-1

Arizona

39-22

Arizona

Texas

No. 16/18 Softball reaches national semis with 5-2 win over Arizona

06.05.2022 | Softball

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Texas will now face No. 6/7 Oklahoma State on Mon., June 6, at 6 p.m. CT (if nec. 8:30 p.m. CT) on ESPN

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A huge three-run, fourth-inning HR from sophomore first baseman JJ Smith and a heroic relief effort from sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech helped lead No. 16/18 Texas softball (45-20-1) past Arizona (39-22), 5-2, on Sunday night in WCWS action at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium and into the national semifinals.

Texas now advances to face No. 6/7 Oklahoma State on Mon., June 6, at 6 p.m. CT, and if necessary, at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Longhorns must beat the Cowgirls twice to reach the WCWS Championship Series.

Notes

Texas has now reached the national semifinals for the fourth time in program history (2003, 2005, 2013, 2022) and for the first time since its last WCWS appearance in 2013.
Texas hit two HR's in a WCWS game for just the second time in program history on Sunday. The previous occurrence was back on May 22, 2003, when former Longhorns Tamara Poppe and Amber Hall each went deep during a 3-2 win over Louisiana.
Sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech's .923 winning percentage this season (12-1 record) is the second-highest in Texas single-season history, trailing only Kim Bruins (10-0, 1.000, 2013).
With five RBIs against Arizona, Texas now has 342 on the season, breaking the old single-season program record of 339 established back in 2012.
Texas has managed to get at one runner on base now in 17-of-20 offensive innings at the WCWS.
Texas is now 9-11 all-time in six appearances at the Women's College World Series.
The Longhorns are now 2-1 all-time against Arizona at the Women's College World Series.

Major Players

Sophomore first baseman JJ Smith (1-for-3, run, HR, three RBIs); sophomore right fielder Courtney Day (1-for-2, run, HR, RBI); senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-3, run, double); sophomore center fielder Bella Dayton (1-for-2, sac fly, RBI); senior catcher Mary Iakopo (1-for-3, run)

In the Circle

Sophomore pitcher Estelle Czech (12-1) earned her first career WCWS win in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out four over 3.2 scoreless innings of work. Senior Hailey Dolcini started and permitted two earned runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout in 3.1 frames.

The Details

The pitchers ruled the early going as Arizona's Hanah Bowen and Texas' Dolcini both put up zeroes over the opening two frames.

It was the Longhorns that eventually broke through in the bottom of the third as Day launched a lead-off solo HR to left center for a 1-0 advantage.

The Wildcats answered right back in the top of the fourth to grab a 2-1 lead. UA quickly loaded the bases with no outs as catcher Sharlize Palacios led-off with a base knock through the right side, second baseman Allie Skaggs walked and third baseman Izzy Pacho singled to right. That set the stage for Carlie Scupin as the Arizona first baseman stepped up and hit a drive down the right-field line that dropped just inside the chalk for a single to plate a pair. With two still on and one down, the decision was made to bring Czech in from the bullpen. The decision paid immediate dividends as the sophomore hurler struck out consecutive Wildcats to get Texas out of a massive jam.

The back-and-forth contest continued into the bottom of the fourth as the Longhorns got the first batters of the frame on via an Alyssa Washington walk and an Iakopo single to center. Trying to stem the outburst, Arizona made its own call to the pen to summon in reliever Deyvn Netz. UA's move didn't pay off, however, as Smith greeted her with a three-run HR to right center to boost the Longhorns right back in front, 4-2.

With Czech holding things down from the circle, the Burnt Orange & White added to their lead in the fifth. Jefferson kicked off another rally with a leadoff double down the right-field line. Following a Mia Scott sac bunt, Dayton stepped into the box and lifted a high fly ball down into the right-field corner that was caught for a sacrifice fly as Jefferson trotted home easily from 60 feet away to make it 5-2.

Arizona tried to put together a rally in the top of the seventh as right fielder Paige Dimler led off the inning with a single to center. With one down, Texas' defense finished the win off in style behind Czech as a 6-4-3 double play sent the Longhorns on to the national semifinals.