The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
McLennan Community College
Softball opens fall season by topping McLennan CC, 22-0 (12 inn.)
09.24.2022 | Softball
The Longhorns banged out 24 hits, including 11 of the extra-base variety, during the dominating victory
AUSTIN, Texas – On Saturday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field, Texas softball christened its 2022 fall season by banging out 24 hits, including 11 of the extra-base variety, and six pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Longhorns rolled past McLennan Community College over 12 innings of action, 22-0.
Major Players
Sophomore transfer utility player Baylea Brandon (2-for-3, sac fly, double, five RBIs); freshman infielder Viviana Martinez (2-for-4, double, three-run HR, four RBIs); junior shortstop Alyssa Washington (3-for-6, sac fly, double, two RBIs); junior utility player Courtney Day (1-for-3, sac fly, double, two RBIs), sophomore third baseman Mia Scott (2-for-3, two walks, four runs scored, triple, RBI); redshirt freshman outfielder Ashton Maloney (3-for-6, three runs, two steals); junior designated player Jordyn Whitaker (2-for-5, double, two RBIs)
The Details
After a quick one-two-three first inning behind UT junior left-handed pitcher Estelle Czech, the Longhorns offense got right to work. Maloney kick-started the outburst by driving a leadoff single to left and quickly swiping second. With two in scoring position following a Scott base knock up the middle, a sacrifice fly from Brandon and a Day RBI double to left boosted UT in front, 2-0.
A walk and a hit batter got McLennan CC in business against Czech during the top of the second. After a grounder moved the runners up 60 feet to second and third, Brandon and senior outfielder Lou Gilbert made consecutive grabs to leave the pair stranded on the base paths.
Gilbert kicked-off Texas' second by beating out an infield single and advancing to second on an error. That set the stage for a Whitaker RBI as the Jacksonville, Texas, product hit a run-scoring two-bagger to center for a 3-0 advantage. Following a Maloney single up the middle and a Scott walk, Brandon laced a two-RBI single to center to make it 5-0.
Sophomore pitcher Sophia Simpson entered the circle for the Burnt Orange & White starting the third and struck out three Highlanders over two strong innings of work.
Texas added three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to stretch its advantage to a commanding 11-0. The effort was keyed in the fourth by a Brandon RBI single and consecutive sac flies from Day and Washington, while a Camille Corona RBI knock to left and pair of run-scoring groundouts highlighted the fifth.
Facing UT junior reliever Logan Hulon in the top of the fifth, McLennan CC got two runners into scoring position courtesy of a walk, a passed ball, a single and a steal. A pitch got away behind the plate, but freshman catcher Katie Cimusz raced back to recover the ball and tossed to Hulon for the tag to preserve the shutout.
Following a quiet sixth and a commanding top of the seventh inning of work from sophomore transfer reliever Mac Morgan, Texas' offense got back to work in the bottom of the frame. Scott did all the work herself by launching a one-out triple to left center before racing home on an errant pick-off attempt.
With Texas already up 12-0 in the bottom of the eighth, freshman infielder Leighann Goode lifted the Longhorns offensive output to an even baker's dozen. The San Antonio, Texas, native started her efforts by launching a one-out double to right. She soon demonstrated her impressive speed on the base paths by hustling all the way around from second to score on a passed ball and boost the lead to 13-0.
UT freshman hurler Citlaly Gutierrez took over in the circle and kept McLennan CC off the scoreboard by posting a combined two K's over a quiet ninth and 10th inning.
In the bottom of the 10th after a Mya Holmes double to right center and a Vanessa Quiroga walk, Martinez stepped to the plate with two down and launched a three-run HR to right to make it 16-0.
From there, Texas got two solid innings of relief work from Day and added a six-spot to the scoreboard in the bottom of the 11th to finalize its 22-0 score line. Holmes (sac fly), freshman utility player Maddie Pomykalski (double), Martinez (double), Washington (single) and Whitaker (single) all recorded single RBIs during the outburst.
2022 Texas Softball Fall Schedule (all games at McCombs Field)
Sat., Sept. 24 McLennan Community College TEXAS, 22-0 (12 inn.)
Fri., Sept. 30 St. Mary's 6 p.m. CT (10 innings)
Sun., Oct. 9 Texas State 4 p.m. CT (10 innings)
Fri., Oct. 21 Odessa College 6 p.m. CT (10 innings – LONGHORN NETWORK)
