The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
Softball plays to a seven-inning tie with Texas A&M
10.18.2023 | Softball
Texas scores two early, settles for a tie against the Aggies
AUSTIN, Texas – The month of May may be seven months away, but Wednesday night's fall softball game between Texas and Texas A&M felt like a true NCAA Regional matchup, before the two programs played to a 2-2 tie after seven full innings of action.
The same way it did against the Aggies when the two teams met for a regional title during their last meeting on Sunday, May 21, 2023, Texas jumped out to an early multiple-run lead in the first inning as Viviana Martinez sparked a two-run bottom of the first with a run-scoring double to plate Bella Dayton, who led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a Mia Scott walk, from second.
Three batters later, Martinez, herself, scored when Alyssa Washington singled down the right field line to mark the sixth first-inning run for the Longhorns over the last two meetings between Texas and Texas A&M.
Over the next three innings, Texas managed to have at least one runner on base, including the bottom of the fourth after the Aggies plated their first run with a two-out double in the top half of the frame.
Texas A&M scored its game-tying run in the top of the seventh, when Aiyanna Coleman connected for a solo home run to begin the frame. Texas attempted to rally with three pinch hitters — Jordyn Whitaker, Vanessa Quiroga and Baylea Brandon — in the bottom of the seventh, but the trio were unable to reach base and ended the game.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
"Tonight was very much like a regional-type matchup with the way the crowd was hanging onto every pitch and every play. Having 871 fans here tonight for a fall game, I was very pleased with that and the support from the crowd. We came out and hit the ball really well to begin the game, and then we stopped scoring. You have to give (Texas A&M) credit for that, though, because they were making plays when they had to. Both teams played really well tonight and that's just a credit to the game of softball."
FROM SOPHOMORE VIVIANA MARTINEZ
"So far, I've really just been focusing on what I'm practicing on every day and taking that to the game. I'm just trying to stay within myself, really. Tonight felt so good. There was an amazing crowd, so the energy levels were high and playing against (Texas) A&M is always good competition. Tonight was just a fall ball game and I can't wait until the regular season gets here."
GAME NOTES
- Texas opened Wednesday night's game with a two-run bottom of the first inning, marking the fourth consecutive fall softball game in which the Longhorns have scored in the first inning.
- In two innings of work, Teagan Kavan struck out three Aggie batters, pushing her four-game fall strikeout total to 15 in 29 batters faced.
- Citlaly Gutierrez and Sophia Simpson extended their consecutive scoreless innings pitched against the Longhorns' fall opponents to seven and five-and-two-thirds innings, respectively.
- Sophomore infielder Viviana Martinez has now recorded at least one run-scoring plate appearance in all four of Texas' fall games following a first-inning double to the left-center field gap to plate Bella Dayton.
UP NEXT
- Texas will conclude its five-game fall slate of softball games on Friday, Oct. 27, when the Longhorns play a 10-inning game against Texas State that is slated to begin at 6:00 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW US
- For the latest information on the team, follow @TexasSoftball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @TexasLonghorns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
