The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UTSA
Softball handles Roadrunners early and often
10.04.2023 | Softball
Continuing its offensive outburst during Fall Ball, Texas plates at least one run in six of Wednesday night’s seven innings against UTSA.
AUSTIN, Texas – It's not something Texas softball head coach Mike White is actively aiming to do, but the runs just keep coming for the Longhorns during their 2023 fall slate as UT beat UTSA, 9-0, on Wednesday night. As a result of its nine-run victory, Texas has now outscored its three fall opponents by a combined 50-1.
Against the Roadrunners, the Texas offensive production was a product of patient plate appearance as the Longhorns totaled 15 hits and drew 10 walks. Nine of the 10 — a figure pre-determined prior to Wednesday night's 7:32 p.m. first pitch — Longhorns in the batting lineup reached base at least once on the evening. Jordyn Whitaker (run-scoring single in the fifth inning), Victoria Hunter (a solo home run in the sixth) and Katie Cimusz (a double in the seventh) all came off the bench to reach base as well.
In the circle, Mac Morgan started the game and tossed two innings of scoreless softball after facing the minimal through two frames. Sophia Simpson entered in relief to begin the third and struck out two during a third inning that saw UTSA load the bases with only one out. Simpson went on to face the minimal in the third, while adding a third strikeout to her night's total. Citlaly Gutierrez threw a perfect fifth inning that featured another Longhorn strikeout that was sandwiched between two grounders to Joley Mitchell at third. Teagan Kavan handled the final two frames to help Texas end the game having retired the last 11 consecutive Roadrunner batters.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
"It was good to see some people come through and do some damage (at the plate tonight). For Kayden Henry, at her body size, she's got a lot of power and can really steal some bases as well. It was just fun to do a lot of different things tonight, not all of it worked out but we were good at all the phases of the game."
GAME NOTES
- By striking out two more batters during the final two frames of Wednesday's action, freshman pitcher Teagan Kavan has now struck out 12 of the 19 batters she's faced during fall ball.
- The Longhorn pitching trio of Teagan Kavan (six innings pitched), Citlaly Gutierrez (five) and Sophia (five) Simpson 16 consecutive innings of scoreless softball across three fall contests.
- Texas scored at least one run in six of the game's completed innings Wednesday evening.
- The Longhorns added its ninth run of the game during the bottom of the seventh, but the frame wasn't completed as both sides mutually agreed to conclude the contest with Texas having runners at first and second and only one out in the inning.
- Across all three of Texas' fall games, freshman Kayden Henry is now 5-for-6 at the dish with a home run, six runs batted in, five runs scored, three walks and has stolen a pair of bases.
- Against the Roadrunners, Henry drew a team-high three walks and blasted her first home run of the fall with a fourth-inning solo shot to represent the Longhorns' only run that inning.
UP NEXT
- Having now completed three of its five fall games, Texas will return to the diamond at Red & Charline McCombs Field for its fourth contest on Wednesday, Oct. 18, when the Longhorns play Texas A&M at 7 p.m. CT on Longhorn Network.
- The two programs met during last season's NCAA Austin Regional, where the Longhorns knocked off the Aggies, twice, to win the regional and advance to the NCAA Knoxville Super Regional.
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.
