No. 9/13 Softball takes two as Goode sets new program record

Saturday, February 18

Austin, Texas

3 p.m.

University of Texas

6-1-1

Omaha

6-3

Omaha

Texas

Photo by: Texas Athletics

No. 9/13 Softball takes two as Goode sets new program record

02.18.2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

With Janae Jefferson in attendance, freshman Leighann Goode sets new freshman hitting streak

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, TX – For The University of Texas, Saturday's softball action saw Janae Jefferson throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Longhorns' 9-1 win over Omaha. The night was capped by a freshman student-athlete breaking Jefferson's program record in Texas' 6-5 win over Loyola Chicago.

When Jefferson debuted for Texas at the beginning of the 2018 softball season, the Humble, Texas native set a program record with an eight-game hitting streak to begin a freshman year when she surpassed Stephanie Ceo's five-year old record on Feb. 17, 2018.

Nearly on the exact same day five years later, another freshman was on the verge of a program-long hitting streak: Leighann Goode.

After tying Jefferson's eight-game streak with a leadoff single to start the bottom of the first inning against the Mavericks, it was a leadoff double to open the bottom of the third against the Ramblers that pushed Goode ahead of the four-time NFCA All-American.

Goode, who has started in all nine games for Texas so far this season, has recorded at least one hit in all nine games, setting a new program record for the longest hitting streak by a freshman to begin their Longhorn softball playing career. The San Antonio native will carry a team-leading .567 batting average (17 hits in 30 plate appearances) into Sunday's game against her hometown program UIW.

FROM ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH STEVE SINGLETON

"(Leighann) is aggressive. She's a freshman with no fear and I think that's the best thing. She was one of the best players in the country as a high school kid coming to Texas. And I think everyone has gotten an opportunity to see just that. This has been her opportunity to shine, and she loves it. She's not shy or scared of it. She attacks and can hit velocity. She can bunt. She can run. She has really good hand-eye coordination, so, like Janae (Jefferson), they're able to put a lot of balls in play, which gives them more opportunities to get hits. And she runs like Janae, too, so when you combine that combination of speed, power, game IQ and ability to play the short game, there's no surprise to me that she's been having this level of success."

GAME NOTES

Saturday afternoon's game against Omaha was Texas' first run-rule victory on the season after the Longhorns scored nine unanswered runs in innings three through five.
Viviana Martinez was credited with her first career triple after sending the first pitch of her fifth inning at bat against Omaha down the right-field line and into the corner.
- Martinez later scored three batters later when pinch hitter Jordyn Whitaker singled to center field to extend Texas' lead to seven.
During Texas' night cap against Loyola Chicago, preseason All-Big 12 selection Mia Scott was shifted from third base to centerfield to start the top of the fourth inning.
- She recorded both second outs during the sixth and seventh innings by hauling in flyballs off the bat of Rambler student-athletes.
In her five appearances on the season, freshman right-handed pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez recorded a career-high three strikeouts on 46 pitches in 3.1 innings of work.
- And for the second time in her career, Gutierrez did not walk a batter during a pitching appearance.
  - The other time was also against Loyola Chicago on Friday, Feb. 17, when she went two innings in the Longhorns' 11-4 win.
With her three-hit game against Omaha to begin the day, freshman Leighann Goode Goode is tied with fellow freshman Viviana Martinez for the team lead with two three-hit games so far this season.
- Martinez is tied with sophomore Mia Scott for the team lead with five total multiple hit games.

UP NEXT

Texas (7-1-1) will conclude the three-day Texas Classic on Sunday, Feb. 19, when the Longhorns play UIW (5-4) at 12:30 PM CT.
- Texas will be looking for its sixth consecutive win at Red & Charline McCombs Field this season after the Longhorns beat Lamar on Wednesday and then Loyola Chicago and Omaha, twice, over the last two days.
- The Cardinals have split the weekend action by losing to Loyola and beating Omaha on Friday, before beating Loyola and losing to Omaha on Saturday.

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