No. 10/8 Softball continues come-from-behind trait on Saturday

Saturday, March 25

Austin, Texas

12 p.m.

University of Texas

29-5-1, 0

Texas Tech

26-10, 0

Texas Tech

Texas

Photo by: Texas Athletics

No. 10/8 Softball continues come-from-behind trait on Saturday

03.25.2023 | Softball

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Texas rallies from a first-inning three-run deficit to clinch conference-opening series against Texas Tech

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, TX – For the second consecutive game, late-game heroics was the tale of the tape for Texas' 4-3 win over Texas Tech.

Texas Tech jumped into the run column first Saturday afternoon when Ellie Bailey connected on a 3-2 pitch for a two-out, three-run home run to cap a three-run, three-hit top of the first. From there, the Red Raiders managed only three more hits over the game's next six innings as the Longhorns went to work at the plate.

After Mac Morgan held Texas Tech scoreless over the next four innings, Courtney Day led off the bottom of the fifth by singling a 2-1 pitch to centerfield. Alyssa Popelka entered the game as a pinch-runner and worked her way around to third before scoring on a fielder's choice. Ashton Maloney, who followed Day's hit with her own single, scored from second moments later during Mia Scott's at bat to cut the Longhorn deficit to a single run.

Sophia Simpson (3-1) carried the momentum into the top of the sixth as she struck out three Red Raider batters to bring the Longhorn offense back to the dish.

Alyssa Washington, who was playing in her first game in eight days, started the sixth-inning rally with one-out single up the middle off Texas Tech's Makinzy Herzog (2-3). Despite Washington being erased at second on a fielder's choice during the next at bat, Day beat out the throw and reached first to setup Reese Atwood's heroics.

Down to Texas' final out in the bottom of the sixth, Atwood watched the first pitch sail out of the strike zone before fouling off the next two. Then, on the fourth pitch of the plate appearance, the 6-foot-0 freshman catcher launched her team-leading seventh home run to give the Longhorns their first lead of the day.

Simpson returned to the circle in the top of the seventh to retire the side on 17 pitches.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"Once you get into conference play, anything can happen. (Texas Tech) jumped out to a big three-run lead and (Maddie Kuehl) was throwing really well against us. We were struggling a little bit, but we kept fighting and kept fighting. It was a big day from the bottom half of the order with Reese Atwood coming through and Ashton Maloney getting a couple of hits. Alyssa Washington being back in the lineup made a big difference for us today, even the on the last play (of the game) by making that running catch while looking into the sun."

FROM FRESHMAN REESE ATWOOD

"I knew I had to be big for my team and I had a few rough at bats to begin with throughout the game, so I knew I just needed to get inside the ball and see it. It felt good to be able to come through, though, especially after the rough beginning to the game and get the win."

GAME NOTES

With the win, Texas has now clinched its first regular-season Big 12 Conference series at home since sweeping Iowa State (4/1-4/3) during the 2022 season.
Saturday's result marked the first time this season Texas has won a game after trailing by three runs.
- Trailed 3-0 after the first inning of a 10-9 loss to Northwestern (2/10)
- Trailed 3-0 after the second inning of a 4-3 loss to Alabama (3/11)
- Trailed 3-0 after the third inning of a 4-3 loss to USF (3/17)
Texas' win over Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon marked the first win on the season for the Longhorns after trailing following the completion of the fifth inning.
By throwing two scoreless innings against the Red Raiders, Sophia Simpson has now recorded a scoreless pitching appearance in seven of her last 11 games.

UP NEXT

Texas (29-5-1) will look for its first three-game conference sweep at home since April 2022 when the Longhorns face off against Texas Tech (26-10) at 12 PM CT on Sunday, March 26.

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