No. 9/11 Softball caps Longhorn Invitational with convincing win

Sunday, March 5

Austin, Texas

12:30 p.m.

University of Texas

17-2-1

Louisiana

13-8

Louisiana

Texas

Photo by: Texas Athletics

No. 9/11 Softball caps Longhorn Invitational with convincing win

03.05.2023 | Softball

Box Score

Texas scored seven runs in game’s first three innings to knock off RV/No. 24 Louisiana for second time in three days

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, TX – Heading into this weekend's Longhorn Invitational, many around the country wanted to see how No. 9/11 Texas would play against RV/No. 24 Louisiana. Sunday's 8-3 Longhorn victory marked the second win over the Ragin' Cajuns in less than 48 hours.

As it did Friday night, Louisiana (13-8) scored a single run in the top of the first inning. However, it didn't take long for Texas to respond.

Courtney Day, who hit two home runs against Louisiana on Friday night, singled down the right field line to score Leighann Goode from second during the bottom of the first. Viviana Martinez followed with a double to left field to plate Day from first.

An inning later, Goode extended the Longhorn lead to 3-1 with a two-out single through the left side to score Bella Dayton. And then Day stepped into the box during the third inning and blasted her third home run against the Ragin' Cajuns after sending a 1-0 pitch over the centerfield fence for a two-run home run. Day's hit highlighted a four-run third before Lou Gilbert capped the Longhorns' eight unanswered runs with a run-scoring double in the bottom of the sixth.

Texas was on the verge of a six-inning run-rule victory with the game-ending at third with one out, but a fielder's choice and a flyout ended the frame.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"We are dangerous on offense, that's for sure. Our top of the order has just been lights out, but we just have to keep going and not think about it that kind of stuff. We just have to keep our minds in it and stay grounded, because we have tough matchups this weekend against Alabama, Wisconsin and Texas State."

FROM JUNIOR COURTNEY DAY

"Overall, I just think I was seeing the ball pretty well. I had a different mindset heading into this weekend and really just wanted to focus on getting good pitches to hit and driving them."

GAME NOTES

Leighann Goode turned in her eighth multiple hit game of the season after being credited with two singles, including a run-scoring hit in the bottom of the second, in three official plate appearances.
With her run-scoring double in the bottom of the first inning, freshman Viviana Martinez has driven in at least one RBI in nine of her last 11 games, including all five games of the Longhorn Invitational this weekend.
Sunday's seven-inning performance was the the longest of Citlaly Gutierrez' young Texas career.
- Guterrez' previous longest outing was her five-inning no-hitter against Texas Southern on Sunday, Feb. 26.
With her run-scoring ground out to cap Texas' four-run bottom of the third, Baylea Brandon has driven in at least one run in three of her last four games.
Texas, with the win, now moves to 6-1 on the season when its opponent scores first.
- The Longhorns are also now 9-1-1 when they score in the first inning.

UP NEXT

After four neutral-site games followed by 16 consecutive home contests, Texas (17-2-1) will play its first true road game its next time out when the Longhorns travel to Arlington to play UTA (9-11) at 6 PM CT on Wednesday, March 8.
- The Mavericks head into the game having won three of their last five games as part of the 4th Boerner Invitational.

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