The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
18-2-1
UT Arlington
9-12
No. 9/10 Softball runs winning streak to 10 games
03.08.2023 | Softball
Ashton Maloney, Katie Cimusz combine to drive in eight of Texas’ 12 runs in win at UTA
ARLINGTON, TX – The offensive show that is The University of Texas' softball program was on full display in the Longhorns' 12-3 win at UTA on Wednesday night.
Ashton Maloney, one of seven underclassmen in Texas' starting lineup against the Mavericks, turned in a career night with three hits, including two doubles, and drove in four runs. Since her career-long seven-game hitting streak ended against Princeton on Saturday, March 4, Maloney has responded with five hits, four RBI and two runs scored in seven official plate appearances during Texas' last two games.
Maloney, playing in her first career true road game, began and concluded Texas' scoring in Arlington Wednesday night. The Liberty, Mo., native scored Bella Dayton from second with a double to left-centerfield in the bottom of the second. Five innings later, she extended the Longhorn lead from 9-3 to 12-3 with a bases-clearing double to the right-centerfield gap.
Maloney's two doubles were two of six extra base hits for Texas on the night. Courtney Day and Baylea Brandon both had doubles, too, while Brandon was joined by Katie Cimusz and Alyssa Washington with home runs.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
"Yeah, we had a pretty good bounce back after the first few innings tonight. I don't think we were really locked in to start the game – maybe it was the bus drive or being away from home – but we turned it on there in the later innings. We got good performances from certain people: Katie Cimusz, Baylea Brandon had a good night and Ashton Maloney did well, too. And, of course, the pitching was solid from all three pitchers."
FROM REDSHIRT-FRESHMAN ASHTON MALONEY
"I think I was just looking for pitches in the right spots tonight, to be honest, when I got those hits. During the first at bat, I was looking for an outside pitch and during the last at bat, I was looking inside because that's where they were throwing me during the second at bat."
GAME NOTES
- With her inning of work Wednesday night, Estelle Czech extended her consecutive pitching appearances without a walk to four.
- Czech has not issued a walk in her last 20.0 innings pitched dating back to a five-inning appearance against Omaha on Saturday, Feb. 18.
- Czech will enter the weekend having struck out 38 batters while issuing only seven walks in 39.2 innings pitched in nine pitching appearances.
- Texas connected for a season-high three home runs in its game against UTA on Wednesday night.
- The Longhorns also drew a season-high seven walks and four doubles against the Mavericks.
- For the first time this season, two Texas softball student-athletes hit back-to-back home runs when Katie Cimusz sent a 3-1 pitch over the left-centerfield fence during the top of the third inning. Baylea Brandon followed with a solo home run on a 2-2 court.
- Brandon has now driven in at least one run in four of her last five games. She's also been credited with six hits over the same span.
- In just two innings of work Wednesday night, sophomore right-handed pitcher Sophia Simpson struck out four batters, marking the sixth consecutive pitching appearance with at least four strikeouts for Barbers Hill product.
- Eight of the nine offensive starters for Texas earned at least one hit on the afternoon with Ashton Maloney leading the way with three. Brandon followed with two hits in three official plate appearances.
UP NEXT
- After its first true road game on the season, Texas (18-2-1) will return to Red & Charline McCombs Field for this weekend's Bevo Classic involving Wisconsin, Texas State and No. 13/9 Alabama.
- Texas will begin its slate of five games with a pair on Friday, March 10, when the Longhorns play Wisconsin at 1:30 PM CT and then No. 13/9 Alabama at 4 PM.
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morgan, Mac (6-0)
L: Bumpurs, Gracie (3-5)
Batting:
2B: Day, Courtney 1 ; Brandon, Baylea 1 ; Maloney, Ashton 2
HR: Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 1 ; Brandon, Baylea 1
RBI: Scott, Mia 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 4 ; Brandon, Baylea 1 ; Maloney, Ashton 4
SF: Cimusz, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Goode, Leighann 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Day, Courtney 2 ; Martinez, Viviana 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 2 ; Brandon, Baylea 2 ; Dayton, Bella 2 ; Maloney, Ashton 1
CS: Scott, Mia 1
Batting:
2B: Hukill, Reagan 1
3B: Westbrook, Morgan 1
HR: Wideman, Sophie 1
RBI: Wideman, Sophie 1 ; Hukill, Reagan 1 ; Westbrook, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wideman, Sophie 1 ; Cortemelia, Kimber 1 ; Hukill, Reagan 1
SB: Hukill, Reagan 1
