No. 8/8 Softball clinches series with seventh-inning run

Sunday, April 16

Austin, Texas

12 p.m.

University of Texas

36-9-1, 0

Kansas

20-19, 0

Kansas

Texas

Photo by: Texas Athletics

No. 8/8 Softball clinches series with seventh-inning run

04.16.2023 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Reese Atwood delivers game-ending single through the left side to give Texas the weekend series

By: Chris Allen Brown

AUSTIN, TX – Heading into the bottom of the seventh of its 3-2 win over Kansas on Sunday, the first four hitters in Texas' lineup were a combined 1-for-10. But the impact of the first quartet of Longhorns during the frame won't be found in the statistical portion of the box score but rather the win-loss column.

With the score tied 2-2 entering Texas' final at bat during regulation, Mia Scott connected on a 3-2 pitch and legged out an infield single to begin the frame. On the very next pitch, Viviana Martinez grounded out to first to move Scott to second. Two pitches later, Leighann Goode grounded out to third to keep Scott at second.

After watching the first two pitches of her plate appearance, Reese Atwood sent a 1-1 pitch through the left side of the diamond forcing the Jayhawk defense to attempt to make a play at the plate as Scott headed for home plate. But the throw from Kansas' Presley Limbaugh from left field was late and off the mark, allowing Scott to slide across the plate uncontested.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"Well, I'm glad we didn't go to extra innings, because I think we are 0-for in those situations this season, so getting it done in seven was big. Obviously, Citlaly (Gutierrez) pitched a good game, but was a little unlucky there giving up the two two-out runs in the fourth. Then Mac (Morgan) came in and did a great job for us, especially when the defense behind her played error-free softball."

FROM FRESHMAN REESE ATWOOD

"I knew Mia (Scott) was on second and she has incredible speed, so I just knew I needed to get a ball in the gap or somewhere on the ground because she would score on anything I could put in play. That was my approach going up there, then I changed my stance a little bit so I could get my timing down and that's what I did."

GAME NOTES

With her three innings of relief work during Sunday's game, Mac Morgan has now tossed a career-long 20 consecutive innings of scoreless softball over her last four pitching appearances.
- Morgan, who is in her first season as a Longhorn, tossed 19.0 consecutive innings of scoreless softball from March 4, 2022 against Kansas to March 18, 2022 against Oregon State, while a member of the Arizona State softball program.
In the five times Mia Scott lead off an inning against Kansas throughout the weekend, the Texas offense scored during that inning on four occasions, including the seventh inning of Sunday's contest.
- Prior to Sunday's game, Longhorns had scored in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings of Friday's game, then the bottom of the first in Saturday's contest.
Of Camille Corona's last five hits, three have been run-scoring doubles.
With the win, Texas has now won three (Texas Tech, Iowa State and Kansas) of its four Big 12 Conference series this season.
Citlaly Gutierrez started Sunday's game by retiring the first nine consecutive Jayhawk batters.

UP NEXT

Next up for Texas (36-9-1) is a three-game conference series against No. 3 Oklahoma State at McCombs Field in Austin beginning at 8 PM CT on Thursday, April 20.
- Friday and Saturday's games will begin at 4:30 and 12 PM, respectively.
- Thursday night's game will be broadcasted on ESPN2, while Friday and Saturday's contests can be seen on Longhorn Network.

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