The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
40-9-1
Sam Houston
21-32
No. 5/5 Softball’s White earns No. 200 as Martinez drives in career high
05.03.2023 | Softball
Behind freshman Viviana Martinez’ career-high six RBI, Texas’ fifth-year head coach Mike White earns win No. 200 with program
AUSTIN, TX – The 11-day break between games for No. 5/5 Texas was well worth the wait as Wednesday night's 12-2 five-inning win over Sam Houston provided fireworks both on and off the field.
After Mac Morgan set down the first three Sam Houston batters on just 14 pitches to begin the game, the Texas offense found its way into the run column on the scoreboard after just three batters in the bottom of the first.
Mia Scott sent the third pitch she saw to the left-centerfield gap for a double, before advancing to third on a flyball off the bat of Leighann Goode. Moments later, Viviana Martinez brought Scott home with a double to left field. It was Martinez' first run-scoring plate appearance at home since a two-run single in the bottom of the first against Stephen F. Austin on March 22, 2023.
An inning later, Scott made it 2-0, Longhorns, with a two-out single to left field to score Alyssa Popelka from third.
After Sam Houston (21-32) tied the game in the top of the third with a two-out, two-run double to right-centerfield, Reese Atwood blasted an 0-2 pitch 241 feet to left field for a two-run home run to push the Longhorns back ahead in the bottom half of the frame. Atwood's run-scoring at bat was a sign of things to come for Texas as the home team added two more in the bottom of the fourth on a Bearkat fielding error.
And then the offense really got going with a six-run, four-hit bottom of the fifth that was capped by a Martinez game-ending grand slam after the Longhorns sent seven batters to the plate in the inning. The home run was the first career collegiate grand slam for Martinez and her first home run at home since going 3-for-3 with five RBI against then-No. 10/12 Virginia Tech on Feb. 25, 2023.
With the win, Mike White earned his 200th win as the head coach of the Texas Longhorn softball program. White, in his fifth season, now has an overall record of 200-65-2 (.749) since taking over at the helm of the Longhorn program prior to the 2019 season.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
"I thought we stayed cool tonight. We had fun. Mac Morgan, obviously, went out there and was dominate those first two innings. Estelle (Czech) had a little bit of a rough outing, but we were able to pick her right back up by getting the offense going, then Citlaly (Gutierrez) did a great job there at the end as well. Defense was good. You always worry about how the team is going to come out in situations like that, but we all had some fun tonight, including the coaches wearing these baseball uniforms."
FROM FRESHMAN VIVIANA MARTINEZ
"It felt great (to be able to turn in a career performance). My teammates were able to do their jobs and get on base for me and I just did my part by bringing them in. It felt great to be back out there tonight, though. I missed it."
GAME NOTES
- Each of the first three batters in the Texas lineup — Mia Scott, Leighann Goode and Viviana Martinez — each recorded a double within the game's first three innings.
- Texas' four stolen bases throughout Wednesday night's game mark the most for the Longhorns in a single season this season since swiping four against Northwestern on Feb. 10, 2023.
- Viviana Martinez now joins fellow Longhorn freshman Leighann Goode as the only Texas softball student-athletes to drive in six RBI in a game this season.
- Goode accomplished the feat against Texas Southern on Feb. 26, 2023.
- With the win, Texas has now tied South Florida and Campbell for the most wins (28) in home games this season.
- Wednesday evening's win over the Bearkats also gives the Longhorns 40 wins on the season, marking the third consecutive season Texas has accomplished the feat.
- Additionally, Texas has won at least 40 games in every completed season under fifth-year head coach Mike White.
UP NEXT
- Texas (40-9-1, 11-4) will now turn its attention to the Longhorns' final regular season home game when they play No. 20/21 Baylor (36-15, 5-10) at 6 PM CT on Friday, May 5 in Austin.
- Friday night's game will represent the opening contest of a three-game series between the Longhorns and Bears with Saturday and Sunday's games being played at 6 PM and 1 PM, respectively, in Waco.
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: Czech, Estelle (10-4)
L: VENTO, MIKA (3-6)
S: Gutierrez, Citlaly (3)
Batting:
2B: YAROTSKY, TRICIA 1
RBI: YAROTSKY, TRICIA 2
Base Running:
RUNS: GRILL, ELLIE 1 ; CARTER, HALEIGH 1
Batting:
2B: Scott, Mia 1 ; Goode, Leighann 1 ; Martinez, Viviana 1
HR: Martinez, Viviana 1 ; Atwood, Reese 1
RBI: Scott, Mia 2 ; Martinez, Viviana 6 ; Atwood, Reese 2 ; Dayton, Bella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Scott, Mia 3 ; Goode, Leighann 2 ; Martinez, Viviana 1 ; Atwood, Reese 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 1 ; Popelka, Alyssa 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 1 ; Dayton, Bella 2
SB: Scott, Mia 2 ; Mitchell, Joley 1 ; Dayton, Bella 1
