The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
8-0
Houston Christian
4-5
No. 2/2 Softball opens home slate in style
02.21.2024 | Softball
Texas earns fifth run-rule victory in eight games of the 2024 season
AUSTIN, Texas – On a night honoring a home run threat in senior Jordyn Whitaker, The University of Texas softball program sent three pitches out of Red & Charline McCombs Field during the Longhorns' 14-1 five-inning non-conference win over Houston Christian on Wednesday.
The offensive performance marked the fourth time in eight games this season that Texas has connected for three-or-more home runs in a single game, including seven over the last two contests to push the Longhorns' season total to 17.
It took until the bottom of the third for Texas, which was already holding onto a one-run lead following a first-inning run, to really get the offense clicking, but when the Longhorn bats got rolling, they didn't stop as the first four UT batters in the frame had already collectively hit for the cycle.
Katie Stewart followed Joley Mitchell's leadoff triple with a double to the left-center field gap, before Reese Atwood connected for her fifth home run of the season. Viviana Martinez sent a 2-2 pitch to right field for a single. Eleven more batters came to the plate during the remaining of the frame as Texas ballooned a 1-0 lead when the inning started out to an 11-0 advantage.
But, despite the 10 Texas runs or eight Longhorn hits, the most unselfishness act came when Whitaker, who had reached base earlier in the inning and was lifted for a pinch runner in Adayah Wallace, wanted Wallace, a true freshman, to remain in the game to record her first career collegiate plate appearance.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
"I just wanted to make sure we played all four phases of the game — defense, pitching, hitting and baserunning — the right way tonight. It all started with Estelle Czech and making sure she was focused to come out and do a good job. Sophia (Simpson) struggled a little bit there in the middle, but Mac Morgan came in and looked sharp. We wanted to get everybody a little playing time and opportunities tonight. Some of these players just showed what they could do. Joley (Mitchell) came off the bench and had a great night. (Victoria) Hunter had a nice home run. I love how everyone is pushing each other and that's the key. We aren't really looking at the scoreboard or the opponents; they're just playing the game the right way.
FROM FRESHMAN OUTFIELDER KAYDEN HENRY
"In a game like tonight, you want to pick your pitches and be very selective. You want to hit balls hard and not try to overdo anything, because games like this are preparing us for the weekend. You never want to take anyone lightly and I feel we never do."
GAME NOTES
- Texas has now recorded its fifth run-rule victory of the 2024 season, the most over the first eight games to a new season since the 2020 team won its first six consecutive games without reaching the seventh inning.
- With her home run against the Huskies, Reese Atwood already has five home runs on the season, which is 45.5 percent of her season total (11) from a year ago.
- With her five runs batted in (RBI) on the night, Reese Atwood tied her career high for most RBI in a single.
- Atwood set the mark in just her third career collegiate softball game after driving in five against Illinois in Clearwater, Fla., on Feb. 12, 2023.
- By driving in a run on her first-inning sacrifice fly, Reese Atwood tied her own program record for consecutive games played (8) with at least one RBI.
- As a freshman in 2023, Atwood drove in at least one run in eight consecutive games from April 7, 2023 at Iowa State to April 22, 2023 against Oklahoma State.
- By earning the win on Wednesday night, Estelle Czech has now been credited with 25 career victories in the pitching circle since arriving on the Forty Acres prior to the 2022 season.
UP NEXT
- Texas (8-0) will place host to the Lone Star State Invitational this weekend with the Longhorns' first game against RV/RV Louisiana scheduled for 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23.
- The Longhorns' weekend is highlighted by a marquee matchup against No. 13/12 Stanford at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24.
- UT and then-No. 9/9 Stanford squared off a week ago with the Burnt Orange and White earning a 9-2 victory over the Cardinal on Friday, Feb. 16 in Clearwater, Fla.
- The Longhorns' weekend is highlighted by a marquee matchup against No. 13/12 Stanford at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24.
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 (2-0)
L: Grofman, Ronni (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Bailey, Maddy 1
RBI: Bailey, Maddy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roberts, Jasie 1
Batting:
2B: Stewart, Katie 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 1 ; Atwood, Reese 1
3B: Mitchell, Joley 1
HR: Mitchell, Joley 1 ; Atwood, Reese 1 ; Hunter, Victoria 1
RBI: Mitchell, Joley 3 ; Stewart, Katie 2 ; Atwood, Reese 5 ; Henry, Kayden 1 ; Hunter, Victoria 2
SF: Atwood, Reese 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dayton, Bella 1 ; Goode, Leighann 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 3 ; Stewart, Katie 2 ; Atwood, Reese 1 ; Martinez, Viviana 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Wallace, Adayah 1 ; Henry, Kayden 2 ; Hunter, Victoria 1
SB: Martinez, Viviana 1
