The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
22-1
Merrimack
0-8
No. 1/2 Softball displays power abilities in two-game tilt
03.08.2025 | Softball
Texas outscores Merrimack, Oakland 23-1 in 10 innings of play
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite playing in near-freezing temperatures on Saturday, The University of Texas softball program did not let the weather elements of Ohio alter its ability to play as the Longhorns knocked off Merrimack (10-1) and Oakland (13-0) in five-inning affairs.
It took Texas just 14 pitches into the bottom of the first to score the first of its 23 runs throughout eight offensive innings after Ashton Maloney drew a walk on seven pitches, before stealing second and advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt. Four pitches later Maloney became the 140th career run batted in (RBI) in the historic collegiate softball career of Mia Scott as the fourth-year senior drove in the redshirt-junior on a sacrifice fly.
Katie Stewart and Joley Mitchell hit back-to-back home runs – to mark the first time this season the Texas offense has hit back-to-back home runs – en route to a four-run, three-hit bottom of the first. An inning later, the Longhorns added five more runs on four additional hits with the big blows being a solo home run off the bat of Kaydee Bennett and a two-run home run by Reese Atwood. UT added a single run in the fourth on a single through the left side by Leighann Goode to score Stewart.
Despite having to wait nearly three hours to start its next game, Texas opened up with a seven-run, six-hit bottom of the first against Oakland. After hitting four home runs against the Warriors earlier in the day, the Longhorns waited until the second inning to hit the first of three home runs against the Bears as Stewart pushed UT's lead out to 9-0 with a two-run shot two batters into the frame.
Mitchell and Atwood made it 11-0 and 12-0, respectively, in the bottom of the third with back-to-back two-out home runs, before Goode capped the scoring with a run-scoring double into the right field corner.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
"I thought we hit the ball really well (today). We were really patient and, obviously, the very first run of the game (against Merrimack) we scored without getting a hit, so it's always good we can show the ability to manufacture the right things and that leads to the opportunity to open the gates for the power bats. We hit seven home runs on the day, so they did a pretty good job at the plate today."
FROM SOPHOMORE KATIE STEWART
"We were kind of just playing us today and trying to set the tone as early as we could, so we could play looser for the rest of the game. For me, the confidence is there (right now) and the corners (of the outfield at this stadium) are shorter, so just trying to take advantage of that throughout the weekend."
GAME NOTES
- During the bottom of the first inning against Merrimack, Katie Stewart and Joley Mitchell hit back-to-back home runs, marking the first time the Longhorn offense has hit back-to-back home runs this season.
- It's the second time Stewart and Mitchell have hit back-to-back home runs with each other as the pair accomplished the feat on May 9, 2024 against Texas Tech, which was, coincidentally the last time Texas hit back-to-back home runs.
- The four home runs hit by the Texas Longhorns in five innings against Merrimack marked the third time this season UT has hit four home runs in a single game.
- Texas also connected for four long balls against Maryland on Feb. 14 and Colorado State on Feb. 21.
- In the bottom of the second against Merrimack, first-year Longhorn Kaydee Bennett sent a 0-2 pitch over the right field fence for her first home run since joining the Texas softball program.
- It was Bennett's fifth career home run and first since March 5, 2024 at UTSA as a member of the Abilene Christian softball program.
- With a seven-run bottom of the first against Oakland, it marks the most runs scored in the first inning for the Texas offense since plating seven in the bottom of the first against Nicholls in 10-3 victory on April 25, 2024.
- With her solo home run in the bottom of the third against Oakland, Reese Atwood has now hit 43 career home runs, passing Mary Iakopo (2019-22) for third on the program's career home run list.
UP NEXT
- Texas (23-1) will look for its 24th win in 25 games played this season when the Longhorns square off against Kent State (6-15) at 4:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 9.
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: Gutierrez, Citlaly (6-0)
L: Alyssa Balcom (3-4)
Batting:
2B: Kamryn Troyer 1
3B: Brooklyn Plitz 1
Batting:
2B: Scott, Mia 1 ; Stewart, Katie 1 ; Goode, Leighann 2
HR: Mitchell, Joley 1 ; Atwood, Reese 1 ; Stewart, Katie 1
RBI: Maloney, Ashton 1 ; Scott, Mia 1 ; Mitchell, Joley 2 ; Atwood, Reese 2 ; Stewart, Katie 4 ; Goode, Leighann 2 ; Cimusz, Katie 1
SF: Scott, Mia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maloney, Ashton 1 ; Scott, Mia 2 ; Mitchell, Joley 2 ; Atwood, Reese 3 ; Stewart, Katie 2 ; Goode, Leighann 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 1 ; Brister, Shylien 1
SB: Maloney, Ashton 1
CS: Stewart, Katie 1
