Miranda Elish shutout completes perfect weekend for No. 11/10 Texas softball

By Steve Lansdale

AUSTIN, Texas — Transfer pitcher Miranda Elish allowed just two hits and struck out 11 in a complete-game shutout Sunday to lead the No. 11/10 Texas softball team to a 7-0 rout of visiting Ole Miss at Red & Charline McCombs Field. The victory was the Longhorns’ sixth straight and ran their season record to 12-1.

First baseman Lauren Burke, center fielder Reagan Hathaway and left fielder Kaitlyn Washington all drove in a pair of runs to lead the Texas offense.

Despite the offensive outburst, the Longhorns did not need extensive power at the plate or aggressiveness on the basepaths. Second baseman Janae Jefferson’s double was the only extra-base hit, while third baseman Shannon Rhodes had UT’s only stolen base.

The Longhorns got the only run they would need in the second inning, when right fielder Bekah Alcozer flied out to center field on a sacrifice fly that drove in pinch runner Tuesday DerMargosian.

Elish, who walked just one Ole Miss hitter, provided her team with their second consecutive shutout just one day after she came out of the bullpen in relief of Shealyn O’Leary to pitch the final two innings of a 2-0 blanking of Tulsa.

In its five games over the weekend, Texas has outscored its opponents, 30-4. Two lopsided victories — a 9-1 win over Sam Houston State and a 9-1 win over Tulsa, both of which were played Friday — were called after five and six innings, respectively.

During the torrid stretch, the Longhorns hit .328, while the UT pitching staff held opponents to a combined ERA of 0.44.

The Longhorns will return to action Wednesday when they host Houston Baptist in a 4:30 p.m. matchup that will be shown on the Longhorn Network.