Softball Back in Action

ZZ Top-like beards and duck calls aren’t the only things that can make a splash in the Louisiana swamps. Behind strong hitting, the Texas softball team managed to make waves of their own in the Pelican State.

Texas finished play in the Lousisana Classic on Sunday with [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]  a 5-4 loss to No. 10/10 Purdue in the Classic finale. The loss wrapped up a successful week of games for the young Longhorns who sit at 4-2 on the season

During the preseason, No. 10/10 Texas is looking to find the right combination in the field and behind the plate. Last season, Texas graduated its most successful senior class ever, finishing ranked No. 3 in the nation after a semi-final loss in the Women’s College World Series.

The Longhorns started the season on the road for the first time since 2007. Texas first traveled to Baton Rouge to face No. 17/19 LSU. A pair of homeruns by senior Taylor Thom and sophomore Lindsey Stephens put Texas over the top, while junior pitcher Gabby Smith went all seven innings to earn a complete game win.

Texas then traveled to Lafayette for the Louisiana Classic. In the 3-day tournament, UT defeated North Carolina and host No. 13/15 Louisiana Lafayette twice. The team finished out with losses to Northern Illinois and Purdue.

Thom leads the team with .529 batting average by garnering a team-high nine hit weekend. Sophomores Erin Shireman and Lindsey Stephens lead the team with 3 home runs apiece.

In the circle, the team era stands at 3.95. Sophomore Holly Kern leads the team with a 2.13 era, but Smith is the only pitcher to stand 2-0.

Head coach Connie Clark reached a milestone over the weekend. The 19-year Texas  coach (18^th varsity season) reached 700 wins. She becomes the 34^th NCAA Division I head coach to reach 700 wins.

Softball returns to Austin to get ready for its home opener against UTSA on Wednesday at 7pm.

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[/s2If] Question for the fans:How do you think the softball team will fare in pre-conference play? Sound off below.

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