Texas Softball defeats Texas State 15-6 with 11-run sixth inning

The Longhorns manufactured 11 runs to defeat Texas State on the road for a 15-6 victory. Texas was down by two runs before an offensive spark in the sixth inning that included eighth hits and four walks. The 11 runs scored in a single inning is good for third-most in Texas history.

Texas faced Texas State twice this season and defected the Bobcats (22-27, 5-10 Sun Belt) both times. Earlier this season, the Longhorns (28-18, 7-3 Big 12) defeated Texas State 19-7 in Austin at the beginning of April.

Freshman Tiarra Davis started in the circle for the Longhorns for the 15th consecutive game. In the third inning, Davis was relieved by junior Gabby Smith. Smith finished the game, pitching just over three innings and earning the win to improve to 12-4. Davis gave up five runs and four hits in just over two innings. Smith gave up one run off of four hits.

The Texas offense scored its 15 runs off of 13 hits and seven walks. The Longhorns started off the scoring in the second inning with three runs. Senior Brejae Washington had a single to score the first run. Lindsey Stephens pushed the second run across the plate after being walked.

The Bobcats came back and took the lead in the third inning with five runs which included a home run and two singles. In the fourth, the Longhorns cut the lead to one with a single by Davis, but the Bobcats homered in the bottom of the fourth to go up by two again.

In the 11-run sixth inning, Thom scored off a sacrifice fly by Davis. Mandy Ogle doubled to right field to plate Stephanie Wong. Washington, Wong, Stephanie Kern, Devon Tunning and Kelli Hanzel all contributed hits in the inning. The Longhorns sent a total of 16 batters to the plate, a program-record. Thom, Kern and Wong each scored two runs in the sixth inning.

This weekend, the Longhorns will host Oklahoma State for a three-game series. Game 1 is scheduled to begin on Friday, April 25 at 4:30 p.m.