Texas Softball Shuts Out Texas Southern, 8-0, In Five Innings

AUSTIN, Texas -- Junior RHP Gabby Smith pitched a complete game shutout and the Longhorns offense stayed hot to help Texas Softball defeat Texas Southern (6-9, 0-0) in its first game on day two of the Texas Invitational, 8-0, in five innings. The win runs the Longhorns’ record to 11-9 going into the nightcap against Louisiana-Monroe. The game tonight will be televised on Longhorn Network at 6:30 p.m. Central.

Smith’s performance helped secure her second win in as many days. Her fifth complete game of the season moved her record to 7-1. She scattered three Tigers hits over five innings and struck out seven, matching her season high. On the offensive side, she helped her own cause in the batter’s box by going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Sophomore Lindsey Stephens continued to be a catalyst at the plate. Stephens went 2-for-3 and had a team-high three RBIs and scored a run. Her double in the first inning extended her career-long hitting streak to 11 games. She has reached base in every game this season and leads the Longhorns in RBIs on the season with 28.

Seniors Brejae Washington and Taylor Thom each pounded out a hit in the game. Thom knocked in two Longhorns in the third inning to move into sole possession of second place on UT’s all-time RBIs list. Washington’s hit extended her hitting streak to a career-long 11-straight games.

The offense produced 11 hits in the game, marking the third straight game that Texas has recorded 10 or more hits.

Texas struck first in the bottom of the first with three RBI singles by Stephens, Smith and sophomore Holly Kern.

The Longhorns added to their lead in the second when they got a pair of RBIS off of a bases loaded situation. Stephens notched her second and third RBIs on a single up the middle to score Thom and sophomore Stephanie Ceo.

The Horns added two insurance runs on Thom’s bases loaded single to right with one out in the third.

Smith cruised through the first three innings, but ran into trouble when the Tigers jammed the bases on two singles and a hit-by-pitch with no outs in the top of the fourth. She was able to induce a ground out and struck out the next two banners to preserve the Longhorns 7-0 lead.

The Horns scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth when freshman Kelli Hanzel knocked in sophomore Erin Shireman for the walk-off. The RBI single to right was Hanzel’s first career hit and RBI.

POSTGAME NOTES

• ·         Texas is now 11-9 on the season and improves to 3-0 all-time against Texas Southern. The Longhorns have run-ruled the Lady Tigers all three times in five innings, winning by identical counts of 8-0.
• ·         Senior Brejae Washington and Lindsey Stephens extended their hitting streaks to 11-games. For both players, it is a career-long streak. Stephens has reached base in every game this season, extending her streak to 21-straight games dating back to last season.
• ·         Lindsey Stephens went 2-for-3 and drove in three RBIs. She now has 28 on the season.
• ·         Junior Gabby Smith threw her third-straight complete game and second in the last two days. For a second consecutive game, she struck out a season-high seven batters. She improved to 7-1 on the season and picked up her second shutout of the season.
• ·         Smith has been the pitcher of record in both of UT’s shutouts this season.
• ·         Senior Taylor Thom reached base all three times. Her two-run base hit in the third inning put her in sole possession of second place on UT’s all-time RBI charts. She currently has 151 in her four years on the Forty Acres. She needs five more to pass Lexy Bennett for the top spot in program history.
• ·         Freshman Kelli Hanzel made her first career plate appearance in the bottom of the third inning. She remained in the game to play second base for the first time this season. She delivered her first hit and RBI of her career when she delivered the walk-off game-winning RBI base hit in the bottom of the fifth.
• ·         Texas improved to 10-0 this season when it scores six runs or more.
• ·         UT got its third-straight complete game performance from its starting pitcher. Smith has two during that span and also has three complete games in UT’s last 5 games.
• ·         Texas run-ruled an opponent for the third time this season and for the second straight game.
• ·         The game lasted one hour and 24 minutes marking UT’s shortest game of the season.