UT softball improves to 7-0 with routs of Toledo, Ball State

By Steve Lansdale

AUSTIN, Texas — Freshman right fielder Reagan Hathaway pounded out six hits in seven at-bats to help the No. 24 University of Texas softball team roll through two games Friday, routing Toledo, 17-2, and then hammering Ball State, 13-2. Both games were shortened to five innings.

In the first game against Toledo, the Longhorns piled up 11 hits. Hathaway had four hits in four at-bats and shortstop Devon Tunning had two; five other players had one hit each. Three players — Hathaway (twice), third baseman Celina Felix and pitcher Tiarra Davis — homered for the Longhorns.

Davis pitched all five innings for UT, surrendering three hits and two earned runs, walking two and striking out two. The victory improved her record to 4-0 for the season.

The Longhorn hitters walked 14 times against Toledo to establish a new school record for free passes. The previous record for bases on balls was 12, which was set two years ago at Kansas.

In their second game, Felix and left fielder Stephanie Wong hit three-run home runs, pinch hitter Taylor McAllister drilled a three-run triple and four players had multiple hits for the Longhorns: Tunning had three and one RBI, while center fielder Lindsey Stephens, Felix and Hathaway had two hits each as UT cruised past Ball State.

Paige von Sprecken scattered six hits over the five-inning complete game, allowing one earned run, walking two and striking out five.

Through seven games, Hathaway leads the UT offense with a batting average of .529, nine runs batted in and a slugging percentage of .941. She is tied for the team lead with two home runs and nine hits.