UT softball rallies past North Dakota State, improves to 5-0
By Steve Lansdale
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas softball team continued its undefeated start to the 2016 season Sunday with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over North Dakota State.
The Longhorns’ 5-0 start is their best since 2013 and marks the eighth time in program history that they have won the first five games on their schedule. Three of the previous Longhorn teams that began the season with at least five consecutive victories ended up reaching the Women’s College World Series.
Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens led the UT offense with a pair of hits, including her first home run of the season and one run batted in. Right fielder Reagan Hathaway went 1-for-2 with a walk, a double and the game-ending RBI, junior designated player Celina Felix went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored and freshman third baseman Christina Bardwell also knocked in her fourth run of the early season.
Southpaw pitcher Tiarra Davis improved to 3-0 in her junior season, surrendering seven hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out two.
“We talked about (fight) in the pregame today, that it was going to come down to mentality,” Texas head coach Connie Clark said. “We had sore bodies. You are wiped out both mentally and physically, so how tough are you to come back on day four when it’s your first tournament (of the season)?
“You have to build endurance into these long tournaments. The first one is always the most difficult, and I thought that we were really good with that. There was a little bit of a lull in the in the third inning, but it didn’t snowball. Tiarra [Davis] bore down today, and I thought she was tremendous mentally. We were trying to figure (North Dakota State) out. They are a great hitting club. They don’t chase stuff. They are very selective.”
North Dakota State took the lead in the top of the first. Davis walked the leadoff hitter, NDSU right fielder Katie Shoultz, who eventually scored on a two-out bloop single to right center by catcher Alyssa Reina handed the Bison a 1-0 lead.
The Bison doubled their lead in the second inning as designated player Bre Beatty led off with a double to right center, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI by third baseman Julia Luciano.
Shortstop Devon Tunning led off the bottom of the third with a walk and moved to third on a Stephens single and a flyout by Felix. Tunning then scored when North Dakota State pitcher Jaquelyn Sertic hit UT’s Christina Bardwell with a pitch while the bases were loaded.
Stephens tied the game when she homered to center in the bottom of the seventh. Felix then tripled, and scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to left by Hathaway.
