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Photo by: Texas Athletics
Red Raiders Drop Game One in Austin
April 01, 2021 | Softball
Texas Tech fell 5-0 to No. 7/9 Texas in game one of the Big 12 road series.
AUSTIN, Texas – A four-run second inning helped lift No. 7/9 Texas (25-3, 1-0 Big 12) over Texas Tech (16-14, 0-4 Big 12) 5-0, in game one of the three game series Thursday night in Austin.
The Red Raiders were limited to three hits off Texas' ace Shea O'Leary (6-0), two of which came off the bat of Yvonne Whaley. Whaley went 2-for-3 from the plate and reached base three times in the contest.
The Red Raiders got a pair of base runners on early in the first after a leadoff walk from Whaley and a one-out single through the left side by Karli Hamilton. O'Leary worked out of the inning forcing a pop up and striking out a batter to keep Tech off the board.
Missy Zoch (7-6) retired the Longhorns in order in the first, striking out one batter and forcing a pair of ground outs.
After a scoreless top half of the inning, the Longhorn bats came alive in the bottom of the second scoring four runs on four hits and one error. The inning started with a leadoff single and a walk to put a runner in scoring position with no outs for Texas. The next batter singled to center field and an off-line throw from Hamilton in center allowed the first run to come across. A second run was plated on a squeeze bunt from Lauren Burke and a walk loaded the bases for the Longhorns. A two RBI single through the right side from Janae Jefferson gave Texas the 4-0 lead after two innings.
The Red Raiders held the Longhorns scoreless over the next three innings, working out of a bases loaded situation in the fourth to keep the game within reach.
Tech opened the sixth with a leadoff single up the middle from Whaley and Heaven Burton reached base on an error from the short stop. Another Longhorn fielding error allowed Arriana Villa to load up the bases for the Red Raiders with two outs. Tech's threat was ended as O'Leary forced an infield pop-up to keep the Red Raiders scoreless.
Texas added one more run in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly to left field. A single and a walk put two runners on for the Longhorns and a muffed throw on a pick-off attempt allowed the lead runner to advance to third. Mary Iakopo hit a deep fly ball to left field that brought home the runner at third for Texas' fifth run of the game.
The Red Raiders made one last attempt in the top of the seventh as Zoe Jones laced a ball into the outfield that was caught on a diving play from the left fielder. Payton Jackson walked to give the Red Raiders a base runner for Peyton Blythe who was robbed of an extra base hit on a leaping catch from the center fielder. A fly out to left ended the game, giving Texas the 5-0 win to open the series.
Zoch went the distance in the circle for the Red Raiders allowing five runs, four earned, off seven hits. The senior from Winchester walked six and struck out three in seven innings.
The Red Raider defense made an uncharacteristic three errors in the game, one of which resulted in a run for the Longhorns.
O'Leary pitched a complete game three-hit shutout for Texas, striking out seven batters and walking just two Red Raiders.
Up Next
The Red Raiders return for game two of the series at 6 p.m. Friday night in Austin.
The Red Raiders were limited to three hits off Texas' ace Shea O'Leary (6-0), two of which came off the bat of Yvonne Whaley. Whaley went 2-for-3 from the plate and reached base three times in the contest.
The Red Raiders got a pair of base runners on early in the first after a leadoff walk from Whaley and a one-out single through the left side by Karli Hamilton. O'Leary worked out of the inning forcing a pop up and striking out a batter to keep Tech off the board.
Missy Zoch (7-6) retired the Longhorns in order in the first, striking out one batter and forcing a pair of ground outs.
After a scoreless top half of the inning, the Longhorn bats came alive in the bottom of the second scoring four runs on four hits and one error. The inning started with a leadoff single and a walk to put a runner in scoring position with no outs for Texas. The next batter singled to center field and an off-line throw from Hamilton in center allowed the first run to come across. A second run was plated on a squeeze bunt from Lauren Burke and a walk loaded the bases for the Longhorns. A two RBI single through the right side from Janae Jefferson gave Texas the 4-0 lead after two innings.
The Red Raiders held the Longhorns scoreless over the next three innings, working out of a bases loaded situation in the fourth to keep the game within reach.
Tech opened the sixth with a leadoff single up the middle from Whaley and Heaven Burton reached base on an error from the short stop. Another Longhorn fielding error allowed Arriana Villa to load up the bases for the Red Raiders with two outs. Tech's threat was ended as O'Leary forced an infield pop-up to keep the Red Raiders scoreless.
Texas added one more run in the bottom of the sixth on a sac fly to left field. A single and a walk put two runners on for the Longhorns and a muffed throw on a pick-off attempt allowed the lead runner to advance to third. Mary Iakopo hit a deep fly ball to left field that brought home the runner at third for Texas' fifth run of the game.
The Red Raiders made one last attempt in the top of the seventh as Zoe Jones laced a ball into the outfield that was caught on a diving play from the left fielder. Payton Jackson walked to give the Red Raiders a base runner for Peyton Blythe who was robbed of an extra base hit on a leaping catch from the center fielder. A fly out to left ended the game, giving Texas the 5-0 win to open the series.
Zoch went the distance in the circle for the Red Raiders allowing five runs, four earned, off seven hits. The senior from Winchester walked six and struck out three in seven innings.
The Red Raider defense made an uncharacteristic three errors in the game, one of which resulted in a run for the Longhorns.
O'Leary pitched a complete game three-hit shutout for Texas, striking out seven batters and walking just two Red Raiders.
Up Next
The Red Raiders return for game two of the series at 6 p.m. Friday night in Austin.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: O'Leary, Shealyn (6-0)
L: Zoch, Missy (7-6)
Batting:
2B: Parker, McKenzie 1
RBI: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1
SF: Iakopo, Mary 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rhodes, Shannon 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Parker, McKenzie 1 ; Burke, Lauren 1 ; Whitaker, Jordyn 1
SB: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Corona, Camille 1
HBP: Burke, Lauren 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballUTL
/ Softball
RHP
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