No. 2-seeded Texas softball mounted a formidable comeback win towards No. 7-seeded Texas Tech in Oklahoma Metropolis within the first spherical of the Phillips 66 Large 12 Softball Championship.
Earlier this season, Texas was in a position to sweep the Raiders in a three-game season in Austin. Nevertheless, on this matchup, sophomore pitcher Mac Morgan began off shaky within the prime of the primary inning with two hits and two runs scored towards Texas.
Within the backside of the second inning, Texas was in a position to come again when sophomore catcher and first baseman Katie Cimusz was walked, adopted by sophomore utility participant Vanessa Quiroga doubling to proper discipline, letting Cimusz rating. Junior outfielder Alyssa Popelka later scored within the inning on an error tying the rating at 2.
By the highest of the fourth, Texas modified to sophomore pitcher Sophia Simpson in hopes of stopping the Raiders’ offensive recreation; nevertheless, Texas Tech junior infielder Riley Love launched a three-run homerun to left discipline, giving the Raiders a 5-2 lead.
Junior pitcher Estelle Czech got here within the prime of the fifth in Texas’ effort to close down the Purple Raiders, which appeared to be a troublesome process after one other run was scored, furthering the rating 6-2.
Texas Tech’s technique of regularly altering pitchers appeared to maintain Texas on their toes and did an efficient job of stopping their scoring. Tech modified their pitchers 3 times inside the first three innings and had six totally different pitchers general.
Freshman shortstop and second baseman Leighann Goode hit a double within the backside of the sixth, which was then adopted by a house run by junior outfielder Bella Dayton, giving Texas two extra runs and an in depth sufficient hole within the rating for redemption.
The underside of the seventh confirmed the relentless mentality of Texas softball when Cimusz hit a lead-off homerun on a 0-2 pitch depend. Instantly following the run, Quiroga hit a house run on a 2-2 pitch, tying the rating 6-6 and forcing the sport to enter further innings.
All of it got here right down to the underside of the eighth inning. Dayton hit a lead-off single and later superior to second on an error. Freshman catcher and first baseman Reese Atwood reached first after getting hit by a pitch. Freshman shortstop and second baseman Viviana Martinez hit a bunt and sacrificed herself to maneuver Dayton and Atwood to 3rd and second base, respectively. Cimusz additionally obtained hit by a pitch making the bases loaded for Texas. The Purple Raiders then threw a wild pitch, permitting Dayton to attain and ending the sport with an in depth 7-6 rating.
Texas will now need to tackle the winner of the Oklahoma State and Kansas matchup and can play on Could 12 at 5 p.m.
