Texas softball welcomed another sold out crowd to McCombs Field in a celebration billed ‘Texas Traditions Night’ as the Longhorns hosted No. 1 Oklahoma for game two of the Red River Rivalry series. The most glaring tradition honored on Friday was an abysmal one on the diamond as the Sooners added yet another contest to the win column over No. 18 Texas. Oklahoma is now 50-24 in the all-time series versus the Longhorns including a 19-9 record when playing in Austin.
The Texas offense continued to play the role of the Grinch on Friday while gifting Horns fans glimmers of hope, only to revoke and replace favorable moments with those of despair. Texas bats mustered a meager four hits and one run during Friday’s shortened contest. Meanwhile, the illustrious Oklahoma offense resumed normal operations after Texas ace Hailey Dolcini kept them at bay on Thursday. The Sooners combined for eight hits and nine runs, six of which came in the top of the fifth inning to invoke the NCAA’s run-rule which provides for the termination of a contest when one team boasts a score of eight or more runs at the close of the fifth inning.
Texas freshman, Sophia Simpson, received the nod to start the game. The right-hander made history earlier this season as she became only the tenth freshman to throw a no-hitter. While Simpson holds all the components of an elite pitcher, the young gun for Texas has battled to maintain confidence and stability in recent outings.
Simpson’s struggles on Friday seemed to appear with Sooners on the base paths. Simpson found success against only two of the ten hitters she faced with runners on base. Understandably, Oklahoma bats capitalized on their seniority against the freshman — most notably in their ability to make adjustments with ease in order to increase offensive productivity. The freshman held her own against OU, posting four strikeouts, two walks, four hits, and four earned runs on her line. Simpson utilized 66 pitches against 20 batters in her four-inning effort.
Estelle Czech emerged from the bullpen in the bottom of the fifth inning, inheriting Sooners on the corners with no outs. Lyons laid down a first-pitch bunt against Czech, who fielded the ball cleanly, but found a vacant first base when she turned to make the throw for what should have been a guaranteed put-out. After the defensive fumble from Texas, the Sooners drew three hits and one walk off Czech before the sophomore lefty was able to stop the bleeding.
Texas entered the bottom of the fifth needing to score a minimum of one run to prolong the contest. With one out, Janae Jefferson wore a pitch from Oklahoma’s Hope Trautwein to earn a leisurely stroll down to first base. Mia Scott singled for her second hit of the series before McKenzie Parker drew her third walk of the game to load the bases. With Parker’s perfect on-base percentage and senior Mary Iakopo stepping into the box, the air was abuzz with potential for the Longhorns. Unfortunately, Iakopo made loud contact only for the line drive to grant the Sooners a double play to cement the 9-1 run-rule win and series victory.
The Texas offense stranded a total of six runners on base throughout the night. The lone run for the Longhorns was delivered by JJ Smith whose solo-shot came with two outs in the second inning. Smith combined with Alyssa Washington, Janae Jefferson, and Mia Scott to tally Texas’s four hits while McKenzie Parker drew three walks in her three at-bats. The Horns continued to struggle defensively with two fielding errors lending a hand to the already sufficiently capable Sooners squad. To paraphrase the words of Texas great Cat Osterman from the booth, the Longhorns need to play smart, efficient softball to contend with the nation’s best team. Unfortunately, Texas has been unable to string together enough productive and timely efforts on either side of the ball to deal a blow to the undefeated Sooners.
Texas looks to rebound and hand Oklahoma their first loss of the season during the series finale of the Red River Rivalry on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm CST, following pregame ceremonies to retire the jersey number of Longhorn legend, Cat Osterman. The festivities at McCombs field will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network with another sold-out crowd expected to be in attendance.
