No. 2/1 Softball drops back-and-forth road affair - University of Texas Athletics (2024)

HOUSTON, Texas –In the first-ever softball matchup between Texas and Houston as Big 12 Conference opponents, the Cougars capitalized on two Longhorn errors in the bottom of the fourth to take Friday's contest, 12-10.

After Texas responded from a four-run bottom of the first from Houston with seven combined runs across the game's third and fourth innings to take a 7-4 lead, the Cougars sent 13 batters to the plate throughout the bottom of the fourth. Despite the inning opening with a five-pitch walk, UH was on the verge of being down to its final out of the inning during the next at bat but a muffed throw to first on a potential around-the-horn double play sparked the lengthy inning.

Back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases before a Longhorn throwing error to first base allowed a runner to score. A one-out single to left field plated another run, before a second throwing error allowed two more runners to touch home and give Houston an 8-7 lead. Four pitches later, a 1-2 pitch was sent over the left-center field fence for a three-run home run to propel the Cougars out to an 11-7 lead after entering the inning trailing by three.

Texas attempted its second come-from-behind effort on the night with a three-run top of the third that was highlighted by run-scoring doubles from Mia Scott and Reese Atwood and combined with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alyssa Washington, who pushed the Longhorns ahead 5-4 with a solo home run earlier in the contest. However, with the game-tying run at the dish in the sixth, UT was unable to bring any more runs across.

GAME NOTES

• The 22 combined runs between the two teams on Friday night were the most by the two programs in a softball game since Texas beat Houston, 13-12, on April 1, 2015 in Houston.
  • In addition to Friday evening's offensive outburst, the previously mentioned 2015 matchup was the only other time both teams scored 10-or-more runs in a game throughout the series history.
• With her three-run home run in the bottom of the third, first-year Longhorn Joley Mitchell connected for her 20th career collegiate home run, joining Reese Atwood (21) as the only active Texas softball student-athletes with 20-or-more career collegiate home runs.
• Courtesy of her third-inning, three-run home run, Joley Mitchell matched her season high with three runs batted in (RBI) in a single season.
• By drawing a one-out, four-pitch walk in the top of third, Mia Scott extended her on-base streak to 10 consecutive games, joining Katie Stewart (18) and Reese Atwood (13) as the only Texas softball student-athletes to successfully reach base in 10-or-more straight games.
• Friday night's game marked the first time this season that Texas has lost a game while hitting two-or-more home runs throughout the contest.
  • Heading into the game, the Longhorns were 8-0 in games this season when hitting two-or-more home runs.
• As a result on Friday's outcome, Texas drops to 4-1 all time in Big 12 Conference openers under sixth-year head coach Mike White.
  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Big 12 Conference play did not happen during the 2020 season.

UP NEXT

• Texas (19-2, 0-1) will look to rebound from Friday night's outcome when the Longhorns and Cougars (17-5, 1-0) tangle, again, at Cougar Softball Stadium at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 9.

FOLLOW US

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