College Softball News

Texas Edges Mississippi State

Courtesy of Texas Athletics

LAFAYETTE, La. – Freshman Tiarra Davis threw a complete-game shutout as No. 2-seed Texas Softball defeated the No. 3-seeded Mississippi State Bulldogs, 1-0, in the first game of the NCAA Softball Lafayette Regional at Lamson Park on the campus of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. A solo home run by senior Brejae Washington in the bottom of the third inning was the difference. The Longhorns won their second-straight one-run game to improve to 34-21 on the year.

The game featured a pitching duel between Davis and Mississippi State’s Alison Owen and Alexis Silkwood. Davis hurled her third complete-game shutout in the past six games and sixth of the season. The rookie’s 23rd complete game runs her record on the season to 19-12 and her first postseason victory. For the afternoon, Davis only allowed four hits and one walk while striking out seven Bulldogs, three of her strikeouts ended innings with a runner on base. The southpaw held Mississippi State’s offense to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. In three games pitched at Lamson Park this season, Davis has not allowed a run in 14.2 innings of work.

The Texas offense was once again led by Washington. The program’s all-time hits leader reached base each at bat, going 2-for-2 with a walk. In the third inning with two outs and an 0-2 count, Washington blasted her second dinger of the year to straight-away center for the only run of the game. The round-tripper was her first since belting one over the center field wall at Lamson Park back on Feb. 7 against Louisiana-Lafayette

In the top of the seventh, Mississippi State got a lead-off infield single from Katie Anne Bailey. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Bailey to second base, Davis recorded back-to-back strikeouts to give Texas the victory.

Julia Echols led the offense for the Bulldogs, reaching base all three times as she ripped a pair of hits off Davis and was hit by a pitch. Owens took the loss for Mississippi State, dropping her to 18-12 this season.

Texas advances to play top-seed Louisiana-Lafayette in the winner’s bracket at Noon CT on Saturday. The game will be webstreamed by ESPN3. Mississippi State will get the loser of that matchup in tomorrow’s 3:00 p.m. game.

POSTGAME NOTES

  • Texas is now 12-3 on the first day of NCAA Regionals.
  • The Longhorns have begun postseason play with a shutout victory in four of the last five years.
  • UT improved to 4-0 all-time against Mississippi State, including a 3-0 mark in postseason play. Texas has shut out the Bulldogs in all four meetings.
  • Texas is 4-2 in games played at Lamson Field (all this season).
  • The Longhorn won their second-straight one-run game, improving their record to 3-10 in those situations this season.

Tiarra Davis

  • Threw a complete-game shutout in her NCAA postseason debut. Now has 23 complete games and six shutouts this season.
  • Struck out seven hitters, marking the 14th time she fanned away at least five batters. It was the most batters she struck out since the second game of a doubleheader vs. Iowa State on April 11.
  • In three appearances at Lamson Park this season, she has held opponents scoreless in 14.2 innings of work.
  • Made postseason debut on the same day Cat Osterman (UT’s last left-handed pitcher) made hers 14 years earlier.

Brejae Washington

  • Hit her second home run of the season and first since hitting one in Lamson Park on Feb. 7 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette. She now has 7 in her career at Texas.
  • Went 2-for-2 with a walk. Now has 253 career hits, which is the most in Texas Softball history.

Lindsey Stephens

  • Ended a 0-for-15 hitless drought with a double in the second inning.

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