The Longhorns only scored in two innings during Saturday’s 11-3 win against Texas Tech. That was all they needed to complete the sweep of the Red Raiders.
In the second inning, the Longhorns scored eight runs, which put them ahead for the remainder of the contest. Texas scored an additional three runs in the top of the seventh to add to the lead.
The 11 runs are the most Texas has scored since the Texas Invitational in mid-February. This offensive showing was a continuation of the Longhorns’ hot hitting a day earlier where they scored nine runs.
“We came out with a plan of attack that we had talked about pre-game yesterday and just picked up where we left off,” head coach Connie Clark said. “We put up the eight runs in the second inning. We had enough from our pitchers.”
In addition to the offensive performance, the defense showed up as well. With Tech attempting to crawl out of the early deficit, Texas made several defensive plays to negate that effort.
The Red Raiders loaded the bases in the bottom of the second, but sophomore Brooke Bolinger forced a ground out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Tech loaded the bases yet again, this time with no outs. After freshman Taylor Ellsworth tracked a foul ball behind the plate to snag the first out of the inning, Bolinger denied the Red Raiders from scoring and closed the inning.
“I think the one thing that really stands out is taking the things that we’re talking about and then executing,” Clark said. “That’s been the issue. We just haven’t been making the adjustments as quickly as we need to. That’s the big takeaway.”
The road sweep of a Big 12 opponent changed momentum for a Texas team that failed to secure a conference win entering the weekend.
“The breaks are going to go our way at some point and we have to keep working,” Clark said. “I thought we had a good week leading into just trying to remember the fundamentals of the game and most importantly just competing and having fun.”
During the course of the series, four freshmen started in each game for Texas and highlighted the development of the roster. Texas’ freshmen have played critical roles in the team’s success this season, and that success was apparent in the sweep.
“I can’t say enough about the freshmen and the newcomer class,” Clark said. “The thing that really stands out with me with that group is they compete. They don’t get on an emotional train.”
With a 3-6 conference record, Texas looks to add more wins to its resume with a game against Texas Southern and a series against Iowa State approaching in the next week.
“I think they are challenged up,” Clark said. “They keep competing and that’s all you can really ask.”
