Texas sweeps Kansas in Big 12-opening series

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas edged Kansas softball, 3-0, in the final game of a Big 12 Conference-opening series on Sunday at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Texas (16-13, 3-0 Big 12) sweeps the three-game series with Kansas (23-10, 0-3), despite junior pitcher Andie Formby’s (11-4) complete-game quality start of 6.0 innings, six strikeouts and three runs allowed. The Longhorns threw a team shutout with Brooke Bolinger (6-4) earning her second win of the series in five innings pitched and Erica Wright earning the save.

Freshman centerfielder Brittany Jackson went 2 for 2 at the plate and senior catcher Harli Ridling hit her ninth double of the season to lead KU’s four-hit day offensively.

In the first inning, Jackson recorded an infield single and Ridling doubled deep down the left field line to put two runners in scoring positions for the Jayhawks with two outs. But Kansas left the two runners on base in a scoreless first inning.

Formby started strong in the circle by striking out the side — recording all three outs of the inning by strikeout — in the bottom of the first inning. Formby gave up two walks and KU committed a fielding error to leave three Longhorns stranded on base when Formby dialed up UT’s Kaitlyn Washington looking to end the frame.

Both offenses remained quiet until UT’s Bekah Alcozer drove a two-RBI doubled to right-center to give the Longhorns a 2-0 lead.  

After UT elected to change pitchers to their reliever, Wright, in the top of the sixth inning while clinging to a 2-0 lead, the Jayhawks proceeded to load the bases for senior Jessie Roane, who entered the day hitting over .500 with runners in scoring position. But the KU slugger struck out swinging to leave the bases juiced.

Formby struck out UT’s Washington in her first two at-bats of the day, but Washington bounced back to lead off the bottom of the sixth with a triple. She was driven on a single in the next at-bat to give Texas an insurance run and a 3-0 lead.

Texas retired KU in order in the top of the seventh to complete the victory.

UP NEXT
Kansas returns home for four contests at Arrocha Ballpark at Rock Chalk Park during week eight of the regular season, including a midweek game against SIUE on Wednesday and a three-game series against Colorado State on Friday and Saturday.  

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