University of Washington
1-0
Texas Tech
2-1
Washington Beats Texas Tech, No. 9 Oklahoma On Opening Day
February 13, 2016 | Softball
Site: Las Vegas, Nev. (Eller Media Stadium)
Event: UNLV Sportco Kickoff Classic
Scores: Washington 14, Texas Tech 5 (6); Washington 10, Oklahoma 3
Next Washington Event: Saturday, Feb. 13 -- vs. University of South Dakota
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The No. 20-ranked University of Washington softball team kicked off the 2016 season in decisive fashion, cruising to a run-rule victory against Texas Tech, 14-5 (6), before beating No. 9 Oklahoma, 10-3, at the UNLV Sportco Kickoff Classic Friday (Feb. 12) in Las Vegas, Nev.
Senior Kimberlee Souza and sophomore Julia DePonte headlined Washington's explosive attack at the plate. Souza went 4-for-7 on the day, hitting a home run against Texas Tech before knocking out two more against Oklahoma. DePonte hit two homers in the first game, matching a career-high four RBI. Eight different Huskies tallied hits in the twinbill.
Junior Ali Aguilar went yard in game one, recording a team-high five RBI. Freshman Tannon Snow's first collegiate hit was a homer in the first inning, while fellow freshman Morganne Flores went 2-for-3 in the game, hitting a pair of singles.
Three Washington pitchers contributed time in the circle. Junior Casey Stangel earned the win against Texas Tech, allowing two earned runs off seven hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Sophomore transfer Madi Schreyer finished the game, entering in the top of the fourth with two outs. Freshman Taran Alvelo earned the game-two decision, throwing a complete game, striking out three Sooners and allowing two earned runs off six hits.
Texas Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the first, before the Huskies exploded for five runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. After two quick fly outs, senior Courtney Gano drew a walk and Stangel was hit by pitch. DePonte then unloaded on her first home run of the game to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead. Souza then reached on an error and Snow delievered the second Husky homer of the inning.
The Huskies tacked on another run in the bottom of the third as DePonte led off the inning with a solo home run.Texas Tech got four runs back in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, hitting a two-run home run in the fourth. With two outs, Schreyer entered the game and struck out the first batter she faced to end the inning.
The Red Raiders used three hits in the fifth to score two runs and get to within one run of the Huskies, 6-5. With runners on at second and third, Schreyer struck out the next two batters to end the inning and preserve Washington's lead.
Highlighted by a pair of home runs by Souza and Aguilar, the Huskies answered in a big way in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring eight runs to run away with the 14-5 run-rule victory.
Washington carried the momentum into the nightcap against No. 9 Oklahoma, beating the Sooners, 10-3. OU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. After a hit-by-pitch put a runner on, the Sooners singled and a double scored one run and another run came across on an error.
The Huskies responded in the second as Souza smacked her second home run of the day to trim the Husky deficit in half, 2-1.
After a scoreless third frame, Washington tacked on three runs in the fourth to take a lead that was never relinquished. After Stangel and DePonte drew back-to-back walks, Souza delivered her third home run of the day to put the Dawgs up, 4-2.
The Huskies scored three more runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run home run by Stangel. Gano recorded the other RBI in the inning as her double scored Aguilar who also doubled.
The hot bats continued for the Huskies in the seventh as Gano delivered another RBI single and DePonte brought home two with a double.
Oklahoma got one run back in the bottom of the seventh, drawing a bases-loaded walk, but Alvelo induced a pair of fly outs to end the game.
Washington returns to action for day two at the UNLV Sportco Kickoff Classic tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 13), taking on the University of South Dakota at 9 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stangel, Casey (1-0)
L: Alcocer, Dominique (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Hartwell, Jessica 1 ; Schwirtlich, Kirsten 1
HR: Hamilton, Karli 1
RBI: Miles, Kiana 2 ; Hartwell, Jessica 1 ; Hamilton, Karli 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Ramsey, Kiani 2 ; Bettiol, Jordan 1 ; Weber, Sarah 1 ; Hamilton, Karli 1
Batting:
2B: Gano, Courtney 1 ; Stangel, Casey 1
HR: Aguilar, Ali 1 ; DePonte, Julia 2 ; Souza, Kimberlee 1 ; Snow, Tannon 1
RBI: Aguilar, Ali 5 ; Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; Gano, Courtney 1 ; DePonte, Julia 4 ; Souza, Kimberlee 1 ; Snow, Tannon 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Aguilar, Ali 2 ; Gano, Courtney 1 ; Stangel, Casey 1 ; DePonte, Julia 2 ; Souza, Kimberlee 2 ; Snow, Tannon 3 ; Flores, Morganne 1 ; Melhart, Trysten 2
HBP: Stangel, Casey 1
