Huskies Improve to 10-2 After Holding Off Texas, 7-2

Sunday, February 26

Palm Springs, Calif.

9:00 AM

University of Washington

11-5

Texas

10-2

Texas

Washington

February 26, 2017 | Softball

Box Score Final Box

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – No. 8 Washington (10-2) held off Texas (11-4) for five innings after taking an early lead, 7-2. An explosive start by the Husky offense led to six runs scored in the first two innings giving the team an edge over the Longhorns.

Alvelo improved to 7-0 in the circle. She gave up 10 hits, but only allowed 2 runs, while striking out 10 batters.

For the second time in a row the Huskies ignited early in the game. In the bottom of the first with two on Sis Bates reached first on an error allowing Ali Aguilar to score from second. Trysten Melhart followed up with a single, plating Taylor Van Zee to up the score to 2-0. Morganne Flores topped it off with a single RBI to end the inning at 3-0.

The second inning was just as productive for the Husky offense, headlined by a triple from Van Zee. Casey Stangel singled to bring Kelly Burdick home from second. Van Zee tripled to clear the bases, extending their lead to 5-0. Sis Bates cleaned it up with a double to plate Van Zee. The Purple and Gold entered the third inning up, 6-0.

With bases loaded and no outs for the Longhorns, Reagan Hathaway, singled and advanced to second on the throw, bringing in two runs. The Husky defense scrambled in the infield to tag a runner out between second and third. Pitcher Taran Alvelo struck out Bekah Alcozer for the final out of the inning. The Huskies escaped the potentially dangerous inning ahead, 6-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Longhorns had a lead-off triple. The second batter attempted to bunt in the run but a grab and toss from Alvelo to catcher Morganne Flores tagged the runner out at home.

The Longhorns had the go-ahead run at the plate with bases loaded in the top of the sixth, but Bates flashed the leather at third base with two outs to escape the jam.

In the Huskies final appearance at the plate, Alyssa Simons was run in from third off a sacrifice hit from Kaija Gibson. They ended the sixth ahead, 7-2.

With two strikeouts in a row from Alvelo and a fly out to centerfield in the top of the seventh, the Huskies solidified their 7-2 win.

Washington will close out the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic against UC Santa Barbara at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 26. Next weekend the team will travel to Fullerton, Calif. for the Judi Garman Classic. There they will face Iowa, Indiana, Fresno State, Baylor and Northwestern for the second time this season.

The team will begin play at the Judi Garman Classic against Indiana on Friday, March 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the Anderson Family Field in Fullerton.