No. 16/18 Softball WCWS Preview: vs. Arizona

No. 16/18 Texas (44-20-1, 12-6 Big 12) vs. Arizona (39-21, 8-16 Pac-12) on the Women’s College World Series | June 5 | Oklahoma City, Okla.

Schedule:

Sunday, June 5

6 p.m.             #16/18 TEXAS vs. Arizona – ESPN2

**All Times Central

Location: Oklahoma City, Okla. (USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium) 

Television: The elimination match-up towards Arizona is scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 with Kevin Brown (play-by-play), Amanda Scarborough (analyst) and Andraya Carter (reporter) on the decision.

Radio: Texas’ video games are scheduled for radio broadcast through internet stream with Andrew Haynes on the decision through this LINK. The Texas broadcast will also be heard regionally on 105.3 FM as a part of the Austin Radio Network supported by the flagship radio station of the Longhorns, 104.9 FM The Horn.

Base Knocks:

• Arizona leads the general sequence with Texas, 16-8, together with 10-6 at impartial websites. The two groups have cut up a pair of earlier WCWS conferences. UT gained 1-0 (11 inn.) again on June 5, 2005, whereas UA gained 2-0 on June 2, 2006.
• Sophomore outfielder Bella Dayton spent the 2020 & 2021 seasons as a part of the Arizona program. During her two years at UA, the Wylie, Texas, native hit .252 over 64 video games with 28 hits (5 extra-base), 11 walks, 13 steals and 10 RBIs.
• Texas has had at the least one runner on base in 13-of-14 WCWS innings in 2022 however have stranded a complete of 15. That got here again to harm towards the Sooners as UT had at the least one runner on in all seven innings, however left seven stranded.
• By taking the sphere on Sunday towards Arizona, Texas will formally play its 66th recreation of the 2022 season. That’s probably the most video games ever performed by the Longhorns in a single yr.
• Besides the various every day challenges that come from being student-athletes, two Texas gamers have additionally confronted vital off-the-field obstacles throughout the 2021-22 college yr. Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington sadly misplaced her father Osiris (pronounced oh-SYRE-us) instantly again in August 2021, whereas sophomore outfielder Alyssa Popelka’s mom Jennifer Smith was identified with breast most cancers throughout the 2022 season (now in remission as of May). Both gamers have chosen to make use of their play on the sphere this yr to honor their dad and mom, and remarkably, they’re every having profession years for the Longhorns.
• Pitching & protection have been HUGE keys in Texas’ NCAA Tournament run. UT entered the sphere of 64 with a 3.30 season employees ERA & a .955 fielding proportion. Over 9 NCAA video games, Texas owns a 2.03 ERA & a .984 fielding mark.
• Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson owns a program report 37 profession NCAA Tournament hits. She’s managed 20 hits in regional play, 15 in tremendous regional motion and now has two WCWS hits after her HR vs. No. 1 Oklahoma on Saturday.
• Pitcher Hailey Dolcini has been a warrior throughout Texas’ NCAA run. The senior is 4-3 general with a 2.24 ERA, 5 full video games and 24 K’s in 43.2 innings. At one level, she threw 535 pitches over a seven-game span that included two wins at No. 11 Washington & a one at No. 4 Arkansas.
• Jefferson is closing in on THREE MORE Texas single season information. She wants TWO RUNS to interrupt the varsity single-season runs mark, ONE GAME/START to interrupt the single-season video games/begins report and FOUR MORE TOTAL BASES to interrupt the single-season report for whole bases.
• Senior C/1B Mary Iakopo has been on fireplace on the plate over the past 18 video games, hitting .389 with 4 doubles, three HR’s and a team-high 20 RBIs. She additionally reached base safely in 16-of-18 video games & hit safely in 15-of-18 video games in that stretch.
• Iakopo is Texas’ largest risk with runners in scoring place. The Carson, Calif., native is presently hitting at a .417 clip (30-for-72) with RISP in 2022.
• Jefferson continues to excel from the leadoff spot because the three-time NFCA All-American is batting .468 because the leadoff of any inning in 2022, going 44-for-94 in these conditions.
• The Longhorns are presently NO. 1 IN NCAA DIVISION I in doubles with a faculty single-season report 111, eight forward of second-place Louisiana (103). Janae Jefferson presently leads Texas and charges within the nationwide prime 5 with 22 doubles.
• Jefferson can also be having a outstanding NCAA Tournament. The Humble, Texas, product is hitting .452 (14-for-31) over 9 video games with 11 runs, three doubles, 4 HR’s (yet another than her common season whole) and a 1.435 OPS.
• The Longhorns have confirmed prolific in 2022 so far as stolen bases go. Texas’ 95 steals are probably the most in a season for the reason that 2013 Texas squad swiped a faculty report 126 luggage & are the fifth-most in a single season in UT historical past.