Austin, TX
No. 8/8 Softball opens NCAA Austin Regional with no-hitter – University of Texas Athletics
AUSTIN, TX – Entering Friday afternoon’s 8-0 win over Seton Hall to open the 2023 NCAA Austin Regional, The University of Texas’ softball program recorded just two combined no-hitters in its history. That number is now three following a five-inning combined no-hitter from Mac Morgan and Estelle Czech against the Pirates.
Prior to this weekend, the last combined no-hit for the Longhorns occurred on April 4, 2013, when Kim Bruins, Holly Kern, Gabby Smith and Blaire Luna combined for a five-inning perfect game in an 8-0 victory on Texas Southern. The performance was also the second no-hitter by Texas this season after freshman Citlaly Gutierrez tossed a five-inning no-hitter against Texas Southern on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.
It’s the first postseason combined no-hitter in Texas’ softball history. The last postseason no-hitter in program history occurred on May 26, 2013, when Blaire Luna threw a seven-inning no-hitter against Florida State during the NCAA Austin Super Regional to send the Longhorns to the Women’s College World Series.
The 2023 season marked the first time the Texas Longhorn program has tossed multiple no-hitters during the same season since throwing three within a 21-day span (March 6 – March 27) during head coach Mike White‘s first season on the Forty Acres in 2019.
Seton Hall’s lone baserunner in five innings against Texas’ two pitchers came when Lela Allen led off the top of the fourth by drawing a bases-loaded walk. She was erased four pitches later on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Taylor Hill, who was part of a 1-4-3 inning-ending double play. It was the final pitch from Mac Morgan (17-3), who started and threw 38 pitches in four innings before giving way to Estelle Czech, who tossed only 10 pitches, to start the top of the fifth.
On the afternoon, only two Pirate batters worked the court to at least three balls with only one resulting in a baserunner: Allen’s fourth inning walk.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE
“Well, first of all, condolences to our opponent Seton Hall. They had a great week last week winning the Big East Championship and they’ve been playing really well. We watched the tape on them, and they are a dangerous opponent. We fortunately were able to get off to a pretty good start with two runs in the first inning and were able to continue the scoring from there. Combining some really good pitching by Mac Morgan and some outstanding hitting by Vivi Martinez, it was a good start for us. You know, we just didn’t get them a chance to settle in. We know that good teams like Seton Hall always have an opportunity to get back in the game and make anything happen, so we just were cognizant of that and didn’t want that to happen.”
FROM SOPHOMORE MAC MORGAN
“Yeah, I’m feeling good. I mean, it was just another day. I’m feeling good. I’m going to be rested for next few days, but it felt good to be out there in the circle. Today was really rewarding. I’m grateful for every opportunity I get. I mean, being able to live my dream and just being able to succeed is what I really wanted. And I think I’m doing just great.”
GAME NOTES
- Texas freshman Viviana Martinez turned in a career performance with two doubles in two official plate appearances on the afternoon.
- Martinez’ previous career high was only one double in a single game, which she accomplished 12 different times with the most recent happening against Sam Houston on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
- With her first inning double to centerfield, Vivana Martinez became the first first-year softball student-athlete to drive in at least 50 runs in a single season.
- With her three RBI on the afternoon, Martinez will enter Saturday’s action with 51 RBI on the season, which is the sixth most on the program’s single-season RBI list.
- Every student-athlete in the Texas starting lineup was credited with her at least one hit or run on the afternoon.
- The Texas offense scored at least one run in four of the game’s five innings with the bottom of the fifth featuring four runs that doubled the Longhorn lead from 4-0 to 8-0.
UP NEXT
- First-seeded Texas (43-13-1) will play the winner of second-seeded Texas A&M and third-seeded Texas State on Saturday, May 20 at 2 PM CT.
- The winner of that game will advance straight into the regional final set for Sunday, May 21 at 1 PM CT.
- The loser will play, again, Saturday at 7 PM CT.
FOLLOW US
- For the latest information on the team, follow @TexasSoftball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @TexasLonghorns on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.