Texas softball wins 7th consecutive game, sweeps Central Florida

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas softball team made it seven consecutive wins and finished off a sweep Sunday of Central Florida with a 3-1 win in Orlando.

The No. 2 Longhorns picked up a 5-0 win on Friday and a 4-2 victory Saturday over the Knights. They began the Florida road trip with a 10-0 win Wednesday over No. 18 Florida State.

On Sunday, Reese Atwood hit a solo home run, her 12th of the season, in the second inning to get things going. Bella Dayton scored Ashton Maloney with a double in the third and Alyssa Washington scored Dayton with a single in the third.

That was more than enough for the Texas pitching staff. Mac Morgan earned her eighth win of the season after allowing just two hits in four innings. She didn't strike anyone out but also didn't walk anyone and needed just 51 pitches to get through 14 hitters. Sophia Simpson and Teagan Kavan pitched in relief with Kavan earning her second save of the season.

Washington and Joley Mitchell had two hits each for the Longhorns.

On Saturday, Viviana Martinez notched a pair of hits including a double and the pitching duo of Citlaly Gutierrez and Estelle Czech took care of business. Czech earned the win with 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief. Gutierrez allows one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings in the circle.

Both teams waited until the fifth to score and were tied 2-2, but Mitchell gave the Longhorns the lead with an RBI double in the sixth. Atwood then drove in another run with a ground out to provide more cushion.

Texas (28-3, 8-1 Big 12) has a big test in a 3-game series against No. 6 Oklahoma State beginning Thursday in Stillwater. The following week, the Longhorns host No. 1 Oklahoma for three games.