LAFAYETTE, La. -- Freshman Tiarra Davis threw a complete-game shutout as Texas defeated Mississippi State 1-0 in the first game of the Lafayette Regional at Lamson Park. A solo home run by senior Brejae Washington in the bottom of the third inning was the difference. The Longhorns won their second-consecutive one-run game to improve to 34-21 on the year and will now await the winner of tonight's game between host and top seed Louisiana-Lafayette and Texas Southern.
The game featured a pitching duel between Davis and Mississippi State's Alison Owen and Alexis Silkwood. Davis hurled her third complete-game shutout in the past six games and sixth of the season. The rookie's 23rd complete game runs her record on the season to 19-12 and her first postseason victory. For the afternoon, Davis only allowed four hits and one walk while striking out seven Bulldogs, three of her strikeouts ended innings with a runner on base. The southpaw held Mississippi State's offense to 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. In three games pitched at Lamson Park this season, Davis has not allowed a run in 14.2 innings of work.
The Texas offense was once again led by Washington. The program's all-time hits leader reached base each at bat, going 2-for-2 with a walk. In the third inning with two outs and an 0-2 count, Washington blasted her second dinger of the year to straight-away center for the only run of the game. The round-tripper was her first since belting one over the center field wall at Lamson Park back on Feb. 7 against Louisiana-Lafayette
In the top of the seventh, Mississippi State got a lead-off infield single from Katie Anne Bailey. After a sacrifice bunt advanced Bailey to second base, Davis recorded back-to-back strikeouts to give Texas the victory.
Julia Echols led the offense for the Bulldogs, reaching base all three times as she ripped a pair of hits off Davis and was hit by a pitch. Owens took the loss for Mississippi State, dropping her to 18-12 this season.
