AUSTIN, TX – Siena Softball made its NCAA Tournament debut by taking No. 1 Texas the distance in a 5-0 decision to open the Austin Regional in front of 1,904 fans at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
 
Mac Morgan came within one out of pitching a perfect game for Texas (48-7), which has won 19 of its past 20 games. Morgan settled for a no-hitter following a two-out walk in the seventh to Jocelyn Ulrich, who represented the lone Siena (33-21) player to reach base in the game. Morgan struck out four, induced 16 groundouts, and didn't let the ball out of the infield on the afternoon.
 
The Longhorns scored all of their runs spanning the first four innings, although MAAC Tournament MVP Alissa Eimont and the defense limited the damage to keep the Saints within striking distance. After the first four Texas batters reached to open the game, Diana Parker snagged a line drive double play and Eimont ended the frame with a clutch strikeout to limit the Longhorns to just one run. Later in the game, outfielders Isabella Pardo and Mikala Fletcher each made standout defensive plays in support of Eimont, who went the distance.
 
All-Big 12 Second Team selection Viviana Martinez went 3-for-3 with a home run and a pair of RBI to pace Texas offensively. All nine Longhorns starters reached base as part of a balanced offense.
 
Nonetheless, underdog Siena acquitted itself well in the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game by taking Texas the distance. The Longhorns had entered play having recorded five-inning run-rule victories in each of their previous seven wins – all against Big 12 competition – including in their conference tournament.   
 
Another opportunity awaits the Saints in their first NCAA Regional in the double-elimination format. Siena will take on Saint Francis (PA) – which dropped a 7-2 contest to No. 25 Northwestern later in the day – in an Austin Regional Elimination Game Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT). The Saints faced the Red Flash twice previously this season, falling by scores of 4-1 (Feb. 9) and 4-3 (Feb. 11) at the CSU Kickoff.