Citlaly Gutierrez's no-hitter gives Texas softball yet another freshman to celebrate
The fresh faces on Texas’ softball team continue to make a big impact.
Freshman pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez tossed a no-hitter during the Longhorns’ 22-0, 5-inning win over Texas Southern on Sunday that capped the weekend’s Lone Star State Invitational at McCombs Field.
Gutierrez, from the West Texas town of Stamford, became the first UT freshman to throw a no-hitter since current teammate Sophia Simpson threw a six-inning no-hitter against UTSA in February 2022. Gutierrez's shutout win was the 53rd no-hitter in school history and the first without a walk since Miranda Elish’s seven-inning perfect game against New Mexico on March 8, 2020.
Gutierrez is now one of just 16 players in program history with at least one career no-hitter. She also became one of just two active Longhorns to have thrown a collegiate no-hitter, joining Simpson.
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“I felt like everything was working for me in the circle,” Gutierrez said in a statement after the game. “I felt a lot more comfortable today and just realized. I knew going into the game to trust my defense and trust the offense. We didn’t really know too much about this team (Texas Southern), but my mindset was still just to attack the (strike) zone.”
Gutierrez comes within one bag of a perfect game
The lone Texas Southern base runner in the game came with one out in the top of the third when Madison Griggs reached first on a passed ball following a swinging third strike. Gutierrez responded by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.
In her five innings of work, Gutierrez struck out a career-high nine batters and did not issue a walk to any of the 16 batters she faced.
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“(Citlaly’s) stuff was moving and (she) just kept pounding the (strike) zone,” associate head coach Steve Singleton said. “I think when she can pound the strike zone and get ahead, she has three different pitches and three different speeds. She’s one of the nastiest kids we’ve had here in a long time, and we know that. So, it’s just great to have these outings for her, so she can succeed and build that confidence for the rest of the season.”
Freshmen continue to impress as Texas continues homestand
Texas (11-2-1) made history beyond the pitcher’s circle against Texas Southern. The Longhorns rapped out a program-high 23 hits in a single game and fell one run short of tying the school record of 23 runs set in 2012 against Cal State Fullerton.
Freshman infielder Leighann Goode, who set a school record with a 10-game hitting streak to start her Texas career, had her streak snapped in a 6-5 loss to No. 10 Virginia Tech on Friday but rebounded by going 6-of-11 while helping the Longhorns win their final three games of the weekend against Abilene Christian, Virginia Tech in a rematch and Texas Southern. Against Texas Southern, Goode drove in a career-high six RBIs and finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
Infielder Viviana Martinez, yet another freshman, continued her stellar play over the weekend. The Arizona native went 8-for-13 in the four games while driving in a team-high 10 runs.
Texas will continue its homestand Wednesday against North Texas and will host its third consecutive nonconference round-robin tournament this weekend with McNeese, Princeton, Tennessee State and Louisiana.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Citlaly Gutierrez tosses no-hitter as Texas softball rolls to win
