Texas pitcher Miranda Elish, who was helped off the field in the second inning of Friday’s NCAA softball super regional game against host Alabama in Tuscaloosa after taking a throw to the face, is “doing well,” according to Texas sports information director Brian Davis.
With a runner on first, Alabama’s Elissa Brown bunted Elish’s pitch foul off of home plate. Catcher Mary Iakopo grabbed the ball with her bare hand and was already in motion to throw the ball to second base as the umpire made the foul call. But Iakopo’s throw struck Elish in the face from close range and the pitcher fell to the ground.
Athletic trainers and medical personnel tended to Elish in the pitcher’s circle. She was helped off the field toward the clubhouse to a standing ovation from the Tuscaloosa crowd.
Davis said Elish was taken to a local hospital emergency room as a precaution.
Texas coach Mike White told ESPN between innings that Elish “is hurting a little but in good spirits.”
Shealyn O’Leary replaced Elish, a transfer from Oregon who had pitched every inning of Texas’ past five games, including its four elimination games in the regionals.
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