University of Texas softball pitcher Miranda Elish OK after getting hit in face by throw

Elish was hit by a throw from catcher Mary Iakopo during the third inning of Texas' 7-5 victory. Alabama's Elissa Brown bunted, but she was called out by the umpire for having her foot out of the batter's box, ESPN reported. The ball was ruled dead, but Iakopo grabbed the ball and was already throwing the ball toward second base.

The throw hit Elish between the nose and cheekbone, and the junior pitcher fell to the ground, AL.com reported.

"I was just looking to get a lead out," Iakopo told AL.com. "That's all I was looking for so I was headed to second and it was a dead ball. I shouldn't have thrown it."

Longhorns coach Mike White called the injury “horrific,” but called it a “total accident,” the website reported.

“She wanted to stand up right away, but I was like ‘No, no no,’” White told reporters. “She probably felt embarrassed about the whole thing and wants to get up.

“She said ‘I’m OK, I’m OK,’ and of course it didn’t look good, and we knew she wasn’t OK. She was in a lot of pain going to the hospital.”

Iakopo, a sophomore, hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning to trim Alabama’s 4-0 lead to one run, and the Longhorns rallied to even the best-of-three series.

The deciding game will be played Saturday afternoon, WVUA reported. The winner advances to the Women's College World Series.

Elish will not be available to play in the game, White said.