The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
No. 20 DePaul
Luna's 17 K's pace Softball past No. 20 DePaul, 4-1
02.13.2010 | Softball
Feb. 13, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas freshman righthander Blaire Luna tossed her second complete game in as many days and fanned 17 batters to lead Texas to a 4-1 win over No. 20 DePaul, Saturday night in the semifinals of the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational. Texas advances to play LSU in the tournament championship at 12:30 p.m. Central on Sunday, Feb. 14.
Texas' win improved the Horns to 4-0 on the year with all of its wins coming against ranked opponents. The loss dropped the Blue Demons to 1-3 on the season and moved them to the third-place game.
Luna (3-0) tossed 7.0 innings, scattering four hits, allowing one run, walking four and striking out 17. Her outing was her second of the day, after picking up a win in three innings of relief against LSU earlier on Saturday. DePaul starter Becca Heteniak (0-2) suffered the loss, throwing 6.0 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits, walking five and notching five strikeouts.
DePaul grabbed an early 1-0 edge in the second when catcher Simone Ashkar put the Blue Demons on the board with a solo shot to straightaway centerfield. The hit was the first run that Luna had surrendered, throwing the first 12.0 innings of her career without allowing a hit.
Texas evened the game at one in the bottom of the second, using a leadoff infield single by sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor to start the rally. She advanced to second on a sacrifice, moved to third on a wild pitch and came home on freshman first baseman Kim Bruins' RBI single to rightfield.
In the fourth, junior catcher Amy Hooks reached via a two-out single to set the table for Kim Bruins. The freshman first baseman stepped to the plate and launched a towering two-run home run to put the Horns ahead, 3-1. A solo homer by Hooks in the sixth added to the Longhorns' advantage and stretched their lead to 4-1.
Hooks and Bruins paced the Longhorns' offensive effort in the game with two hits each, while Bruins added three RBI and one run scored.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On the game overall: I thought it was a very good day for us. I love the way we are competing. I love the different contributions of everybody out there. We had a spectacular day, and we are working together well.
On Blaire Luna's performance tonight: What we really wanted to see was her work through adversity. And I think tonight she had to work through some adversity, especially throwing her first home run pitch. And I'm pleased to say, I think she did a great job of handling herself out there and finishing the game just as strong as she started.
On Kim Bruins' performance: She did a very nice job tonight. She made some big adjustments, adapted well and produced a great night for us overall.
On the plan for the LSU matchup: The team has tremendous goals. They always talk about how their mentality is, "It's we not me." They are a small club, but their contributions come from everyone and I think that is their greatest strength. We are going to use that mentality to our advantage, and hopefully show LSU a look that they have not seen from us before.
Junior catcher Amy Hooks
On the nerves tonight: We don't think about the scoreboard or any of the stats. When we play the game we try to help each other any way we can, and in the process things work out for us.
On her home run: For me, I just have to approach the plate relaxed. I knew the pitch was going to be close, and I just put the bat on the ball.
On her exchange with Blaire Luna after DePaul's home run: I told her to think of it as something that happened, and now that it was out of the way she had nothing to worry about. All she had to do was play. And sure enough, she bounced back just as well.
On the game: I think we looked outstanding. We maintained the energy, and everything we had been working on showed here tonight. I couldn't be happier with my team.
Freshman first baseman Kim Bruins
On her home run: I can't even explain the emotions. When I went up to bat I just knew. I wasn't hitting well at first, but when I went up to the plate tonight, I knew I was through with that phase. It was my time.
Freshman pitcher Blaire Luna
On the difference between college and high school pitching: The biggest difference between collegiate and high school pitching is how good the hitters are at bat. They have a better eye, and they have a more powerful swing.
On playing across the field from Cat Osterman: It was really awesome. She came down before the game, introduced herself and wished me luck. She is an excellent pitcher and someone I have always looked up to.
On the stress of the game: Admittedly, it was a stressful ballgame, but I try not show any emotion out there. Fortunately everything worked in our advantage tonight.
