The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Houston
No. 15 Softball knocks off Houston, 11-4
02.21.2010 | Softball
Feb. 21, 2010
HOUSTON -- The No. 15 Texas Softball team equaled a school record with four home runs for the second consecutive day as it completed its tourney sweep and downed Houston, 11-3 at the Marriott Houston Classic. The win improved the Longhorns to 11-0 on the year and dropped Houston to 4-6.
Texas' 11-0 start is its second-best in UT history and is its best since starting with 16-straight wins in 2003.
Freshman righthander Kim Bruins (4-0) picked up the win for the Horns after firing a complete game, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and fanning three. Houston starter Bailey Watts (3-3) was saddled with the loss after being chased from the game after 2.0 innings in which she allowed two runs on two hits.
The Horns got on the board early, using a leadoff home run by sophomore centerfielder Courtney Craig to give UT a 1-0 edge. Junior first baseman Shelby Savony added an opposite field solo homer of her own in the third to give the Horns a two-run lead.
With two outs in the third, Texas rallied for two more runs and widened the margin to 4-0. Sophomore designated player Lexy Bennett drew a two-out walk to start the rally and advanced to second on senior shortstop Loryn Johnson's single through the left side. A wild pitch by UH allowed the runners to advance two bases, scoring Bennett and moving Johnson to third. Junior catcher Amy Hooks followed with an RBI double to right centerfield that scored Johnson and moved the tally to 4-0.
Houston plated two runs in the fourth when catcher Melissa Gregson connected for a two-run home run to narrow the Texas lead to two.
Texas kicked off its fifth-inning rally with a double by Craig and a Bennett walk before a two-run double by Johnson plated both runners and pushed the UT advantage to 6-2. Following the double, the Longhorns loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Junior second baseman Raygan Feight drew a walk with the bases loaded that forced a run home and moved the Texas edge to five.
Senior pinch hitter Tallie Thrasher added another homer for Texas to lead off the seventh and a three-run home run by Bennett stretched the Horns' lead to 11-3.
Johnson and Craig paced the Texas offense on the afternoon with three hits apiece, while Craig scored three times and Johnson notched a pair of RBI.
Texas returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 23 when it plays hosts to Texas Woman's at McCombs Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Central.
