The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UC Davis
No. 13 Softball powers past Syracuse and UC Davis
02.27.2010 | Softball
Feb. 27, 2010
Box Score: Syracuse Box Score: UC Davis
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- The No. 13 Texas Softball team rallied back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Syracuse 5-4 and in the nightcap recorded a school-record five home runs as it upended UC Davis 14-5, Saturday at the Cathedral City Classic. The victories improved the Horns to 13-2 on the year, while the Aggies fell to 6-5 and the Orange dropped to 2-5.
Freshman righthander Blaire Luna (7-1) picked up the win for Texas against Syracuse after firing 5.1 innings of scoreless, two-hit relief that included nine strikeouts. Luna spelled starter Kim Bruins who surrendered four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Syracuse starter Brittany Gardner (1-1) was saddled with the loss after throwing 4.0 innings and allowing four runs on six hits.
Texas broke a 4-4 tie with Syracuse in the fifth, using an infield single by freshman second baseman Torie Schmidt to start the frame. She stole second and advanced to third on a fly-out before coming home on a wild pitch to give UT a one-run lead.
In the nightcap, senior righthander Erin Tresselt (3-0) earned the win, tossing 3.1 innings before giving way to Luna, who threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. UC Davis righthander Dana Waldusky (2-3) suffered the loss after surrendering four runs on three hits in 0.1 innings of work.
Freshman outfielder Taylor Hoagland put the exclamation point on Texas' victory over UC Davis, hammering a walk-off two-run homer to end the run-rule shortened game in the fifth inning. Hoagand's deep shot to leftfield was Texas' fifth of the day, breaking the UT single-game record for home runs.
Schmidt headlined the UT offense in game one with a 2-for-2 effort and one run scored. Taylor and Hoagland paced the charge in the nightcap with three hits each, while Taylor recorded four RBI and three runs scored.
Texas concludes play at the Cathedral City Classic on Sunday, Feb. 28 when it takes on Oregon State. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. Central.
Game1: Texas 5, Syracuse 4
Syracuse scored four quick runs in the top of the first, using a leadoff double by centerfielder Veronica Grant to start the rally and taking advantage of a UT miscue to put two runners on. The Orange added a walk to load the bases and a two-run single by third baseman Hallie Gibbs pushed the score to 2-0. Syracuse notched two more runs on a two-run double by designated player Meghan Boston to claim a 4-0 edge.
Texas answered in the bottom of the third, connecting for five hits and using one Syracuse error to even the game at four apiece. Junior first baseman Shelby Savony led off the frame with a solo home run to leftfield, shrinking the margin to three. Senior rightfielder Tallie Thrasher followed with a single to rightfield and she advanced to second on a bunt single by freshman second baseman Torie Schmidt. A fielder's choice erased Schmidt and put Courtney Craig aboard with one out. An RBI single by sophomore designated player Lexy Bennett plated Thrasher and an error on the play allowed Craig to race home. Texas pushed its final run across when junior shortstop Raygan Feight singled home Bennett.
Game 2: Texas 14, UC Davis 5
UC Davis grabbed a two-run edge in the first, taking advantage of two hits and two Texas errors. An RBI double by first baseman Sarah Axelson gave the Aggies the early lead and Texas' second error of the frame allowed Axelson to score and push the score to 2-0.
Texas answered immediately in the first, setting the table with a leadoff single by Craig before a two-run homer by Bennett to right centerfield evened the score at 2-2. Feight followed with a walk and came home when sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor drilled a two-run home run over the leftfield wall to give UT a 4-2 edge.
The Aggies added a single tally in the second to shrink the lead to 4-3, but Texas responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Craig and Bennett drew back-to-back one-out walks to start the rally and Feight reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. A single to right centerfield by junior catcher Amy Hooks plated two and an RBI single by Taylor moved the Texas lead to 7-3.
UC Davis narrowed the margin to 7-5 in the third with a leadoff home run by Axelson and an RBI single by centerfielder Megan Guzman.
The Horns registered four more runs in the fourth on an RBI single by Taylor and a three-run home run by Thrasher that moved the score to 11-5. A pinch-hit homer by Bruins started the fifth and a two-run shot by Hoagland ended the game 14-5.
