The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
No. 7 Missouri
No. 16 Softball upends No. 7 Missouri, 5-2
04.10.2010 | Softball
April 10, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 16 Texas Softball used two home runs by sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor and a complete game pitching effort by freshman Blaire Luna to down No. 7 Missouri, 5-2, Saturday afternoon. The victory improved the Longhorns to 33-9 on the year and 6-1 in Big 12 play, while the Tigers dropped to 3-4 in conference action.
Luna (20-5) earned the win after tossing a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits, walking two and fanning 11. Missouri starter Kristin Nottleman suffered the loss, throwing 4.0 innings, surrendering four runs and six hits, while walking three.
Texas got on the board quickly with freshman rightfielder Taylor Hoagland starting the rally with a double off the top of the wall in the first. Sophomore first baseman Lexy Bennett followed with a walk and junior catcher Amy Hooks reached on a fielder's choice that erased Hoagland. Taylor stepped to the plate with both runners on and launched a towering home run to deep leftfield to give UT a 3-0 edge.
Taylor's blast was Texas' 59th roundtripper of the year, breaking the previous single-season record of 58 that the Horns posted in 2009.
The Longhorns added a fourth run in the third with Bennett starting the one-out rally with a double and senior shortstop Loryn Johnson pushing her across with a single to leftfield.
Missouri struck back in the fifth when rightfielder Ashley Fleming led off the frame with a solo homer down the rightfield line. Fleming's run marked the first earned run Luna had allowed in 46.2 innings.
Taylor answered the bell in the bottom of the frame, roping her second home run of the day to left centerfield and extending the Texas lead to 5-1.
The Tigers managed a single tally in the seventh, using a leadoff single by shortstop Jenna Marston and an RBI double by third baseman Nicole Hudson to narrow the margin to 5-2.
Taylor headlined the Horns' offense on the day with a 2-for-2 effort that included two runs scored, four RBI and a walk. Junior second baseman Raygan Feight added three hits and two doubles in the win.
Texas wraps up its two-game Big 12 series with Missouri on Sunday, April 10 at McCombs Field. First pitch is set for Noon Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' win over Missouri improved the Longhorns' all-time record against the Tigers to 13-15 and 8-6 in Austin.
- Sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor's three-run home run in the first inning was Texas 59th home run of the season, breaking the UT single-season team home run record of 58 that was set in 60 games last season. Taylor added UT's 60th in the fifth inning.
- Freshman hurler Blaire Luna logged her seventh straight start with 11 or more strikeouts against Missouri.
- Luna surrendered a solo homer in the fifth inning, snapping her 46.2 consecutive innings streak without allowing an earned run.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On Nadia Taylor's three-run homer to start the game: She had some tremendous at-bats today. She saw a lot of pitches and worked the counts. She was tremendous. To see her break the home run record was really fun, and adding the second home run (in the fifth inning) was just great focus.
On a victory against a top-10 team: You know why they're a top-10 team. They made adjustments today, and they'll come in tomorrow with a different attack in the first inning. We hope to do the same, because they're a great club. We had a lot of balls hit hard today, and we did see three of their pitchers.
On approaching Sunday's game: I'll be excited to watch film, and figure out how we can attack them with something a little different, or with a different wrinkle. And whenever our hitters can see a pitcher live, as opposed to on film, that's good. Even though not everyone faced all three, it's good to see that so we can prepare for what we will face.
Sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor
On setting the team home run record: I'm focused, and I think as a whole collective group we're all focused. When we're at the plate, there's one chance and we're executing.
On opening the game with her three-run homer: We set the tone there. From there, we stayed on them and continued to have that energy.
