The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
No. 7 Oklahoma State
No. 14 Softball cruises past No. 7 Oklahoma State, 9-1
04.24.2010 | Softball
April 24, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- The 14th-ranked Texas Softball team used a four-hit, five-RBI effort by sophomore first baseman Lexy Bennett and took advantage of a complete-game, one-hit performance by freshman hurler Blaire Luna to post a 9-1 run-rule victory against No. 7 Oklahoma State, Saturday afternoon at McCombs Field. The victory improved the Longhorns to 37-9 on the year and 10-1 in Big 12 play, while the Cowgirls dropped to 40-10 overall and 9-3 in conference action.
Luna (24-5) earned the win for the Horns after firing her 20th complete game of the year, allowing one run on one hit, walking two and fanning eight. Luna allowed her only run and lone hit in the first inning before throwing five-straight scoreless, no-hit frames. Oklahoma State starter Anna Whiddon (20-5) suffered the loss, lasting just 4.2 innings and surrendering eight runs on 11 hits, striking out three and walking three.
The Cowgirls struck early in the first inning, using a hit-by-pitch by Mariah Gearhart to start the inning. Gearhart stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice before scoring on an RBI single by Alysia Hamilton.
Texas answered promptly in the bottom of the frame as sophomore outfielder Courtney Craig was hit by a pitch to start the frame and Bennett connected for a two-run homer to leftfield to put the Horns ahead, 2-1. Junior catcher Amy Hooks followed the home run with a walk, advanced to second on a single by sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor and came home on senior designated player Tallie Thrasher's RBI single to rightfield.
The Longhorns added to their 3-1 edge in the second, again leading off the frame with a hit-by-pitch by senior centerfielder Brittany Chalk. A single by freshman rightfielder Taylor Hoagland advanced Chalk to second and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before an RBI single by Bennett scored Chalk to push the score to 4-1. Bennett stole second to move into scoring position, an RBI groundout by Hooks plated Hoagland and an RBI single by Taylor pushed Bennett across to widen the UT edge to 6-1.
Junior pinch hitter Shelby Savony kicked off Texas' fifth-inning rally with a double down the rightfield line and advanced to third when Craig reached on a fielder's choice. Craig moved to second on a groundout that held Savony at third, but both runners raced home on a two-out RBI single by Bennett that put Texas in front 8-1.
Texas capped the game in the sixth when Feight doubled down the rightfield line with one out and scored on Craig's RBI single off the rightfield wall.
Bennett headlined the Texas offense on the day, equaling the UT single-game hit record with four hits, while adding five RBI and two runs scored. Taylor and Hooks each added two hits and one RBI in the win and Craig registered two runs scored, one hit and one RBI.
Texas wraps up its two-game series with Oklahoma State on Sunday, April 25 at McCombs Field. First pitch is set for Noon Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' win against Oklahoma State improved its all-time record against the Cowgirls to 20-9 and 13-4 in Austin.
- The Horns' victory improved UT's record against ranked opponents this season to 12-5 and 5-1 against teams ranked in the top-10.
- Blaire Luna picked up her 24th win of the season, moving her into eighth place all time in career wins at Texas.
- Lexy Bennett's four-hit performance against the Cowgirls equaled the UT single-game hit record that had been accomplished 11 other times. Bennett is the fourth Longhorn this season to record four hits in a single game (Feight: Feb. 20 vs. Iowa State, Taylor: April 2 vs. Kansas, Hoagland: April 3 vs. Kansas)
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On the importance of starting out the series on a good note: It's very significant; we talked about it all week in regards to having Oklahoma State on our turf. We talked about having to forget about what happened on their trip to Tech. Regardless of that, we have to play like we have a chip on our shoulder, and take care of our own destiny. Even though they dropped the two games, we had nothing to do with that, so let us control what we can, and take care of business on our turf.
On the offense's ability to constantly regain momentum: It's a tremendous blow to the other team when we can regain momentum quickly. You know that when somebody sets the table and gets on, that anyone in the lineup is capable of hitting it out of the park and getting you right back in the lead. It takes a lot of steam out of an opponent.
On Luna's pitching today: She had a decent outing today, but I don't think it was one of her best outings. But the best thing about it is that as a newcomer she finding ways to grind through an outing where she might not have her best stuff. I think Oklahoma State had a specific game plan, and we talked about that throughout the game and tried to make some adjustments, and we are going to do the same tomorrow. I think they'll see a little bit of a different look tomorrow, and we are excited to show them a different look because they're good hitters, and they're going to make adjustments. They didn't see Blaire at her best today, but she grinded through it. We'll work on some things and try to give them a different look tomorrow.
On Lexy Bennett's offensive day: When I had Shelby (Savony) at third and less than two outs, I told her, 'Be certain you're going to score here because with three more runs at that point we would've ended the game.' Usually, you don't think about getting three runs at one time, but when you have Lexy and (Amy) Hooks coming up, there's a great possibility of it. Lexy was seeing the ball extremely well today, they tried to go with different game plans for her, but she continued to make adjustments from at-bat to at-bat then pitch-to-pitch. She was a very difficult out for them today.
Sophomore first baseman Lexy Bennett
On the offense being able to produce runs for Blaire: It's awesome. I know our team is really confident. With them scoring one run in the first, we know we're going to come back and keep hitting. We're so consistent throughout the lineup that we are going to make something happen. Our team just knows that we can get the job done.
On her big offensive day: We've been doing a lot of extra work. Thursday, a lot of us came out and worked on specific things. I was keying in on inside pitches all week, and that's what I got thrown at me. The last two at-bats I got some out.
