The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
No. 7 Oklahoma State
No. 7 Oklahoma State trips up No. 14 Softball, 1-0
04.25.2010 | Softball
April 25, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 14 Texas Softball team was held hitless as it dropped the second game of its two-game series with No. 7 Oklahoma State, 1-0, Sunday afternoon. The series split dropped the Longhorns to 37-10 overall and 10-2 in Big 12 play, while the Cowgirls moved to 41-10 on the year and 10-3 in conference action.
Freshman righthander Blaire Luna (24-6) suffered the loss for the Horns, firing 7.0 innings, scattering three hits, allowing one run, walking two and fanning nine. Oklahoma State starter Kat Espinoza (18-4) fired her first collegiate no-hitter in the victory, surrendering one walk and one hit-by-pitch, while striking out three.
The Cowgirls posted the game's lone run in the second when first baseman Julie Ward led off the frame with a walk before being erased on catcher Tamara Brown's fielder's choice. A sacrifice bunt advanced Brown to second and she raced home on an RBI single to centerfield by designated player Sam Heinlein.
Texas posed its only two threats in the first and seventh innings. Sophomore first baseman Lexy Bennett was hit by a pitch with two outs in the first, but she was stranded at first. In the seventh, freshman rightfielder Taylor Hoagland scorched a line shot to third to start the frame, but was retired by the Cowgirls. Junior catcher Amy Hook reached on a walk with two outs in the frame, but sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor followed with a deep fly ball to leftfield that was caught to end the game.
The Longhorns return to action on Thursday, April 29 when it travels to Texas Tech for its second game of the season series with the Red Raiders. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' loss dropped its all-time record against Oklahoma State to 20-10 and 13-5 in Austin.
- The Horns' loss moved UT's record against ranked opponents to 12-6 and its record against top-10 teams to 5-2.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On the game: I thought we made some adjustments against (Kat) Espinosa. I thought she played a very good ball game and you have to give credit to her. We made some good adjustments, especially after the first time through the line-up. We hit the ball hard the other way, we didn't try to pull the outside stuff and we had the right outs. Obviously it comes down to drawing the walk in the seventh and Nadia (Taylor) also put a good swing on her pitch, but it seemed like we just ran out of innings today.
On still being comfortable in their standing: I don't think you are ever comfortable, which is good. The team was quiet when I walked in the locker room and to be honest, I'm happy they were quiet because it tells me that their heads are right where they need to be. It certainly didn't feel like they were still in the lead; it felt like they were really down. I tried to pick it back up by reminding them that we go on the road this week and it is one game at a time and one pitch at a time. They are still in the driver's seat, but I like that their mindsets aren't really in the standings, they were on a toughly played game that they didn't get their outcome in. I think they have the right mindset regardless of the standings.
On the similarity between this game and the A&M game: We didn't really compare with the girls, but we did tell them that they hit the ball hard and made the adjustments that they needed to make and we will go from there. We have to try to reset and come back to work. We have to tip our hats because Oklahoma State is a good ball club. We had a game plan today and did some good things, but overall [Oklahoma State] walked away with the outcome. We can't hang our heads though. We just have to go back to work and get geared up for the game against Texas Tech.
Junior catcher Amy Hooks
On the game: We didn't get the outcome we were looking for, but a lot of people don't realize that the offense was explosive today, we just couldn't get anything to fall.
On all the balls hit hard: I don't know how to explain it unless you are here, but we just keep telling everyone in the dugout that the ball will fall and to just keep swinging. It didn't set us back any, it just didn't fall. This is kind of like the first A&M game- we hit the ball hard, it just didn't fall.
On doing well in conference: Our opportunity is still out there and in the clubhouse we know that. We know we have to take care of business and coming into this series we knew that we wanted to go out and win every game. This game isn't setting us back any. We are still going forward and doing what we do.
Sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor
On hit hard balls: It's a tough pill to swallow, but you are always going to have games like this. For a team like us, our one common goal is to win this conference. I think if we stick to that, we will do a great job finishing up this season.
On the similarities between this game and the first Texas A&M game: It's similar. After A&M, we knew that we had to bounce back if we wanted to win conference. I think as a group we did that, and now going to Lubbock, we will be sure to do a great job following up with this game.
On her last at-bat: I really wanted to hit something hard. I got a little jammed and I think if I got my bat-head to follow through, I would be smiling right now. It's something that you need to take with a grain of salt and we'll get after in Lubbock this week.
