The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 12 Softball shuts out Baylor to win outright Big 12 title
05.06.2010 | Softball
May 6, 2010
WACO, Texas -- The No. 12 Texas Softball team claimed the Big 12 Conference title outright behind a two-hit pitching effort from freshman righthander Blaire Luna that stymied Baylor in a 6-0 shutout, Thursday night. The victory improved the Longhorns to 41-10 on the year and 14-2 in Big 12 play, sealing the title outright and giving UT its first conference championship since 2006.
Luna (28-6) earned the win after tossing her 10th complete game shutout of the season, allowing just two hits, walking three and fanning 12. The freshman tossed 5.0 no-hit innings before giving up her only two hits of the game in the sixth. Baylor starter Courtney Repka (18-17) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out three.
Texas broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth, using three hits to push two runs across and take a 2-0 edge. Sophomore first baseman Lexy Bennett started the rally with a one-out double down the leftfield line and advanced to third on a single by junior catcher Amy Hooks. An RBI groundout by sophomore third baseman Nadia Taylor plated Bennett and an RBI single to centerfield by senior shortstop Loryn Johnson scored Hooks.
The Horns added two more runs in the fourth, starting the rally with a one-out single by sophomore leftfielder Courtney Craig and a walk by freshman rightfielder Taylor Hoagland. Bennett followed with her second double in as many innings, scoring Craig and giving UT a 3-0 lead. A sacrifice fly to deep right centerfield by Hooks allowed Hoagland to race home and pushed the margin to four.
Junior pinch hitter Shelby Savony added to the Horns' lead in the sixth when she hammered her 11th home run of the season to give Texas a 5-0 lead.
Texas ballooned the lead to 6-0 in the seventh via a one-out double by Hoagland and a sacrifice fly by Bennett.
Bennett and Johnson headlined the Texas offense on the night with two hits each, while Bennett added two RBI and a run scored. Hoagland scored two runs in the win and added a double and a walk.
Texas returns to action on Sunday, May 9 when it plays host to No. 10 Georgia for senior day. First pitch is set for Noon Central on ESPN.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' win clinched the Big 12 Championship outright, giving UT its first conference crown since 2006. The Longhorns also earn the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Championship that begins Friday, May 14.
- Texas' win moved the Longhorns' all-time record against Baylor to 17-10 and 7-5 in Waco.
- Blaire Luna's two-hit shutout was her 10th of the season and her sixth in Big 12 play.
- Loryn Johnson's RBI single in the fourth inning improved her UT career record RBI total to 135.
- Shelby Savony's home run in the sixth was her 11th of the season and her fifth pinch-hit home run of 2010.
- Texas' left side of the infield tandem of Nadia Taylor and Loryn Johnson finished the Horns' 16-game Big 12 slate without committing an error. Johnson fielded 1.000 in 27 chances at shortstop, while Taylor fielded 1.000 with 16 chances at third base.
- Baylor's loss dropped the Bears to 26-23 on the year and 6-12 in Big 12 action.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On how it feels to be conference champions: It feels great. I'm proud of the team, and excited for all of them, especially the seniors because they've talked about it for a long time. It's just been a great group. We're only 15 deep this year, and we talk about how it takes everybody.
On clinching the title outright: They didn't celebrate after Iowa State. They knew they still had work to do. This group has had a pretty business-like approach all year. The talk at practice this week was just about us taking care of business. We wanted it outright.
Senior shortstop Loryn Johnson
On clinching the championship outright: It feels great, because we've had our eye on it since day one. We have a lot of work to do still, but we're excited and we're going to enjoy it. We didn't want it to come down to the rain-out in Norman. It was in our hands tonight, and we took care of it.
Freshman pitcher Blaire Luna
On being part of a championship as a freshman: It's awesome. I'm so glad we came out with the championship, and we didn't have to share it. It's an amazing feeling. I just came in and did what I needed to do. If you're recruited to Texas, you're expected to win. I just feel like I came in and did what I was supposed to.
