The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri State
Fox and Bennett lead No. 13 Softball past Missouri State, 7-1
02.18.2011 | Softball
Feb. 18, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The 13th-ranked Texas Softball team received a complete game pitching performance by freshman righthander Rachel Fox and a three-hit outing by junior second baseman Lexy Bennett as it downed Missouri State, 7-1 at Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational. The victory improved UT to 7-0 on the season and dropped the Bears to 1-1.
Fox (3-0) fired her third-straight complete game in the win, scattering three hits, allowing one run, walking none and fanning a career-best 12 batters. Missouri State starter Natalie Rose (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out seven.
Bennett headlined the Horns' offense on the night with three hits, a homer, a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland's solo homer in the third extended her hitting streak to 18 games, a mark that only trails her UT-record 21-game streak from 2010.
In the first, Bennett kicked off the Texas scoring with a solo homer to straightaway centerfield and the Horns maintained a 1-0 edge through two frames. The Longhorns added to their lead in the third when Hoagland led off the frame with a homer to center. Bennett followed with a double and junior third baseman Nadia Taylor singled to put two aboard for senior first baseman Shelby Savony who ripped a three-run homer to give UT a 5-0 edge.
Texas added another tally in the fourth, taking advantage of a one-out single by freshman centerfielder Brejae Washington to start the rally. Washington promptly stole second and raced home on Bennett's single to rightfield.
The Bears got on the board in the sixth when pinch hitter Heather Duckworth launched a two-out solo homer to left center that cut the lead to 6-1. The Longhorns answered in the bottom of the frame when Washington reached on a bunt single and later came home after a pair of MSU errors.
Texas returns to action at the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 19 when it hosts Colorado State. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. Central. Later in the day, UT will again take on CSU in semifinal action at 6:30 p.m.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' win improved its all-time record against Missouri State to 2-0.
- Taylor Hoagland's homer in the third extended her current hitting streak to 18 games. The mark ranks second-best in UT annals and only trails her 21-game mark from 2010. Hoagland entered the 2011 season carrying an 11-game hitting streak from last season.
- Shelby Savony's three-run blast marked her second-straight game with a three-run homer and pushed her career homer total to 18, which ties for ninth-best in UT history.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
General statement: We have to tip our cap to Missouri State. I thought their pitcher did a nice job with some good offspeed stuff and she was very deceptive. They did a nice job with their pitch calling, but at the same time it was another good outing for our hitters. Fox did a good job in the circle and her key was that she worked ahead in the count better than we had seen in her previous two starts. Being ahead opened up her arsenal of pitches to use and that was significant for her.
On Shelby Savony's performance the last two nights: She has done a nice job of making some adjustments this week. She has been a little frustrated, but when you are a senior and a captain you want to be contributing in every way possible. It was nice to see her work through some things at practice this week, come out and get some opportunities and take advantage of them.
Freshman pitcher Rachel Fox
On what worked well for her in the win: I really felt relaxed tonight. My dropball was working well for me after working hard to bring it up in the zone. It gave me a more relaxed sense and allowed me to attack the batters.
On improving from start-to-start: You always want to improve and I think this is a good step toward the right direction. We will continue to work hard and we will continue to get better each game.
