The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri State
No. 13 Softball downs Missouri State, stays unbeaten
02.20.2011 | Softball
Feb. 20, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The 13th-ranked Texas Softball team received a complete game shutout performance from sophomore Blaire Luna for the second-straight day as it downed Missouri State, 5-0 to win the Time Warner Cable Texas Invitational. The victory improved the Longhorns to a perfect 10-0, while the Bears dropped to 2-3 overall.
Luna (6-0) allowed a pair of infield hits in the shutout win, fanning 12 and walking three. Missouri State starter Natalie Rose (1-2) stymied the Horns for the first five frames before the UT offense caught fire. Rose surrendered five runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out seven in 6.0 innings of work.
Sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland headlined the Horns on the day with two hits and tied her own UT-record hitting streak by extending her current streak to 21 games. The Texas offense was keyed by junior second baseman Lexy Bennett's two-run double in the sixth that jumpstarted the Horns' rally.
Freshman shortstop Taylor Thom started Texas' sixth-inning rally with a double to left centerfield and advanced to third on Hoagland's bunt single. Freshman centerfielder Brejae Washington drew a walk to load the bases and set the table for Bennett's two-run double to right.
Senior catcher Amy Hooks followed with an RBI bunt to push the lead to 3-0 and an RBI single by junior third baseman Nadia Taylor extended the edge to four. Freshman designated player Mandy Ogle capped the scoring for UT with an RBI single that put Texas ahead, 5-0.
Texas returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 24 when it kicks off play at the Cathedral City Classic against Fordham. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' victory improved its all-time record against Missouri State to 3-0.
- Taylor Hoagland extended her hitting streak to 21 games in the win. The mark ties for the longest streak in UT annals and equals her 21-game mark from 2010. Hoagland entered the 2011 season carrying an 11-game hitting streak from last season.
- In three starts at the Texas Invitational, Blaire Luna posted a 3-0 record, a 0.00 ERA, 32 strikeouts and two complete-game shutouts.
- Sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt's single in the fifth extended her career-best hitting streak to eight games.
- Hoagland notched her sixth multi-hit game of the season in the win over MSU.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On winning the tournament: It was nice. We had to do it in a difficult manner today. Even coming into the tournament yesterday we struggled with the short game. We knew that when we faced better pitching we were going to have to go to the short game and manufacture runs when we need to.
On Blaire Luna's performance: Yeah just looking at her attitude, you wouldn't know it if we were up by several runs or if it was a close came. She stays very focused. She had great stuff today.
On being undefeated at home: It feels good. I think we had to accomplish it in different ways. We had to use different people. It could prepare us for what we're about to embark on, which is a different level of competition. It's all part of a really big picture that we have for this season.
On changing up the lineup: Well we moved Brejae up to the two-spot. Being a newcomer we were a little bit worried about her pitch selection and her walk to strikeout ratio, but that's something she's been working on. She's really done a great job. Ultimately we'd like to have her up at the top and getting more looks.
Sophomore pitcher Blaire Luna
On her performance the past two games: Well the last two weeks have been a struggle mentally. I try not to get as frustrated, but it's definitely great to be where I'm at right now and hopefully I'll stay here. I've been working really hard, so I'm just glad we won today.
On her mindset in close games: I try to stay the same. Sometimes it's a little harder to stay focused because of the score. Today I didn't have much trouble focusing because of how tight the game was.
Junior second baseman Lexy Bennett
On her big hit with the bases loaded: I was kind of nervous. I hadn't been doing so well the first bit of the game. I just wanted to get a long fly ball or something through the infield and move the runners.
On the team's hitting adjustments: We started tracking the ball. We were just trying to catch that changeup and curve ball she kept throwing. Once everyone started keying on that we started seeing the ball better and hitting well.
Senior catcher Amy Hooks:
On the team's defense: Our defense was good today. Lately our offense has been putting up several runs. We needed to see a little bit more of our defense exposed today, and they did a fantastic job. We just have to keep our defense strong.
On Blaire Luna: She's zoned in right now. Even if we get behind in a count, we both have the confidence that we can get back up. Even when she walks a batter you can see it in her face. She's always ready for the next hitter.
