The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Florida
No. 11 Softball drops pair of games in final inning
02.25.2011 | Softball
Feb. 25, 2011
Fordham: Box Score Florida: Box Score
AUSTIN, Texas - The 11th-ranked Texas Softball team battled hard in both ends of its doubleheader at the Cathedral City Classic, but came up short in the final frame of both contests. In game one, the Longhorns surrendered a walk-off homer as it lost to Fordham, 2-1 and in the nightcap played an epic nine-inning game with No. 4 Florida in which the Gators won, 6-5. The losses dropped UT to 10-2 on the year, while Fordham improved to 5-5 and Florida moved to 11-0.
Sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland anchored the Texas offense on the day, registering three hits and extending her UT record hitting streak to 23 games. The streak now ties the second-longest streak in Big 12 history and is only two games off the league record of 25 set by Nebraska's Anne Steffan in 2005.
Sophomore All-America hurler Blaire Luna (6-1) tossed a gem in the nightcap, scattering eight hits in 8.2 innings of work and allowing four earned runs, while fanning 14 and walking four. Florida's Stephanie Brombacher did the bulk of the work for the Gators, firing 8.1 innings and allowing five runs (two earned) before giving way to reliever Hannah Rogers (5-0) who earned the win after recording the final two outs. The Horns touched Brombacher for the only five runs (two earned) she has allowed in 39.1 innings in 2011.
Against Fordham, UT freshman starter Rachel Fox (4-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs on five hits and striking out seven in 6.2 innings of work. FU All-America righthander Jen Mineau (2-1) earned the win after holding UT to one run and five hits in 7.0 innings.
Texas leapt out to an early 2-0 lead against Florida, using a leadoff walk by junior third baseman Nadia Taylor in the second to set the table for senior designated player Shelby Savony's two-run homer.
Luna kept the Gators at bay through the first five frames before they rallied for three runs in the sixth to claim the lead. Centerfielder Michelle Moultrie drew a walk to start the frame, moved to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch and came home on Kelsey Bruder's RBI fielder's choice. Florida forged ahead when rightfielder Brittany Schutte launched a two-run home to rightfield later in the inning to move the score to 3-2.
Texas answered in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of a leadoff single by sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt to start the frame. Schmidt advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice and raced home when freshman shortstop Taylor Thom reached on an error and narrowly missed taking three bases and scoring on the same play. Hoagland stepped to the plate with two outs and launched her sixth home run of the year to put the Horns back on top, 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, UF used a leadoff single and a pair of sacrifice bunts to set the table for Moultrie who evened the game at four with an RBI triple that barely escaped UT centerfielder Brejae Washington. Texas responded in the eighth when international tie-break rules put Lexy Bennett on base to start the frame. She moved to second a sacrifice bunt and scored on Taylor's sacrifice fly to put UT ahead, 5-4.
Bruder drove home the ITB-placed runner for the Gators to start the eighth, evening the game at five. Texas failed to score in the ninth, but retired the first two UF batters in the bottom of the frame before Moultrie struck again with a single that lifted Florida to a 6-5 win.
Against Fordham, Texas got on the board in the fifth when Bennett led off the frame with a triple and raced home on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Amy Hooks. Fox held Fordham scoreless for 5.2 innings before an RBI single by Nicole Callahan evened the game at one in the sixth. The Rams first two batters in the seventh went down in order, but designated player Gabby Luety lifted FU to victory with a walk-off solo homer that sealed a 2-1 win.
Texas returns to action on Friday, Feb. 25 when it takes on Cal Poly at the Cathedral City Classic. First pitch is slated for 8 p.m. Central.
