The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Fresno State
No. 12 Softball cruises past Fresno State, 9-2
03.18.2011 | Softball
March 18, 2011
FULLERTON, Calif. - The No. 12 Texas Softball team extended its winning streak to six games as it downed Fresno State, 9-2, Friday evening at the Judi Garman Classic. The Horns tallied 12 hits, three homers and added seven stolen bases in their offensive explosion. The win improved the Longhorns to 22-3 on the year, while the Bulldogs dropped to 15-8.
Freshman righthander Rachel Fox (9-1) earned the victory for Texas after firing her eighth complete game of the season. She allowed two runs, scattered five hits, walked two and fanned three in 7.0 innings of work. Fresno State starter Michelle Moses (5-6) took the loss after surrendering seven runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four.
Sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt headlined the Texas offense for the second-straight day, registering her second-consecutive three-hit outing, scoring two runs and adding an RBI. Freshman shortstop Taylor Thom shined as well with two hits, three RBI and one run scored.
The Longhorns grabbed an early 1-0 edge in the top of the first when junior first baseman Lexy Bennett smashed her third homer of the year over the leftfield wall.
Fresno State answered quickly, using a leadoff single by Haley Gilleland to start the inning and a two-run homer by Michelle Moses to straightaway centerfield to capture a 2-1 lead.
In the third, sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland evened the game at two apiece when she ripped her eighth home run of the year to start the frame for Texas. The Horns reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Schmidt notched her second single of the day to start the inning and came around to score on Thom's two-run homer that put UT ahead, 4-2.
The Horns pushed four runs across in the fifth to balloon their lead to 8-2. Bennett drew a leadoff walk to start the frame and junior third baseman Nadia Taylor reached on a single. Schmidt followed with an RBI double to rightfield that scored Bennett and a wild pitch allowed Taylor to score from third. A double steal plated Schmidt from third and an RBI single by Thom allowed freshman second baseman Karina Scott to come around and score after reaching on an error.
Texas tacked on one final run in the seventh, using a two-out double by Scott to get things going and an RBI single by senior designated player Shelby Savony to push the margin to 9-2.
The Longhorns return to action on Saturday, March 19 when they take on tourney host Cal State Fullerton. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. Central.
