The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
No. 8 Softball sweeps doubleheader with Texas A&M Corpus Christi
03.23.2011 | Softball
March 23, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 8 Texas Softball team used a pair of complete-game shutout performances by sophomore All-America pitcher Blaire Luna and freshman hurler Rachel Fox as it swept both ends of its doubleheader with Texas A&M Corpus Christi, 6-0 and 2-0, Wednesday night. The wins improved the Longhorns to 26-3 and dropped the Islanders to 26-9.
Luna (15-2) earned the victory in game one, firing her fourth-straight complete-game shutout and her 10th of the season. In 7.0 innings of work she scattered three hits, walked two and fanned 10. The sophomore has now thrown 33.0 consecutive innings without allowing a run. TAMUCC starter Jordan Trujillo (11-5) took the loss after surrendering six runs on six hits and walking five in 4.0 innings of work.
Junior first baseman Lexy Bennett and junior designated player Courtney Craig headlined the Texas offense in game one of the twin-bill with a pair of two-hit performances. Bennett added two RBI, two runs scored and a walk, while Craig scored a run and stole a base.
In game two, Fox (11-1) notched her third complete-game shutout of the season, allowing just one hit and one walk and striking out 12 in 7.0 innings of work. Islanders starter Greta Cecchetti took the loss after giving up two runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out one.
Junior third baseman Nadia Taylor highlighted the Horns' order in the nightcap, going 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Craig drove in UT's only other run.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, March 26 when it kicks off Big 12 play with a two-game series against Kansas at McCombs Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Central.
Game 1: Texas 6, TAMUCC 0
The Longhorns got on the board in the first inning, using a two-out single by Bennett to set the table and an RBI single by senior catcher Amy Hooks to take a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Texas loaded the bases with a single and a pair of walks before taking advantage of a passed ball with freshman centerfielder Brejae Washington on third. Washington scored to move the lead to two and an RBI groundout by junior third baseman Nadia Taylor plated Bennett to put UT ahead, 3-0.
The Longhorns tacked on three more runs in the fourth with junior designated player Courtney Craig kicking off the rally with a leadoff single. Back-to-back walks by freshman shortstop Taylor Thom and sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland loaded the bases for the Horns. A sacrifice fly by Washington scored Craig and a two-run double by Bennett plated the other two runners to give the Horns a 6-0 edge.
Game 2: Texas 2, TAMUCC 0
In the second, Texas took advantage of a leadoff walk by Hooks in the second to jumpstart its offense. Hooks advanced to third on a sacrifice and a single before racing home on Craig's RBI single.
The Longhorns tacked on an insurance run in the sixth, using three-straight singles by Bennett, Hooks and Taylor to push the lead to two. Taylor's two-out single through the middle scored Bennett and gave UT a 2-0 edge.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' two wins improved its all-time record against TAMUCC to 18-3 and 17-2 in Austin.
- Blaire Luna's seven shutout innings extended her scoreless innings pitched streak to 33.0.
- Rachel Fox has now allowed just three earned runs in her last 25.0 innings of work and owns a 0.84 ERA in the four-game span.
- Torie Schmidt and Lexy Bennett hit safely in both games against TAMUCC, extending their current hitting streaks to seven and six games, respectively.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On the team's performance tonight: I thought that their focus was great. I felt like it was going to be a very good challenge for us coming off a week where we were very high and played very, very well in California. Then, to have a non-conference doubleheader in the middle before heading into conference tests your focus. They had some discussion in the locker room before and put together some goals, and they came out focused. I was very pleased with their performance tonight.
Junior designated player Courtney Craig
On coming back from injury: It feels like a new start. Just getting out there, I am loving the game again. I was struggling a little bit when I first came back, but I really put some extra work into it and came back with a completely different mindset and just ready to play.
On whether she worries about getting re-injured heading into Big 12 play: I have that glove on for protection, but I do not even worry about that. It would mess up my mental game. I am just playing and doing what I can for the team.
Senior catcher Amy Hooks
On being in sync with Blaire Luna: I think that it is just practice in the bullpen and the games that we had last year really helped. It was good to have a year under both of our belts together. I am not perfect in thinking what she wants, but at least by the second pitch call, I can pretty much know what she wants to go to. It was great. We knew it was going to be a grind midweek after coming off the six games. We had team goals tonight and just talked in the locker room about playing Texas Softball and not letting Fullerton carry over, even though it was great. We won those games and now we are here and getting ready for conference this weekend.
Freshman pitcher Rachel Fox
On her performance tonight: I think that Hooks and I were kind of in a zone tonight. I think that she did a really good job of mixing tonight and keeping the batters off balance. It was a good strategy that we had going at the batters. Also with such a great team playing defense behind us it makes it so much easier and makes us more comfortable.
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