The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
Hooks steals home in eighth to lift No. 5 Softball past No. 11 Nebraska, 4-3
04.10.2011 | Softball
April 10, 2011
LINCOLN, Neb. - The fifth-ranked Texas Softball team battled from behind to tie the score in the seventh and eventually down No. 11 Nebraska, 4-3 on senior catcher Amy Hooks' steal of home in the eighth inning. The victory extended the Longhorns' winning streak to 18 games and improved their record to 34-3 on the season and 7-0 in Big 12 play, while the Huskers fell to 30-6 overall and 3-3 in league action.
In the Texas eighth, the Horns got things rolling with a leadoff double to the left field corner by Hooks. Junior third baseman Nadia Taylor drew a walk to put two on and freshman designated player Mandy Ogle was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior second baseman Raygan Feight botched the one-out squeeze attempt with Hooks racing home, but heads up base running allowed her to steal home and give the Horns a 4-3 lead. Sophomore righthander Blaire Luna came out firing in the eighth, retiring the side in order to seal the victory.
Luna (20-2) notched the victory after tossing 5.2 innings of two-hit scoreless relief. She walked four and fanned seven after spelling freshman Rachel Fox who allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 2.1 innings of work. Nebraska starter Ashley Hagemann (22-5) took the loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out eight in 8.0 innings.
Trailing by two runs in the top of the seventh inning, Ogle led off the frame with a single through the middle. The next two batters were retired in order to bring sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland to the plate. Hoagland promptly belted a 1-0 pitch to left centerfield to even the game at three as the game moved to the bottom of the seventh.
In the third, Nebraska broke the scoreless tie when catcher Taylor Edwards and rightfielder Brooke Thomason ripped back-to-back homers to give the Huskers a 2-0 edge. Julie Brechtel followed with a double and Fox was chased from the game and was replaced by Luna. A Texas error on a hard hit groundball allowed Brechtel to score from second and NU ended the frame with a three-run lead.
Texas responded in the top of the fourth with one run to cut the lead to two. Back-to-back one-out singles by junior first baseman Lexy Bennett and Hooks started the rally and Taylor was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An RBI single to centerfield by sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt plated Bennett, but that was all the damage the Horns could muster in the inning as they stranded the bases loaded.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, April 13 when it plays host to Stephen F. Austin. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' win improved its all-time record against Nebraska to 19-18 and 4-7 in Lincoln.
- Amy Hooks totaled four hits in six at-bats in the two-game series and scored the game-winning run in both contests.
- Blaire Luna picked up her 20th victory of 2011 to push her career win total to 50, which is one shy of Christa Williams' 51 career wins that rank fourth-best at Texas.
