The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Stephen F. Austin
No. 3 Softball tripped up by Stephen F Austin, 1-0
04.13.2011 | Softball
April 13, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The third-ranked Texas Softball team had its 18-game winning streak and its 17-game home winning streak snapped Wednesday night as it fell to Stephen F. Austin, 1-0 at McCombs Field. The win dropped the Longhorns to 34-4, while the Lady Jacks improved to 10-28 on the year.
The loss marked just the fourth loss of the season for the Horns with all of them coming in the form of one-run defeats. Sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt headlined UT's offensive output, recording two of the Longhorns' four hits, including a double in the second.
Sophomore righthander Kim Bruins (0-1) suffered the loss in her first start of the season, allowing one run on four hits, walking two and striking out two in 4.0 innings of work. Sophomore All-America hurler Blaire Luna spelled her, firing three perfect inning with six strikeouts. SFA starter Carlie Thomas (5-10) earned the shutout victory after scattering four hits, walking five and fanning two.
The Lady Jacks plated the game's only run in the first inning, using a leadoff walk by Elizabeth Arana and a single by Lauren Luetge to start the frame. Bethany Brown reached on a fielder's choice attempt to load the bases before Lacy Liles drew a bases-loaded walk off of Bruins to score Arana and give the Lady Jacks a 1-0 edge.
The Horns only other hits came on a leadoff triple by sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland in the first and a single by junior centerfielder Courtney Craig in the seventh. Texas stranded nine baserunners in the loss and left five in scoring position.
Texas returns to action on Thursday, April 14 when it plays host to North Texas. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' loss moved its all-time record against SFA to 12-2 and 11-1 in Austin.
- The Longhorns' loss snapped Texas' 18-game winning streak and its 17-game home winning streak that stood as the nation's fifth-best home streak.
- Torie Schmidt's two-hit effort marked her 12th multi-hit game of the season and the 14th of her career.
- Blaire Luna's three scoreless innings extended her current scoreless innings streak to 16.1.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On the team's performance: We looked a little bit tired, and mid-week games are always tough. However, credit has to be given to SFA. They made the plays they needed to make to string a win together, and we didn't. Our hats are off to them for their performance.
On ending a home winning streak: It's not surprising to lose. The game is the game. Things have been going our way the last few weeks. Tonight, it was different. There was kind of a cap on home plate. With this game, that happens. People say that the game is filled with lucky breaks. But I believe that lucky breaks happen when a team goes out, remains focused and plays their hearts out. We didn't do that tonight, and we couldn't get to the plate when we needed to as a result.
On Kim Bruins' performance: We aren't disappointed with her at all. We wanted to get her some looks. This is the first time she has had to go the distance, in terms of innings. While she may have had a rough start, she stuck with it and improved as the game went along. She gave us what we needed in the circle.
Junior first basemen Lexy Bennett
On the outcome of the game: It was obviously not the result we wanted, especially since we were undefeated at home. It's a hard loss. We just didn't come out and produce the way we have in the past.
On the after effects of the loss: Every game is important to us. We would have loved to win tonight, but every game makes you better regardless of who you are playing or the outcome. We made some mistakes we will learn from, and we'll come out and play without those mistakes tomorrow night, and against Iowa State this weekend.
Sophomore pitcher Blaire Luna
On her performance: I am happy with my performance, but as a team it is disappointing anytime you lose. It was a different role for me to start so late in the game. It required a great deal of focus and was a different challenge for me overall. I felt like I did a good job of rising to that challenge.
On the team's performance: We are all aware that we need to start stronger. But every team is going to play up when they play against us. We have to give credit to SFA. They played well collectively, their pitcher did a great job and it worked out in their favor.
