The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Iowa State
No. 3 Softball remains unbeaten in Big 12 with shutout of Iowa State
04.16.2011 | Softball
April 16, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The third-ranked Texas Softball team used a three-hit, three-RBI effort by senior catcher Amy Hooks and a complete-game shutout outing by sophomore All-America pitcher Blaire Luna to down Iowa State, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at McCombs Field. The Longhorns maintained their Big 12 lead with the victory, improving to 36-4 on the year and 8-0 in Big 12 play, while the Cyclones dropped to 19-18 overall and 1-6 in league action.
Luna (21-2) notched her 51st career victory against ISU to move into a tie with Christa Williams (1998-99) for fourth place on the UT career wins list. The sophomore allowed two hits and fanned 11 in her 12th complete-game shutout effort of the season. Iowa State starter Rachel Zabriskie (12-12) took the loss after surrendering three runs on six hits and striking out two in 5.0 innings of work.
Hooks headlined the Horns' offense in the game with a 3-for-3 performance that included an RBI double and a two-run home run. Her roundtripper was the 31st of her career and moved her into third-place on the Texas career home run list. Junior first baseman Lexy Bennett scored Texas' first run on Hooks' double in the first to plate her 49th run of the season and set a new UT single-season runs scored record.
The Longhorns pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third when sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland reached on a leadoff double and came around to score on Hooks' two-run home run to left centerfield.
Texas returns to action on Sunday, April 17 when it concludes its two-game Big 12 series with Iowa State. First pitch is slated for Noon Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- The win improved Texas' all-time record against Iowa State to 32-1 and 14-1 in Austin.
- Lexy Bennett's run in the first inning was her 49th of the season and moved her into first-place on the UT single-season runs scored list. She moved past former Longhorn Desiree Williams who scored 48 runs in 2009.
- Amy Hooks' two-run homer in the third was her eighth of the season and improved her career total to 31. She surpassed Loryn Johnson's (2007-10) career total of 30 to move into third-place in the UT record books.
- Blaire Luna recorded her 51st career victory to move into a tie with Christa Williams (1998-99) in the Texas career record books. The game was also the 48th complete game of her career and the 23rd shutout.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On coming back after a tough loss last Wednesday: Mid-week you're trying to work through some things and get some different looks. You have to battle fatigue and sometimes motivation is more of a challenge. I think it was a good lesson for the team and I think they rebounded great coming into the weekend.
On today's game: I liked a lot of things about today. I know a lot of our hitters spent some extra time and are working through some things and I thought there were some good adjustments made there. That was one of (Blaire) Luna's best games of the year. I think that and against Washington are the two best we've seen just in regards to movement and command with every pitch in her arsenal. It's good to see as we keep moving down the stretch.
Senior catcher Amy Hooks
On the Big 12 season: There was a lot of talk in the locker room about playing Texas Softball and putting that win behind us and getting what we want out of conference.
On her current hot streak: I'm just trying to help my team out any way I can. I've been staying after practice and coming before practice to hit with teammates. We just know that down the stretch it's going to be that one hit that might win the ball game, so we're just trying to work and put in the time.
Sophomore pitcher Blaire Luna
On her performance today: I felt good in my warm up. It's just nice to have Amy (Hooks) back there because she has so much confidence in me.
On pitching a perfect game into the fourth inning: We got the win and that's all that matters. I try not to get too consumed with the numbers and how many hits there are. I just wanted to focus on minimizing my walks and I think that's what I did.
