The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
No. 5 Softball remains unbeaten in Big 12 play, rallies to beat Texas Tech, 9-5
04.23.2011 | Softball
April 23, 2011
LUBBOCK, Texas - The fifth-ranked Texas Softball team overcame a 5-1 deficit and recorded 18 hits for the second-straight day to down Texas Tech, 9-5 at Rocky Johnson Field. Freshman shortstop Taylor Thom highlighted the Horns' attack in the win, posting a UT single-game record five hits to help Texas remain unbeaten in Big 12 play. The victory improved the Longhorns to 41-4 on the season and 11-0 in Big 12 action, while Texas Tech fell to 39-11 and 4-10 in league play.
Sophomore All-America righthander Blaire Luna (24-2) was stellar in relief, firing 6.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits and fanning six in the winning effort. Luna spelled freshman starter Rachel Fox who was chased from the game after surrendering four runs on five hits in 1.0 inning. Texas Tech starter Brittany Talley (13-5) suffered the loss after giving up six runs on 11 hits, walking two and striking out four in 3.2 innings of work.
Thom's five hits broke the previous record of four hits that had been posted 13 times in program history. She added two runs scored and an RBI to her stat line, while junior third baseman Nadia Taylor and sophomore centerfielder Brejae Washington bolstered the offense with a pair of three-hit outings.
Texas scored one early, taking advantage of back-to-back singles by Washington and freshman shortstop Taylor Thom and a hit-by-pitch by Taylor to load the bases. Sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Washington and give UT a 1-0 edge.
Tech answered in the home half of the first when third baseman Emily Bledsoe singled, advanced to third on Logan Hall's double and raced home on a Fox wild pitch.
The Red Raiders jumped ahead in the second, recording five hits and pushing four runs across to claim a 5-1 lead. Rightfielder Ashley Hamada and shortstop Raven Richardson recorded a pair of singles to start the inning and both came home on a two-run double by pinch hitter Kermitria Ward. A pair of RBI singles by Hall and first baseman Sandy James added to the outburst and gave the Red Raiders a four-run advantage after two complete.
Texas responded in the third, using three-straight singles by Thom, senior catcher Amy Hooks and Taylor to start the inning. An RBI groundout by Schmidt scored Thom and an RBI infield single by sophomore Kim Bruins plated Taylor to cut the margin to 5-3.
In the fourth, the Longhorns battled back to reclaim the lead, sending eight hitters to the plate, including a string of six-straight hits. A one-out bunt single by Washington started the Horns' rally and she eventually scored on an RBI single by Hooks. Taylor followed Hooks with a two-run home run - her second of the series- to left field that put UT in front 6-5.
Texas added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, taking advantage of a leadoff double by Thom to start the frame. Taylor reached on a one-out single to move Thom to third before a sacrifice fly by Schmidt allowed her to come home. The Horns added their second run of the frame on Bruins' second RBI single of the day that gave Texas an 8-5 lead.
Hoagland drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and advanced to second on Washington's second bunt single of the day. Thom's record-breaking single into right centerfield allowed Hoagland to race all the way home and extend the Horns' lead to 9-5.
Texas returns to action on Tuesday, April 26 when it plays host to UTSA. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' win improved its all-time record against Texas Tech to 26-5 and 12-1 in Lubbock.
- Taylor Thom's five-hit outing set a new UT single-game record for hits.
- Courtney Craig's two-hit effort improved her season-best hitting streak to eight games.
- The Longhorns 18 hits in the win pushed Texas' weekend hit total to 36.
