The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UTSA
No. 3 Softball edges UTSA, 2-1 in eight innings
04.26.2011 | Softball
April 26, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The third-ranked Texas Softball team used a career-high 13-strikeout performance by freshman righthander Rachel Fox to claim a 2-1 extra-inning victory over UTSA, Tuesday night at McCombs Field. The win improved the Longhorns to 42-4 on the season and dropped the Roadrunners to 25-24.
Fox (18-1) notched the victory after allowing one run on seven hits, walking zero and fanning 13 in 8.0 innings of work. UTSA reliever Morgan Luksa (3-7) took the loss, tossing 1.1 innings, while surrendering one run on two hits and walking one.
The Longhorns broke a 1-1 tie with one-out in the bottom of the eighth inning to seal the win. Freshman shortstop Taylor Thom led off the frame with a single through the middle and senior catcher Amy Hooks followed with a single to right field to set the table for Texas. A sacrifice bunt by junior third baseman Nadia Taylor moved both runners into scoring position before sophomore leftfielder Torie Schmidt's softly hit groundball to second base allowed Thom to plate the winning run.
Texas took an early 1-0 edge in the first when sophomore Taylor Hoagland reached on an error and freshman centerfielder Brejae Washington walked to start the inning. A Thom sacrifice bunt moved them into scoring position and an RBI groundout by Hooks pushed Hoagland across.
UTSA plated its lone run in the fifth, using two hits and taking advantage of a UT error to put a single tally on the board. Danye Holmes led off the inning with a single to right centerfield and pinch runner Siera Sproul moved to second on a sacrifice before racing home on a throwing error that followed Carrie Monroe's bunt single.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, April 27 when it travels to Baylor. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' victory improved its all-time record against UTSA to 32-4 and 19-2-1 in Austin.
- Taylor Hoagland's run in the first was her 48th of the year, a mark which for second in the UT single-season record books with Desiree Williams (2009). Hoagland only trails teammate Lexy Bennett's 50 runs scored this season.
- Kim Bruins' single in the fifth extended her season-best hitting streak to four games.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On UTSA starter Danye Holmes: We could have made better adjustments off Holmes. I think we saw her the second time through the lineup, and we didn't make as good of adjustments as we have in the past. I think she threw a good game, but we had to continually remind our players to stay focused and stay on top of things. Sometimes it is more of a challenge in a non-conference game, but they need to be a little better mentally, so we were challenging them to do that tonight.
On how this team separates itself: One thing I liked is that we had very good base running tonight. We had to work on that pre-game because our practice days are so limited right now. We have a mandated off day and then we are back playing again. So, we worked on base running prior to the game, during warm ups and that paid off big for us. We also talked a lot about manufacturing runs and obviously both our runs were scored by manufacturing tonight. And we have to have that as the season goes on. We are not always going to be able to hit seven home runs in a ball game, so it is good for us to have to key on those things we have been working on.
Freshman pitcher Rachel Fox
On her pitching performance today: It was a grind. I was kind of disappointed in a few of the bloop hits that they got. I am not used to seeing seven hits on the scoreboard, but you take it as it is. I thought the off-speed was really good tonight, and Amy Hooks did a nice job mixing up the off-speed pitches. There are a couple of off-speed pitches that I have been working on, and she did a good job balancing those. The rise-ball is coming back and we were able to use that and the drop-ball that we are working on to deceive the batters, and it was an overall good night.
On struggling to get hits: Each and every game is different in and of itself. That is why you have to play the game for what it is, and you don't look at the team on the other side of the field. They all have a different look to them and that is why we just need to stick to Texas Softball and getting the wins we need.
On pulling out close games: In tight games like this, I have all the confidence in the world that we are going to score the runs that we need to. Torie [Schmidt] stepped up big tonight and that was good. I rely every single one of my teammates when I'm in the circle.
Freshman shortstop Taylor Thom
On the game: The weekday, non-conference games are definitely a grind. I think that after coming off a long weekend traveling and coming out here to play UTSA is really a gut check. Our coaches talked to us about it before the game. We were sore and they said it would be a gut check, and that we would have to pull it out and grind through it.
On UTSA starter Danye Holmes: I just don't think we were making the adjustments on her. She was spinning the ball really well and we didn't make the adjustments to hit, but later on in the game when we saw the new pitcher we were able to make adjustments and hit her.
On the team's ability to pull out close games: Our team has so much heart. I have so much confidence in our team, and I know our pitchers believe that no matter what, we are going to pull it out. We just have the heart and confidence in ourselves that we are going to do it.
Junior third baseman Nadia Taylor
On pulling out close games: The mid-week games are always tough. You're coming off a weekend of two games. I think we showed a lot of passion tonight. We knew we could win it, it was just a matter of stringing together some hits and we did it in the last inning.
On the mindset in the eighth inning: One run ball game, let's push the run. Sacrifice, small ball, let's just go ahead and win it.
