The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
No. 3 Softball drops first Big 12 game to No. 14 Oklahoma, 5-2
04.30.2011 | Softball
April 30, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The third-ranked Texas Softball team dropped its first Big 12 contest of the year, falling to No. 14 Oklahoma, 5-2, Saturday night at McCombs Field. The loss moved the Longhorns to 43-5 on the season and 12-1 in Big 12 play, while the Sooners improved to 34-16 and 8-7 in league action. Despite its loss the Longhorns still hold a one-game lead over Missouri in the Big 12 standings.
Sophomore righthander Blaire Luna (26-2) took the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) on eight hits, walking three and fanning eight in her 24th complete game of the season. Luna's eight-strikeout effort moved her into a tie with Christa Williams for third-place on the UT career strikeouts list with 678. Oklahoma starter Keilani Ricketts (22-11) earned the victory, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out 10 in 7.0 innings of work.
Sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland plated the Horns' only runs when she capitalized on a leadoff single by junior Courtney Craig in the seventh and smashed a two-out, two-run homer. The long-ball was the 12th of the season for Hoagland and the 23rd of her career, moving her into a tie for fifth on the UT career homer list.
Oklahoma put one run on the board in the first, using a one-out double by leftfielder Chana'e Jones to start the rally and an RBI single by Jessica Shults to claim a 1-0 edge.
The Sooners tacked on two more in the third, taking advantage of back-to-back one-out singles by Destinee Martinez and Jones to get things going before a two-run single by Ricketts widened the margin to 3-0.
OU extended its advantage to four in the fifth, starting the frame with a bunt single by Martinez and an infield single by Jones. A fielder's choice moved Martinez to third and a UT throwing error on a stolen base attempt allowed Martinez to race home.
The Sooners registered their final tally in the sixth when first baseman Katie Norris launched a solo homer to left field to give OU a five-run edge.
Texas returns to action on Sunday, May 1 when it finishes its two-game series with Oklahoma. First pitch is slated for Noon Central.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On the team's emotions: You know we talked about it, I thought they were just a little too excited. And I don't feel like I saw that when we came out and did a hit-around earlier today. I liked their body language, I liked their warm up tonight. But as we got into the first inning, I didn't see great body language after OU put up a run in the first inning, and that is not Texas. We typically fight right back. We had a real specific game plan facing Ricketts, and it wasn't any different than what we anticipated. I think we were a little excited, and I think it took the game to get settled in and get more comfortable with our emotions. We haven't seen that a lot this year, but we talked about that tonight. I thought the last three innings, we looked a little more like ourselves. So, we try to keep it positive and say that is a huge lesson for us to learn. We don't have time to settle into games from an energy standpoint, and to be at your optimal performance level, you have to have your emotions in check. And obviously, it was a great atmosphere, it was electric. They didn't purposely get too up, but I don't think it was nerves.
On if this was a good lesson: Absolutely, and that is what we talked about. I said that this is a big piece of what need down the stretch, and we haven't seen it too much this year. They have been walking through people and beating people up. That is one of the first times we didn't come back and score on our own after the other team scored. We just have to learn, we are young in some of those areas, and we have to keep competing. I think they got it back, but it was a real chore just pulling them together and get them to keep playing. But we'll get it, we just have to keep positive. It was a good lesson for us tonight.
Senior catcher Amy Hooks
On the quick turnaround: We just talked about looking over some notes, some film, going and get some mental at-bats and putting that game behind us. We will get out here in the morning, get a couple extra swings and play Texas Softball tomorrow.
On the game: OU is a very good ball team, and we knew that. I think that at times we got away from playing Texas Softball and away from our game plan. I think that is what our goals will be tomorrow, and I think you will see a different Texas team out here tomorrow.
On getting dealt their first Big 12 loss: A loss is a loss, it definitely hurts. But we can learn from every loss. We can come back our here and be a great ball team. This doesn't put us any lower than where we started. We're okay and we will get out here tomorrow and get things done.
On Blaire Luna's performance: She had her stuff tonight. I think they just had some pitches that they saw really well and hit really well. We will definitely look back at the charts and look back at the game and see where we can beat them and try to play a little more chess with them tomorrow.
Sophomore outfield Taylor Hoagland
On the loss: We knew coming in that OU was a good ball club and I am not going to take anything away from them. I feel like we just went into a lull when they scored those first couple of runs, but we just have to stay big. We were beaten early on and we didn't bounce back.
On tonight's emotions: I think we were a little too hyped up for this game. We may have been over-excited for this game and I think that may have been what affected us the most. We have to bring it back tomorrow
