The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
Hooks' seventh-inning blast lifts No. 5 Softball to 1-0 win over No. 11 Nebraska
04.09.2011 | Softball
April 9, 2011
LINCOLN, Neb. - The No. 5 Texas Softball team used a seventh-inning solo homer by senior catcher Amy Hooks to down No. 11 Nebraska, 1-0 Saturday afternoon in Big 12 Conference action. The win improved the Longhorns' winning streak to 17 games and kept them in first place in the conference standings. The Horns' victory moved UT to 33-3 on the season and 6-0 in Big 12 play, while the Cornhuskers fell to 30-5 overall and 3-2 in the conference.
After recording Texas' only other hit of the game in the fourth, Hooks led off the Horns' half of the seventh with the game-winning blow. The senior laced a 1-2 pitch to straightaway centerfield where it ricocheted off the Nikki Haget's outstretched glove and over the wall for her seventh home run of the season.
Sophomore All-America pitcher Blaire Luna (19-2) picked up the complete-game shutout victory for the Longhorns. In her Big 12-leading 11th shutout of the season, Luna scattered two hits, walked three and fanned eight Husker batters. Nebraska starter Ashley Hagemann (22-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing one run on two hits, walking two and striking out 10 in 7.0 innings of work.
In Texas' only other threat of the game it stranded two when junior first baseman Lexy Bennett drew a one-out walk in the fourth and Hooks followed with a single. Texas stranded both runners in the frame and its only other baserunner to that point was sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland who drew a walk to start the game.
Nebraska managed just two hits against Luna with Ashley Guile doubling in the second and Gabby Banda reaching on a bunt single in the fifth.
Texas returns to action on Sunday, April 10 when it finishes its two-game series with the Huskers. First pitch is slated for Noon Central.
POST-GAME NOTES
- The victory improved Texas' all-time record against Nebraska to 18-18 and 3-7 in Lincoln.
- The win extended the Horns' winning streak to 17 games and improved their Big 12-best record to 6-0.
- The official attendance of 1,960 at Saturday's game set a new Bowlin Stadium record for largest crowd.
- The shutout marked the first time in 2011 that Nebraska has been shutout and its two hits marked a season low.
- Lexy Bennett had her 12-game hitting streak and her four-game home run streak snapped in the win.
