The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
No. 3 Softball splits series, downs No. 14 Oklahoma, 5-3
05.01.2011 | Softball
May 1, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - The third-ranked Texas Softball team rallied back from its series-opening loss to knock off No. 14 Oklahoma, 5-3, Saturday afternoon to split the season series. The victory improved the Longhorns to 44-5 on the year and 13-1 in the Big 12, while the Sooners fell to 35-16 and 8-8 in league play.
Sophomore All-America righthander Blaire Luna (26-3) fired her 25th complete game of the season in the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, while walking six and fanning two. Oklahoma starter Keilani Ricketts (22-12) took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five in 3.1 innings of work.
Sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland ripped her 13th home run of the season in the third to tie the Texas single-season record set by junior leftfielder Courtney Craig in 2010. Craig shined in the win as well, hitting a solo homer, walking and scoring a pair of runs. Freshman centerfielder Brejae Washington bolstered the offense with a team-best two hits and one run scored.
Oklahoma got on the board in the first, taking advantage of a one-out walk by first baseman Chana'e Jones to start the rally and an RBI single by designated player Jessica Shults to grab a 1-0 edge.
Texas answered in the second, using a one-out walk by Craig and a single through the right side by freshman shortstop Taylor Thom to set the table. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position and a Ricketts wild pitch allowed Craig to race home and even the game at one.
The Sooners reclaimed the lead in the third after a leadoff single by centerfielder Destinee Martinez and two walks loaded the bases for third baseman Dani Dobbs, who singled to put OU in front 2-1.
Hoagland and the Horns responded in the home half of the third, with the sophomore hammering a leadoff homer to centerfield to start the frame. Washington and Thom followed with a pair of infield singles and on senior catcher Amy Hooks' sacrifice bunt Washington scored from second and Thom moved to third. Another wild pitch by Ricketts allowed Thom to scamper home and give the Horns a 4-2 lead.
In the fourth, Oklahoma used a leadoff single by Javen Henson to start the inning and took advantage of a UT error on Jones' single to narrow the lead to one.
Craig capped the scoring in the fifth for Texas, stepping to the plate and smashing the 24th home run of her career onto 21st Street to push the UT advantage to 5-3.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, May 4 when it travels to Texas A&M for the second game of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. Central on Fox Sports Net.
POST-GAME NOTES
- The victory improved Texas' all-time record against Oklahoma to 21-21 and 9-7 in Austin.
- Taylor Hoagland's third-inning homer was her 13th of the season and tied the UT single-season mark set by Courtney Craig in 2010. The homer was also the 24th of her career moving her into a tie with Craig for fifth place on the UT career homer list. Craig's fifth-inning blast was the 24th of her career and her sixth in 2011.
- Blaire Luna's complete game was the 53rd of her career, while her two strikeouts pushed her career total to 680, moving her past UT great Christa Williams (1998-99) and into third place on the UT career strikeouts chart.
- Luna's win marked the 56th of her career and moved her into a tie for third-most wins all-time at Texas with Charla Moore (1998-01).
- Texas' five stolen bases against Oklahoma pushed its season total to 106, which is one shy of the single-season record of 107 posted by the 2006 squad.
POST-GAME QUOTES
Head coach Connie Clark
On bouncing back from last night's loss: I think that it was significant. I think it was tremendous that we had to grind it out. We talked about this last night a little bit. That's the difference, being under pressure and learning how to grind it out and have the right mentality and not being too hyped and just staying pitch to pitch. It was a good exercise for us to have to turn it around and come in today and have to do that. I'm really proud of the team for that. I thought we controlled the environment, controlled the uncontrollable items in regards to some calls. The team was better than I was on that today, and I was proud of them. I think that was the difference today.
On what was revealed about the team in this weekend's adversity: I think what was revealed is that we are still learning that we have to be really solid. We talked about it before the game; you need to be together and understand that we're down in the foxhole together. This is going to be a battle today, and if we put up 10 in the first inning, don't think they are going to roll over. They're probably going to put up 10 to match it. We just have to keep battle and keep playing and it's not going to be easy. The joy of it is that it's difficult. I think enjoying that difficult process and the challenge of it makes you realize that when we slow things down and we're where we need to be, good things can happen. It's just a really good learning piece for us.
Sophomore rightfielder Taylor Hoagland
On coming back from last night's loss and splitting the series: We just came out strong, we learned from yesterday. We learned to keep our emotions under control and just play like it was any other game. Oklahoma is a tough ball club overall, but having the rivalry just makes it that much tougher. I've never played them, so it was really exciting for me.
On facing Oklahoma pitcher Keilani Ricketts: I was trying to be selective. That was kind of my game plan early, just to see a lot of pitches. I knew she definitely was not throwing as hard today and she definitely wasn't throwing as many strikes, so I just really wanted to key on that.
Sophomore pitcher Blaire Luna
On her feelings on the game: It was definitely one of the most stressful games I've ever pitched. Oklahoma did a great job, their pitchers and their hitters, and I'm just really glad we split with them. I learned to keep fighting, don't give up and this is probably one of the games where I most used my defense. They did a great job.
On the difference in the team from yesterday to today: One of the things that affected me was that I had never played them before. I didn't really know what to expect, but I think we just kind of took in the notes. We all watched [yesterday's] game and took notes from it and learned from it and brought it out to today.
Junior leftfielder Courtney Craig
On splitting the series with Oklahoma this weekend: I think this is the hardest weekend we've had to play with the challenge and just battling back and really showing what we can do in the conference. It's just a great feeling to know that we did get the turnaround today and have a great week coming up.
On the adversity the team faced this weekend: I think it's great. We needed to be challenged like that. It was great for us to show that we do have the grit. It was great for our confidence as a team, not just to show people but for us to show mentally that we can battle back, that we are that strong of a team this year and that we just have what it takes to really go far.
