The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas State
Luna tosses one-hit shutout to lift No. 3 Softball to win in NCAA Austin Regional opener
05.20.2011 | Softball
May 20, 2011
AUSTIN, Texas - Sophomore All-America pitcher Blaire Luna fired her 16th complete-game shutout of the season to lead third-seeded Texas past Texas State, 2-0, Friday night at the NCAA Austin Regional. The victory advanced Texas to the winners' bracket where it will meet Houston at 1 p.m. Central on Saturday, May 21. Texas win' improved the Horns' to 46-8 on the season and dropped the Bobcats to 33-24.
Luna (28-6) allowed just one Bobcats hit in 7.0 innings of work, while walking one and fanning seven. The shutout was the 27th of her career and moved her into a tie with Christa Williams and Meagan Denny for second-most shutouts in UT history. Texas State starter Anne Marie Taylor (17-6) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Texas jumped out to an early 1-0 edge in the second inning when senior catcher Amy Hooks led off the frame with a solo homer to left field to push her season homer total to 13 and improve her career mark to 36.
The Horns added an insurance run in the sixth, taking advantage of a leadoff triple by freshman shortstop Taylor Thom to start the frame and a one-out sacrifice fly by junior designated player Courtney Craig to bring Thom home.
The Longhorns took a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning before play was halted for one hour, 37 minutes due to lightning. Texas State broke up Luna's perfect game in the frame with a hit by pitch and a single by Anna Hernandez. She worked out of her only jam in the frame and with one out and runners at the corners, she recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Allyce Rother and pinch-hitter Allison Snow to retire the side.
