The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Tennessee
Texas Softball rallies for 3-2 win over No. 10/7 Tennessee
02.19.2012 | Softball
Feb. 19, 2012
Final Stats |
| Box Score
AUSTIN, Texas - Sophomore outfielder Brejae Washington (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon HS) delivered a two-run, inside-the-park walk-off home run Sunday as No. 13/13 Texas Softball rallied to defeat No. 10/7 Tennessee, 3-2, in nine innings at Red & Charline McCombs Field. Junior right-hander Blaire Luna had 13 strikeouts and issued just one earned run to improve to 4-0 on the season for the Longhorns.
Washington finished with a 2-for-5 day with two RBI while Lexy Bennett, Taylor Thom and Mandy Ogle added two hits each.
In the top of the third, Luna hit Kat Dotson with a pitch to load the bases, but helped Texas (8-0) by inducing back-to-back groundouts from Lauren Gibson and Madison Shipman to get out of the jam. The Longhorns would get back-to-back singles from Bennett and Courtney Craig in the fourth, but Ellen Renfroe got Nadia Taylor to line out and Thom to fly out as Tennessee (6-2) would use the momentum heading into the top of the fifth.
In the fifth, Tennessee's Ashley Andrews singled in front of Luna and then moved to second after Tory Lewis walked. Luna struck out Dotson before Gibson doubled down the left field line, which allowed Andrews to score the first run of the game.
With runners at first and third in the bottom of the sixth, Thom singled home Bennett to tie the game. Luna registered two strikeouts in the top of the seventh with the Longhorns looking to finish the game in the bottom half. Taylor Hoagland hit a one-out single to left as Washington then laid down a perfect bunt to put runners at first and second, but Texas could not take advantage as Bennett and Craig were retired as the game went into extra innings while utilizing the tie-breaker format.
Luna came up big again in the eighth with two strikeouts to give Texas another shot. Texas loaded the bases with one out, but Torie Schmidt hit a liner to short as Shipman flipped the ball to third to double up Craig. Mandy Ogle then singled to left, but Taylor was cut down at the plate on a throw from Tennessee left fielder Mandy Baker.
Andrews singled home Shelby Burchell from third to put the Lady Volunteers back on top, 2-1, in the ninth. Tennessee loaded the bases again, but Luna induced a ground ball by Shipman to keep the deficit at one run.
Ivy Renfroe came in to save the game for Tennessee in the ninth. Karina Scott grounded out to advance Ogle to third. Hoagland grounded out to short, which kept Ogle at third. With a 1-2 count against her, Washington pulled a long fly ball into the gap in right center and charged home on the throw to cap the rally in thrilling fashion for the Longhorns.
Texas travels to the 2012 Cathedral City Classic in California (Feb. 23-26) for five games against Cal State Northridge, San Diego State, Florida, UCLA and Nebraska.
Post-Game Notes
Postgame Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On the comeback win: "I think that is the part we focused on the most. After the excitement wore down, we told them to keep capturing the behaviors heading into the compete factors on each of those pitches. Tennessee set up the force, trying to make it easier for them defensively in the eighth. Right before that, I mentioned to Courtney [Craig], that Torie (Schmidt) is high-slapping here and to make sure that line drive gets through. But in cases like that, there is not a lot you can do. We have been talking about it since Media Day; it is the behaviors, regardless of the result. Obviously it was exciting to get a result, but we had some tremendous competitive moments. I told the athletes that the thing I was most proud of, was that we had several great competitive moments. Regardless of what happened to them earlier in the game during an at bat, they were not carrying the behaviors. That is significant. You have to go with what the game is giving you. I think we are doing a better job with that mentality right now."
On the team's offensive discipline: "One example is Taylor Thom, looking foolish swinging at some pitches early in the count, then she gets a base hit up the middle to tie it. There were some great competitive moments."
On the rain delays over the weekend: "I love that we are in these positions. We are an outdoor sport and we get used to that. We find ways to spend time, whether it is kicking a volleyball around or a hacky around or listening to music. Our facilities are amazing, so even if we have this situation, we can go to the locker room or to the Player Development area to hit. You just do what you can because it is out of your control. When the bell rings, you go, and I thought we did a good job of that."
On the abbreviated tournament schedule: "I feel more for the teams that came in, but you cannot control weather or flight schedules. Obviously we were supposed to get Illinois in, but we came too close to their flight time. I feel more for them, because they are spending the money to come in. I think our events staff did a great job. We were able to get as many games in as we possibly could."
On Blaire Luna: "I think she bared down in several 3-0 counts, and worked back. She knows we do not want to be issuing free passes. I think she is doing a very good job in that regard and we have a great defense. We should never be issuing free passes. Let us have an opportunity to play. I think it is a testament to us; Tennessee is a good hitting ball club. They are going to put the ball into play. Of those 13 strikeouts, we got some really key ones. Blaire takes it to another level sometimes when she really needs too."
Sophomore centerfielder Brejae Washington
On her inside the park walk-off home run: "I've only ever hit a homerun like that in rec ball. Before I go up to bat, I look at where the defense is playing. All day, the outfielders had been playing very close up to the infield, so I figured any gap I could hit into would be a triple. I was not expecting an inside the park home run though. I was looking for something down that I could drive."
On the team responding to Tennessee scoring in the top of the ninth: "After they scored and went up by one run, from there, we just said, `Ladies, let's go. Let's get this thing back. Let's keep on fighting and finish." We are fighters. We are not going to finish until the last pitch is thrown."
