The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
No. 8 Texas Softball shuts out No. 22 Nebraska, 3-0
02.26.2012 | Softball
Feb. 26, 2012
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - Rachel Fox allowed just three hits in throwing a shutout Sunday as the No. 8 Texas Longhorns defeated the No. 22 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 3-0, to conclude play at the Cathedral City Classic. The Longhorns finished the tournament with a 4-1 record with the lone loss coming against No. 1 Florida on Friday.
All three runs by Texas (12-1) came in the sixth inning as the Longhorns improved to 4-1 this season against Top 25 opponents.
Fox (3-0) walked three and struck out four as she finished the tournament with a 2-0 record and 0.81 ERA. She allowed just two earned runs in 17 1/3 innings with four walks and 12 strikeouts.
Nebraska (9-6) was able to put runners at first and second with one out in the first and second innings before Fox retired the side. After allowing a leadoff single in the fourth to Brooke Thomason, Fox retired 11 straight and 12 of the last 13 batters to close out the victory.
Kim Bruins started the Texas sixth with a double to the gap in left center. Torie Schmidt pinch-ran for Bruins and moved to third on a sacrifice from Taylor Hoagland. Brejae Washington then hit a ground ball to short as Mattie Fowler tried to catch Schmidt in a rundown, but Schmidt was able to keep Fowler occupied as Washington advanced to second on the fielder's choice. Lexy Bennett was intentionally walked to load the bases and Courtney Craig was hit on a 1-2 pitch from Ashley Hagemann to force in the Longhorns' first run. Taylor Thom then brought home Washington with a sacrifice fly to left and Bennett scored the final run of the inning when the third strike on Nadia Taylor got away from Taylor Edwards behind the plate thanks to the wild pitch.
Texas returns to McCombs Field on Wednesday (February 29) for the start of a seven-game home-stand, featuring a doubleheader against Texas State. The doubleheader starts at 5:30 p.m.
Notes: Texas is now 20-18 all-time against Nebraska and has won six straight games in the series...Lexy Bennett led the Longhorns with a .385 batting average in the five tournament games, going 5-for-13 with a triple, home run, five RBI, three walks and two stolen bases...Texas went 9-for-11 in stolen bases for the tournament.
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On team's ability to play at 9 a.m. today: Their main focus today was to finish strong. They did a great job. You wouldn't have known if that game was being played at 9 a.m. or midnight or 7 p.m. like we talked about after last night's game. I thought their effort was fantastic.
On Kim Bruins' leadoff double in the sixth: Kim had an aggressive approach with that at-bat and she was looking for a specific pitch. She waited until she got it and was very patient. She drove the ball well today.
On goals for upcoming home-stand-: We will try to use the same approach that we did for this weekend. We got our goals accomplished for the tournament and will use the same goals heading into play next week.
Sophomore pitcher Rachel Fox
On what pitches were working for her against Nebraska: I think we used our whole arsenal today. We had to work with our screwballs today since we were getting down and out on the right-handers. We worked the zone really well.
On progression as the season goes along: I just need to do whatever I can whenever I'm called upon, just doing my job. I just need to keep the runners off and get us into the dugout as quick as possible.
