The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Hawaii
No. 6 Texas earns 4-0 shutout at No. 18 Hawai'i
03.14.2012 | Softball
March 14, 2012
HONOLULU - Junior right-hander Blaire Luna struck out a season-high 16 batters Tuesday as the No. 6 Texas Longhorns handed the host No. 18 Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine its first loss of the season with the 4-0 shutout. Karina Scott had a home run and season-high three RBI as the Longhorns improved to 20-1, making it the second-best start in the history of Texas Softball.
Hawai'i had opened the season with a school-record 21 straight victories before tonight's win by the Longhorns.
Luna allowed just two hits against five walks to stay perfect at 9-0 this season. She got into trouble in the UH second inning after Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu singled to load the bases with one away. Luna came back to strike out Dara Pagadun and got All-American Kelly Majam to pop up to short, ending the threat.
Stephanie Ricketts (12-1) retired 10 straight Longhorns until the fifth when she allowed a walk to Mandy Ogle. Scott then battled Ricketts in an eight-pitch at-bat until she launched a two-run homer to right center. It was Scott's third home run in the last four games. The Longhorns later added two insurance runs in the seventh as Luna would record two more strikeouts to close out the win.
Texas continues play in the Spring Fling Tournament tomorrow against Winthrop, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Central with Gametracker live stats available on TexasSports.com.
Notes: Tonight's win by Texas surpassed the start by the 2003 squad that went 19-1 that season...the school record is held by the 2006 team that went 26-1...the Longhorns have recorded 13 shutouts this season and three in the last four games...Texas has allowed only 22 runs through 21 games...Blaire Luna has not allowed a run in her last four starts (25 1/3 innings) and struck out 44 batters...with a single in the first inning, Brejae Washington now has a career-high eight-game hitting streak...Karina Scott's three RBI tonight tied a career best set last year on March 17 against Washington.
TEXAS 000-020-2---4-3-1 UH 000-000-0---0-2-3WP - Luna (9-0) LP - Ricketts (12-1) Records: Texas (20-1), Hawai'i (21-1)
Luna and Ogle. Ricketts and Wartner.
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On team's performance after a few days off in Hawaii: I was extremely pleased that it was the biggest thing I was looking for. For us to have a week off at this time of year is pretty unlikely. I thought they did a tremendous job of gathering themselves and bringing a lot of energy tonight, especially after going to a luau last night and enjoying Hawaii, so great focus tonight.
On Karina Scott at the plate: Karina Scott was hot tonight. She just had a couple of great at-bats. We had several great at-bats tonight, we didn't always get the outcomes we wanted, but again, we are focused on the process. We had some extended at-bats that, although they have to go down as a strikeout, I think there were some good at-bats in the mix. The dugout was feeding on that and when Karina came around in that No. 9 spot in the lineup, she battled hard and stayed with the at-bat and got some great outcomes.
On Blaire Luna's performance: I was looking at the second inning (when Hawai'i had the bases loaded). (Catcher) Mandy (Ogle) did a great job of taking a time out. Again, they are doing a great job with their energy. Blaire stayed focused and went one pitch at a time and was able to get us out of the inning. She stayed very zeroed in and battled extremely well tonight.
