The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Winthrop
No. 6 Softball defeats Winthrop, 7-1
03.14.2012 | Softball
March 14, 2012
HONOLULU - Kim Bruins' perfect game bid attempt was broken up with one out in the seventh as the No. 6 Texas Longhorns defeated the Winthrop Eagles, 7-1, in Spring Fling Tournament action. Lexy Bennett and Nadia Taylor both homered for the Longhorns (21-1), adding two RBI each.
Texas has now won 11 straight games while out-scoring their opponents by a 149-23 margin on the season.
Brejae Washington walked in the first before Bennett slugged her sixth homer on the season with the two-run shot to left. Taylor led off the Texas second with a blast down the left field line for her first home run. Taylor hit an RBI double as part of a four-run fifth, followed by an RBI single from Krissie Fountain and two-run single by Marlee Gabaldon.
After Bruins had retired 19 consecutive batters, McKenzi Corn hit a bloop single to right to break up the perfect game. Melanie Andrea would later break up the shutout with an RBI single to right before Alex White flew out to right to end the game.
Texas continues play tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Honolulu time (6:30 p.m. Central) against Marist and finish a doubleheader against No. 2 California at 4 p.m. (9 p.m. Central). Both games will feature Gametracker live stats on TexasSports.com.
Notes: Today was the first-ever meeting between Texas and Winthrop in softball...Kim Bruins has the lowest opponents' batting average (.097) among the Texas pitching staff...Lexy Bennett is currently batting .500 with a .966 slugging percentage...Texas is now batting .357 as a team...Brejae Washington had her career-best hitting streak of eight games snapped today.
WU 000-000-1---1-2-1 TEXAS 210-040-x---7-6-0WP - Bruins (4-1) LP - Watson (1-1) Records: Texas (21-1), Winthrop (11-11)
Watson, Becker, (1), Schoenfeldt (5) and Blea. Bruins and Ogle, Fountain (4).
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On focus of the team today: I thought there were some ups and downs today. It was more of a day for some individuals. There were some people that stood out that brought some good energy. Since we are so focused as to what we are doing as a group, I don't know if I would rate us at a high level today in regards to energy and focus. We talked about that at the end today. It's about that and we need to focus on what we are bringing to the table, regardless of who the opponent is that we are playing. We struggled with that today, but we got the outcome. I don't think the process was as solid as it could have been today.
On the difference between today and last night's win against No. 18 Hawai'i: We struggled offensively today and not taking what the game was giving us. We didn't make quick enough adjustments, not across the board. It was a high percentage of players not making adjustments. I will tip my cap to Kim (Bruins) today. She was the hot player and I'm disappointed she wasn't able to get the perfect game today, but she had great focus and bounced back immediately after giving up the hit in the seventh, came back and fired a strike to the next batter. I loved her intensity. I expect the team will bring it tomorrow.
On recent starts by junior pitcher Kim Bruins: She just competes so well and we have seen that every outing. That's why she is continuing to get the ball. We haven't had the opportunity to play a lot recently, but I told her if we would have had a third game with Texas Tech, she would have gotten the ball. I love her compete factor.
Junior pitcher Kim Bruins
On the key to today's start: I think pitching my pitches and staying focused on my strengths and not worrying about what the batters can do.
On recent performances: I was trying to hit my spots and I feel like when I do that, that's when I'm the most effective. The hits will come and if they don't, that's great. I just want to focus on hitting my spots.
