The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Iowa State
No. 6/5 Softball finishes sweep at Iowa State, 11-2
03.25.2012 | Softball
March 25, 2012
AMES, Iowa - Junior right-hander Kim Bruins (Redlands/Redlands HS) belted a grand slam with a career-high five RBI while allowing two unearned runs on four hits Sunday as the No. 6/5 Texas Longhorns completed a Big 12 sweep with an 11-2 win over the Iowa State Cyclones in five innings. Bruins (5-1) did not allow a walk and struck out four while hitting a home run for the second time in as many games. Texas is now 26-2 overall and 5-0 in Big 12 play while Iowa State falls to 9-18 overall, 0-3 in conference.
Courtney Craig went 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBI for the Longhorns, who broke the game open with eight runs in the third inning.
In the top of the first, the Longhorns scored a run on Craig's sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead. The Cyclones took the lead in the bottom of the first after a fielding error by UT shortstop Taylor Thom kept the inning alive. Sara Rice then drilled a two-run double to left center for the 2-1 ISU score.
Nadia Taylor led off with a double in the second and later tied the game on Bruins' sacrifice fly. With one away in the third and a runner at first, Craig hit her fourth homer of the season with a two-run shot to left as the Longhorns retook the lead, 4-2. Thom then made it back-to-back homers with her second of the year. After the Longhorns loaded the bases, Bruins then hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence to make it a 9-2 advantage on the grand slam. Craig then blooped an RBI double to finish off the scoring in the third.
Texas will play five straight non-conference games this week, starting on Wednesday (March 28) at Houston with a 6:30 p.m. start. Gametracker live stats, along with a live Twitter feed (@TexasSoftball), will be available on TexasSports.com.
Notes: Kim Bruins' previous career best for RBI was three (twice, last vs. Northern Illinois on Feb. 12, 2011)...this was the second time this season that Courtney Craig had four RBI in a game (season high)...Craig moved into a tie for sixth place on the Texas all-time list with her 29th career home run (tying current teammate Lexy Bennett).
TEXAS 118-01---11-10-2 ISU 200-00---2-4-1WP - Bruins (5-1) LP - Torrescano (6-11) Records: Texas (26-2, 5-0), Iowa State (9-18, 0-3)
Bruins and Ogle, Fountain (5). Torrescano, Jones (3), Holliday (3) and Folks.
Post-Game Quotes
Junior pitcher Kim Bruins
On if that was the best game of her career: I have never hit a grand slam before in my life so today was definitely my best overall game.
On health being a factor for her this season: These past few years, I have had nagging injuries so I have not been able to pitch as well. Now that I'm healthy, I'm able to key on a lot of things and hit my spots.
On being the Sunday starter in the Big 12 three-game series format: Blaire (Luna) and Rachel (Fox) do a great job of setting the team up and giving me information so I'm just going to use that in my starts.
