The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
No. 5/6 Softball holds off Oklahoma State for 3-2 win
04.20.2012 | Softball
April 20, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Karina Scott's RBI double brought home the eventual game-winning run Friday while Blaire Luna threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief as the No. 5/6 Texas Longhorns defeated the Oklahoma State Cowgirls by a 3-2 score at McCombs Field. Scott capped a three-run third after Nadia Taylor hit a two-run, bases-loaded single up the middle to plate the Longhorns' first runs of the game.
Texas improved to 36-6 overall and 10-4 in Big 12 Conference play while Oklahoma State fell to 22-17 on the season, 5-7 in conference.
Rachel Fox remained perfect on the season with a 10-0 record, lasting 4 1/3 innings while allowing two runs on seven hits. Luna picked up her second save of the season and sixth career save after allowing only one hit.
Shelby Davis, Tamara Brown and Julie Ward had two hits each for the Cowgirls. Kelsey Anchors doubled with one out in the OSU first, followed by Brown's single. Fox then struck out Ward and got Chelsea Garcia to fly out to end the inning as the Cowgirls ended up stranding eight runners for the game.
With runners at first and second in the OSU half of the second, Davis hit an RBI single to right as the Cowgirls led, 1-0.
Brejae Washington walked in the Texas third, stole second and advanced to third on Tarah Ettinger's throwing error on the stolen base attempt. Lexy Bennett was hit by a Kat Espinosa (13-9) pitch and Courtney Craig walked to load the bases before Taylor put the Longhorns ahead for good.
Davis led off the fifth with a single before Brown hit a double to the gap in left center. Ward then cut the deficit to 3-2 with a single to right as Texas head coach Connie Clark brought in Luna to relieve Fox. Luna would get Garcia to pop up to short and Amy Graham to foul out to Taylor on the third-base side to preserve the lead. Ward doubled with one out in the seventh, but Luna retired Garcia and Graham as Texas took the first game of the weekend series.
Texas continues the series with Oklahoma State tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the series finale. Both games will be broadcast on Longhorn Network. Gametracker live stats, along with a live Twitter feed (@TexasSoftball), for both games will be available on TexasSports.com.
Tomorrow's game will be the second annual Pink at the Plate to raise awareness for breast cancer. The first 150 fans in attendance will receive a free t-shirt.
Notes: Texas is 7-1 in one-run games this season...Texas is 21-2 (.913) at home this season, the fourth-best winning percentage at home in the program's history...the Longhorns had a season-low three hits for the third time this season...Brejae Washington now has 61 career stolen bases, tied for second in UT history...Washington needs only one stolen base to tie the record of 62, held by Desiree Williams (2005-09)...Nadia Taylor extended her hitting streak to six games and has reached base safely in 11 straight games...Taylor recorded her sixth multi-RBI game of the season...Blaire Luna moved into a tie for second place for most career saves (six) at Texas, tied with Christa Williams (1998-99) and Amy Bradford (2002-05).
OSU 010-010-0---2-8-2 TEXAS 003-000-x---3-3-1WP - Fox (10-0) LP - Espinosa (13-9) S - Luna (2) Records: Texas (36-6, 10-4), Oklahoma State (22-17, 5-7)
Espinosa and Ettinger. Fox, Luna (5) and Ogle.
