The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri
No. 3 Softball defeats No. 11 Missouri, 9-5, in series opener
04.05.2012 | Softball
April 5, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Courtney Craig's three-run bases-loaded double in the fifth gave the No. 3 Texas Longhorns their first lead of the game Thursday, leading to the 9-5 win over the No. 11 Missouri Tigers in Big 12 action at Red & Charline McCombs Field. Torie Schmidt went 3-for-3 with three RBI as the Longhorns won their 10th straight game.
Lexy Bennett became the Texas all-time leader in RBI, registering her 140th career RBI to pass Loryn Johnson (2007-10) as both players were tied for the record prior to the game.
Texas (32-2, 6-0) was able to score six runs off Missouri ace Chelsea Thomas, who entered the game ranked second nationally with a 0.58 ERA. Thomas, who had given up only 10 runs all season, went five innings and gave up the six runs (five earned) with two walks and six strikeouts.
Blaire Luna (13-1) threw the complete game, striking out eight while allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits as both teams had three errors each. Ashtin Stephens and Jenna Marston put Luna in hole in the third with leadoff back-to-back singles. Nicole Hudson was intentionally walked to load the bases and Ashley Fleming followed with a ground ball that UT shortstop Taylor Thom threw wide to score two runs.
Thomas cruised through the first four innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Marston reached in the Missouri fifth on another Thom error. After a walk to Hudson put runners at first and second, Fleming hit a single to right. Craig tried to come up with the ball for a throw to the plate, but misplayed the grounder to allow another run to score before throwing out Hudson at home in what proved to be a key play.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nadia Taylor singled and Mandy Ogle doubled to center for runners at second and third. Schmidt then laced a two-run single down the third base line for the 3-2 Tigers' lead. Taylor Hoagland singled to left as Schmidt and Hoagland advanced on Washington's sacrifice. Bennett walked to load the bases for Craig, who hit Thomas' first pitch down the third base line to clear the bases for the 5-3 lead in favor of the Longhorns.
The Tigers' defense allowed all three of their errors in the game as part of a four-run sixth for Texas. Schmidt doubled to center for her third RBI and Bennett later singled to right, setting the new UT mark for career RBI. Fleming would finish her 3-for-4 and three RBI night for Missouri with a two-run single to make things interesting in the seventh, but Luna struck out Kelsea Roth and induced a game-ending fly out by Lindsey Muller.
The series continues tomorrow with a 7 p.m. game and the series finale on Saturday (April 7) at noon. 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.
Notes: Texas has scored five or more runs in an inning 10 times this season...the Longhorns have scored 46 runs in the fifth inning this season...the Longhorns have generated winning streaks of 10 games twice as well as a season-best 12-game winning streak...Texas is 5-2 this season when trailing after the fourth inning...Texas is 7-2 this season when the opposing team scores first...Torie Schmidt had four hits and four RBI in the 2012 season opener against Cal State Fullerton...Karina Scott had her career-best hitting streak of seven games snapped tonight.
MU 002-010-2---5-7-3 TEXAS 000-054-x---9-9-3WP - Luna (13-1) LP - Thomas (14-4) Records: Texas (32-2, 6-0), Missouri (28-6, 7-3)
Thomas, Erwin (6) and Marston. Luna and Ogle.
Post-Game Quotes
Senior right fielder Courtney Craig
On her bases-clearing hit in the fifth inning: I was kind of expecting that after the first two at-bats where I didn't do too well. The pitches were just coming inside and it was jamming me up on both at-bats. I went into the dugout and told myself to focus. I knew what she was coming at me with. I set up the play a little bit, made an adjustment, kept my hands inside and did what I needed to do for my team.
On what ignited her team's fifth inning rally: Nadia (Taylor) definitely started that rally. She has been on a streak lately and got us all a hit. When one person on our team hits, the energy starts going. It's a domino effect. Nadia really started that and the team really kept going with it.
On her team's comeback: I think it's definitely what we needed. It's something that makes us different from teams in years before. We've been challenged (this season) and in years before we haven't been able to come back. This year, we've needed to see it over and over again to get us ready for more games. I think we're very confident when we do see it now because we have seen it so many times.
Junior left fielder Torie Schmidt
On her team's ability to come back from behind: We've been pretty consistently good at not letting things get to us and shaking things off. Teams have been scoring before us and we've stayed calm. We don't let it get to us. We've come back and we know we're going to get it done.
On Missouri's performance tonight: You have to give it to them. They kept fighting all the way until the end. Chelsea (Thomas) pitched a great game.
On Nadia Taylor's fifth inning hit: She did a great job of getting it started for us. She's like that spark plug.
