The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Softball earns 3-1 win on Senior Day over Baylor
05.13.2012 | Softball
May 13, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Mandy Ogle's leadoff triple in the fifth led to the go-ahead runs while Blaire Luna struck out 10 in the complete-game four-hitter Sunday as the No. 8/10 Texas Longhorns won its final regular-season game, 3-1, over the No. 23 Baylor Lady Bears. Brejae Washington went 2-for-2 with two RBI for the Longhorns.
Texas finished the regular season with a 42-10 record and tied for third in the Big 12 with a 16-8 mark with Texas A&M. Baylor finishes the season with a 33-20 record, 10-14 in Big 12 play.
Today's game was the final regular-season game for three Texas seniors: Lexy Bennett, Courtney Craig and Nadia Taylor.
Luna allowed one unearned run with four walks. She recorded double-digit strikeouts for the eighth time this season and second time in her last three starts. Kaitlyn Thumann led Baylor with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
Baylor loaded the bases in the second, but Luna struck out Melissa Schreck to strand the bases.
Karina Scott walked in the Texas second, followed by Torie Schmidt's infield single. Taylor Thom then sacrificed both runners over and Washington laid down a two-out bunt to plate Scott for the first run. Baylor would answer with a run in the top of the third. With Holly Holl at third and Thumann at first, the Lady Bears ran a delayed double steal as Holl was able to beat out the throw from second to tie the game.
Ogle flared a triple down the right field line in the fifth and was replaced by pinch-runner Gabby Smith. Washington laid down another bunt on the left side of the infield for the go-ahead run as she would later score the final run on Taylor's single to left.
Texas awaits word of its postseason path when the 2012 NCAA Tournament bracket is announced tonight at 9 p.m. live on ESPNU.
Notes: Mandy Ogle's triple was the first of her career...Lexy Bennett recorded her 44th career double, four behind the UT record held by Jodi Reeves (1997-00)...Blaire Luna now has 76 wins and 74 complete games in her UT career, adding to her second-place ranking on the Texas career lists...Nadia Taylor with her 123rd career RBI moved into third place all alone on the UT career list...Texas is 25-3 at McCombs Field this season...the Longhorns won five of seven Big 12 three-game series this season...Texas improved its school single-season record of runs scored to 332 runs generated...Texas is a perfect 10-0 in games played on Sunday this season.
BU 001-000-0---1-4-0 TEXAS 010-020-x---3-7-0WP - Luna (18-4) LP - Paul (11-8) Records: Texas (42-10, 16-8), Baylor (33-20, 10-14)
Repka, Paul (3) and Hosack. Luna and Ogle.
Post-Game Quotes
Head coach Connie Clark
On momentum from today's win: We obviously have been talking about that since July of last year. Just about the importance of that and building on it. There is going to be ups and downs throughout a season, it's a long season. We were just continuing to rebound, rebound, rebound. I love where we are at right now and looking forward to continuing that momentum onto regionals.
On importance of this game for Blaire Luna's confidence: I think it was pretty huge. I have been in her ear for the past month and trying to talk her into believing in herself. I believe in her 100 percent. I think we have a great staff and if we need to go to Fox or Bruins we can do that. But we need to have Blaire hitting on all cylinders and she can be that. She has been scrapping the past month but it was a really nice opportunity to get back to practice this week and work on some fundamentals and doing some repetitive work outs that were very much needed and were difficult to do during the 56-game schedule. She came out and had a great game today and I am really proud of her.
On expecting to host regionals next week: I told the team you never know with the NCAA. We will come back and watch it together tonight but we have done everything within our control to put ourselves in a great position and that is all you can ask for.
On Lexy Bennett's double play rank with practicing fundamentals: You would though we won the World Series with that play since the whole staff was jumping up and down after that. That was one thing we have been talking about getting better at. We were working on getting quicker on our turns and we had some scenarios play out to clinch those double plays. So to get that today, the staff was pretty excited as was the team and we worked really hard on that this past week of practice.
Junior pitcher Blaire Luna
On importance to have a good game today: It was really important. I know we all just wanted to play really hard for our seniors this game. I think as a whole we did a great job of bringing everything together.
On struggling earlier this season to good game today: I had a couple goals going into this game. Just staying ahead of each hitter with the counts, not falling behind, and eliminating the walks. I think that it did a lot for the team and it definitely changes the momentum and just helps boosts everyone's confidence.
Sophomore catcher Mandy Ogle
On importance of this game for moving on post season: It is very important. Last year we lost on senior day and it was kind of tough for everyone and the fact that we got to win it for our seniors and all the fans that came out today is spectacular. I know it touched all the seniors because everybody was excited once we got into that locker room.
On Blaire Luna getting back into her groove: Each game she is getting back to her old self. She did struggle during the middle of the season, but I feel that every pitcher hits that point. The pitchers have been working all week with the bullpens and pitching every day. She definitely came out and showed that she was fighting hard to get that win.
On today's triple: As soon as I hit it, lately all my great hit balls keep getting caught by amazing dive plays. So as soon as I saw it went past her, I got a smirk on my face and just sprinted off to get to third.
Senior second baseman Lexy Bennett
On winning on senior day: It was a big win for us. Senior Day is also a huge thing but finishing is the main thing we have been talking about lately. So it being our last game of conference, our main focus was to finish conference out and take that momentum and use it for Regionals.
On peaking at the right time this year: Last year I think we had a little bit of talk of peaking too early. We had a really good early season and then kind of fell off a little at the end. So I think this year, our main focus has been finishing. We have been focusing also on keeping that peak and trying to keep it towards the end, which I think we are doing a great job on.
