The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Arizona State
No. 9/10 Softball falls to No. 2/2 Arizona State 3-0
03.15.2013 | Softball
March 15, 2013
Box Score 
FULLERTON, Calif. - A double in the fifth inning from No. 2/2 Arizona State's Alix Johnson that plated pinch runner Kayla Ketchum broke a scoreless tie and helped the Sun Devils capture a 3-0 victory over No. 9/10 Texas on Thursday evening at the Judi Garman Classic.
UT senior pitcher Blaire Luna and ASU junior hurler Dallas Escobedo combined to allow just six hits and record 22 strikeouts. Luna (11-1) was saddled with her first loss of the campaign. She allowed three hits, five walks and three runs while striking out nine. Escobedo (14-1) surrendered three hits and fanned 13 while issuing three free passes.
Both teams stranded the leadoff batter in the opening inning and were retired in order in the second.
In the top of the third, Arizona State (27-1) mounted the game's first scoring threat. With one out, Bailey Wigness reached on an infield single. Following a strikeout, Cheyenne Coyle drew a walk to put two runners on for Amber Freeman. Luna struck out Freeman, but the ball got past junior catcher Mandy Ogle, loading the bases with two outs. A lineout to junior center fielder Brejae Washington ended the threat and kept the game scoreless.
After the defensive hold, the Longhorns (23-4) responded with a threat of their own. Senior Torie Schmidt led off the frame with a double to left center and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Stephanie Ceo. Senior Taylor Hoagland walked to put runners on the corners, but Escobedo bounced back with consecutive strikeouts to close the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Sun Devils broke the scoreless tie with Johnson's double. Nikki Girard was hit by a pitch to start the inning and was replaced by Ketchum. After Wigness popped out on a bunt attempt, Johnson hit the ball to the wall in left center. Washington threw to junior first baseman Karina Scott, who tossed to the plate and Ogle nearly tagged out a sliding Ketchum. Luna ended the threat with back-to-back strikeouts.
Texas mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning, but could not convert. After a pair of strikeouts started the frame, Hoagland was hit by a pitch and Washington singled up the middle. Escobedo rebounded again with a fielder's choice that forced Hoagland out at third to end the threat.
The Sun Devils extended the lead to 3-0 with two runs in the top of the sixth. Following a strikeout, Mary Spiel walked and moved to third on a double from Bethany Kemp. A fielder's choice from Sam Parlich scored Spiel and a groundout by Girard drove in Kemp. Luna ended the inning with a strikeout of Johnson.
After Escobedo retired the Longhorns in order in the sixth, Texas brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh with a pair of walks but could not push across a run. Schmidt drew a free pass with one out and, after a strikeout, Hoagland picked up her second walk of the contest. A pop out from Washington allowed Escobedo to seal the victory.
Texas continues action at the Judi Garman Classic on Friday with two games. The Longhorns face Penn State at 7:30 p.m. CT and No. 18/16 Washington at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Post-Game Notes
- Senior Taylor Hoagland's walk and single allowed her to reach base safely in all 27 games this season. It is a single-season best and ties her career high, from April 29, 2010 to Feb. 27, 2011.
- Hoagland drew a walk in the third and seventh innings to bring her career total to 135, putting her alone in fifth place on the Big 12 Conference all-time list.
- Hoagland's single was the 208th hit of her career, giving her sole possession of sixth on the Texas all-time chart. Lexy Bennett (2009-12) is the UT leader with 245 hits.
- Hoagland picked up a hit in her only official at-bat of the campaign. She has base hits in her last five at-bats.
- During the last 18 contests, Hoagland owns a .511 batting average (22-for-43) with 22 runs scored and 13 driven in.
- Senior Torie Schmidt's double in the third inning extended her hitting streak to a season-high-tying five games. During the stretch, she is batting .455 (five-for-11).
- Junior Brejae Washington singled in the fifth inning to push her hitting streak to six games. She already owns the team's longest run of the season at 10 games.
- Despite the setback, senior Blaire Luna owns a 1.75 earned-run average and 57 strikeouts in five starts versus ranked opponents this season.
- Texas was shutout for the first time this season. UT had not been held scoreless since May 18, 2012, against Northwestern in the opener of the NCAA Tournament Austin Regional.
- Arizona State's run in the fifth inning was only the fifth allowed during the frame by Texas this season.
- UT has committed just one error in its last eight games.
