The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
No. 9/9 Softball comes back for 5-1 victory over No. 18/15 Baylor
03.24.2013 | Softball
March 24, 2013
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AUSTIN, Texas - A single from senior Kim Bruins through the left side that drove in classmate Taylor Hoagland provided the game-winning run as No. 9/9 Texas came from behind to top No. 18/15 Baylor 5-1 on Sunday afternoon inside Red & Charline McCombs Field. Senior Blaire Luna struck out 11 in the contest and allowed just two hits in her second win of the weekend.
The Longhorns (29-4, 2-0 Big 12) have started Big 12 Conference play 2-0 five times in the last six years. Texas has also won eight of its last nine meetings against top-25 foes and improved to 8-2 versus ranked opponents this season.
The bottom two batters in the UT lineup provided a spark in the contest as sophomore Gabby Smith and freshman Stephanie Ceo combined to go four-for-five with three runs scored and two driven in. Ceo has recorded a hit in her last five at-bats.
Luna (15-1) allowed just two hits in the contest and finished her weekend with only four given up, three singles. She fanned 11, walked five and surrendered an unearned run. Baylor's Heather Stearns (8-3) got the start and pitched four innings, giving up three hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out eight and walking one. Whitney Canion relieved and tossed an inning, allowing three hits and three runs, one earned. Courtney Repka finished the pitching effort for the Bears, allowing one hit and one walk in one inning.
Baylor (26-7, 0-2 Big 12) took an early lead, scoring in the top of the second. Sarah Smith was hit by a pitch to open the frame and was replaced by pinch runner Justine Young. Clare Hosack followed with a bunt, but the throw went into right field, allowing Young to move a third. A walk to Holly Holl loaded the bases for Robin Landrith, who struck out looking. Luna fanned Kelsi Kettler swinging before a Jordan Strickland ground ball was misplayed, allowing Young to score for a 1-0 Bears lead. Luna struck out Katilyn Thumann swinging to end the threat and leave the bases full.
UT tried to answer in the bottom of the third, but was held off the board. Smith led off the inning with the Longhorns' first hit of the contest, a single through the right side. Smith moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ceo before a pair of strikeouts left her stranded.
The Bears mounted a threat in the top of the fourth, but Luna shut the door again. Hosack and Holl started the inning with consecutive walks. Luna retired the next three batters with two pop outs and a fly out to end the threat.
Texas had another chance in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but was kept scoreless. With one out, Bruins singled just over the head of Landrith at second and into center field. After a strikeout, junior Karina Scott was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game and senior Torie Schmidt reached on a Landrith fielding error to fill the bases. Smith struck out to close the frame.
After the defensive hold, Baylor moved a runner to third in the top of the fifth and left her stranded. Thumann led off with a double for the Bears' first hit of the contest. Luna bounced back to fan Kathy Shelton before Thumann stole third base. A strikeout and pop out left Thumann on third.
In the bottom of the fifth, Texas broke through with two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Ceo started the inning with an infield single and Hoagland walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Canion entered and hit junior Brejae Washington with a pitch to load the bases. A sacrifice fly from junior Taylor Thom plated Ceo to tie the contest at 1-1. Bruins followed with a single through the left side that delivered Hoagland and gave UT the lead. A pop out and strikeout allowed Canion to escape without further damage.
UT tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead 5-1. Schmidt led off reaching on a throwing error by Canion and scored on a double to right center by Smith. Ceo's second single of the contest drove in Smith for a two-run edge. Repka relieved Canion and recorded two outs before Bruins came through again with a single up the middle that plated Ceo. A lineout ended the inning.
Luna struck out the first two batters in the seventh before Shelton singled and Hays walked. A pop out by Smith to Ceo at second ended the contest and sealed the weekend sweep.
Texas returns to action Thursday with the start of a three-game series at Kansas. The Longhorns face the Jayhawks at 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday before the finale at 11 a.m. CT Saturday.
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On Blaire Luna's performance: She had another good outing. Today she faced another challenge. I told her just keep doing what you do. That's her lesson. You can't control everything around you; you just have to do your thing. I thought she was exceptional today.
On the takeaway message from today's victory: The outcomes are good. It's good to be 2-0. Our biggest thing we can take away from today is that we need to learn to love to play under pressure. That's something you have to love.
I thought we struggled a little bit after they [Baylor] scored that run. It took us a little while to get back on track, so that's a good takeaway for us.
On facing adversity in the first two games of conference play: You couldn't have scripted it any better. That's exactly what we need to test where we are.
Yesterday, I thought we were an A+ mentally. I thought we were a C+ today in the first couple innings, but then we turned in a great performance down the stretch. We just stuck with it and had great stick-to-itiveness today. That's important for us.
On production from the bottom of the lineup: They have been great for us. You love to see that. That's what it was about today. We needed to get some production from somewhere other than up top.
On getting the team focused after Baylor took an early 1-0 lead: We had conversations about how we needed to keep playing. We were playing tight, and this club does not perform well when we play tight. They were a little quiet, and I knew we needed to loosen back up. After that, we started having better at-bats. Enjoy that process of dealing with some adversity.
On starting 2-0 in conference play: It's a good start. The conference is challenging. You want to try to take care of business at home, but it's going to be tough day in and day out in this conference. I love we got two wins and that we were challenged. It sets the tone, but we can't get too excited because there is still a whole lot ahead of us.
Senior P Blaire Luna
On her performance this weekend: I felt good overall, both yesterday and today. I am happy with my performance. We did a great job.
On starting Big 12 play 2-0: We set the tone. This conference is not easy. I think this is a big deal that we came back today. It gives us momentum for the rest of conference play.
On her focus in the circle: I try to not think about that [errors] and just focus on my game and my strengths. That's what I did and it worked out.
On Taylor Thom's game-tying sacrifice fly in the fifth inning: I have a lot of confidence in her, and everyone else on our team. She came through in a key part of the game.
Freshman 2B Stephanie Ceo
On starting strong in conference play: It's always nice to start strong, and that's what we did. Starting conference play strong is what we need. This is one of the steps to get to a conference championship.
On Blaire Luna: She is awesome. Blaire comes out here with a great mind-set and is focused on getting everybody out that comes in that batter's box. She is a great leader for us.
On Taylor Thom: I have complete confidence in her ability at the plate. She is a great leader on the team and she speaks with her bat. I know when she is up that she is going to hit something and hit something hard.
Post-Game Notes
- Senior Taylor Hoagland's walk in the fifth inning allowed her to reach base in all 33 games this season. The streak is a Texas record.
- Hoagland is hitting .465 (20-for-43) during March with 17 runs scored, 12 RBI, six home runs and 18 walks.
- Hoagland has scored a run in her last six contests and in 11 of the last 12 games.
- Senior Blaire Luna improved to 7-1 with a 1.19 earned-run average against top-25 foes this season. She has fanned 98 in 59.0 innings pitched versus ranked teams.
- Luna struck out 11 batters in the contest, lifting her season total to 199. In her last 29.0 innings pitched, she has fanned 56.
- Junior Taylor Thom recorded her 40th run batted in of the campaign, just one shy of her career high, set in 2011.
- After a zero-for-nine skid, senior Kim Bruins is hitting .500 (eight-for-16) in her last four contests. Bruins has recorded an RBI in her last four games.
- Freshman Stephanie Ceo has hits in her last five at-bats. She has lifted her batting average from .397 to .444 in the last three contests.
- Texas improved to 6-3 when the opponent scores first this season.
- The Longhorns are 8-2 against ranked teams this season. UT has won eight of its last nine such meetings.
- UT improves to 13-0 versus in-state foes this season.
- Texas has posted a 24-0 record when the opponent scores two or fewer runs.
- The Longhorns are 18-0 when holding a lead after six innings.
- Texas has tallied 78 two-out runs batted in this season while opponents have just 20.
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