The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Iowa State
No. 6/7 Softball completes sweep of Iowa State with 7-2 Sunday victory
04.14.2013 | Softball
April 14, 2013
Box Score 
AUSTIN, Texas - Two runs batted in from junior Taylor Thom and two more from senior Kim Bruins carried Texas to a 7-2 victory and series sweep over Iowa State on Sunday afternoon at Red & Charline McCombs Field. Senior Blaire Luna's hitless-innings streak was snapped at 20-and-a-third innings during the contest, but she recorded her 21st victory of the campaign.
Texas improved to 38-4 with the win, tying the 2006 and 2011 squads for the best 42-game record in program history. The Longhorns also upped their record to 8-0 in Big 12 Conference action for just the second time in UT history, joining the 2011 team.
Luna (21-1) went the distance for the Longhorns, scattering four hits and surrendering a pair of unearned runs. Luna's streak of consecutive starts allowing three or fewer hits was snapped at 10. Riley Fisher (2-7) threw the first two-and-two-thirds innings for Iowa State, surrendering three runs on five hits and five walks. She also struck out one. Madison Jones came in for the next inning-and-a-third, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk. Taylor Smith completed the pitching effort, throwing two innings, allowing a run on four hits.
Both teams went quietly in the first, but Iowa State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Tori Torrescano reached on an error to start the frame and Sara Davison dropped a single into left field. The hit was the first surrendered by Luna in 20-and-a-third innings. Alex Hugo had the last hit versus Luna, in the opening inning of game two at Kansas on March 29. A sacrifice bunt moved both Cyclone runners up a base and Torrescano came home on a fielder's choice. A strikeout by Aly Cappaert ended the threat.
In the top of the third, the Cyclones (18-22, 3-6 Big 12) had a chance to add to their lead, but were held off the board. Lexi Slater started the inning with a walk and, after a strikeout, Maddie Reese beat out an infield single to put runners on first and second. Erica Miller loaded the bases as she was hit by a pitch. A Luna offering got away from junior catcher Mandy Ogle, but Ogle recovered and tossed the ball to Luna covering home to tag out Slater sliding in. Luna ended the inning with a strikeout to keep it a one-run contest.
Texas responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take a 3-1 lead. After a groundout started the frame, senior Taylor Hoagland walked and junior Brejae Washington bunted for a single. A fielder's choice by Thom left runners on the corners for Ogle, who walked to load the bases. Bruins singled through the left side to plate Hoagland and tie the game at 1-1. Senior Torie Schmidt followed with a single up the middle to drive in Thom and put Texas in the lead. Junior Karina Scott drew the Longhorns' 14th bases-loaded walk of the campaign to force in Ogle and make it a 3-1 edge. Jones relieved Fisher and closed the frame with a pop out.
Iowa State got a run back in the top of the fourth to make it a 3-2 contest. With two outs, Cappaert walked, moved to third as Hally Lenzine reached on an error and scored on a Slater single. A groundout on a bunt attempt closed the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, UT again had the answer, scoring three to go ahead 6-2. After a foul out started the frame, Hoagland walked and Washington singled to put runners on first and second. Thom drove in both with a double to left center and, following a pop out, she came home on a Bruins single through the left side. A groundout ended the threat.
Both teams loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but neither could convert to keep it a 6-2 contest.
Texas added its final run in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead 7-2. Thom led off with a double to right center, moved to third on a fly out and scored on an error as sophomore pinch hitter Marlee Gabaldon's grounder was not fielded cleanly. Schmidt singled, but a double play kept UT's lead at five runs.
Luna allowed a leadoff walk in the seventh, but retired the next three Iowa State batters in order to seal the victory.
The Longhorns return to action Friday with a series against No. 1/1 Oklahoma. The teams open the three-game set with a 4:30 p.m. Friday tilt. The contest will be televised live on Longhorn Network.
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On today's performance: It was a grind today, but sometimes that is how the games are, especially the last day of the series. It was good that we finished it out and got the outs that we wanted.
On what turned the momentum in Texas' favor: It came down to talking in the huddles and saying, 'It is not how you start but how you finish.'
You have to push on the energy and do some things in the dugout. This weather is indicative of what we will get down the stretch. I wanted to take advantage of that. There were good lessons in regards to hydration.
On playing Oklahoma next weekend: I am glad that we have Oklahoma at the end of the week; it will give the group something to be motivated about. Also this group is winning, which can lead to autopilot a little bit.
There is no way that they can just go through the motions this week. They will be hungry and fired up with some great intensity; they will provide that intensity for us.
We match up tremendously with them. It will be two great teams with two great pitchers going at it. We are similar in many ways. I am glad that we are on our field for this match up.
Junior SS Taylor Thom
On starting Big 12 at 8-0: It is amazing to start the conference 8-0, but we have a big challenge ahead of us that we cannot wait to get to.
On her performance this weekend: I have been struggling for a while so I have been working in the cages every day. This weekend, I was able to get some good looks on the ball and get some good pitches.
On playing Oklahoma next weekend: I cannot wait for the game against OU. They are a great ball club so we will prepare really hard this week. This week cannot go by fast enough.
Senior OF Torie Schmidt
On the offense today: We were waiting for some good pitches. During that at-bat in the third inning, I got some good pitches and I was seeing the ball well.
On the Oklahoma series next weekend: We are pretty confident. We are happy with the wins that we are getting and we are ready to go into the OU series. We have a week to prepare.
Post-Game Notes
- Senior Taylor Hoagland holds a .654 on-base percentage this season. The UT single-season record is .510, by Lexy Bennett in 2011. The Big 12 Conference mark is .594 by Amber Flores (Oklahoma/2009).
- Hoagland's run in the third inning was the 200th scored of her career. She becomes the fifth player in Big 12 history to reach the milestone. Missouri's Rhea Taylor (2008-11) owns the all-time conference mark at 234.
- Hoagland finished with two runs, giving her 47 this season, the sixth most in a year in program history.
- Hoagland drew walks in the first, third and fourth innings. The free passes were her 54th, 55th and 56th of the campaign, tied with Meagan May (Texas A&M/2012) for the Big 12 Conference single-season record.
- Senior Blaire Luna's hitless-innings streak was snapped at 20-and-a-third. It was the second-longest string in program history, behind Cat Osterman's 25-and-a-third consecutive hitless frames March 4-15, 2005.
- Luna's hitless-innings streak spanned 77 batters.
- Luna has not allowed an earned run at home in her last 34-and-a-third innings. Louisiana was the last to record an earned run, in the top of the seventh on March 6. - Junior Taylor Thom's two runs batted in give her 46 this season, tied for the third most in a year in program history. Lexy Bennett owns the single-season Texas record with 57 in 2012.
- Texas improves to 39-1 in the all-time series against Iowa State.
- UT is 8-0 in Big 12 Conference games for just the second time in program history, joining the 2011 squad.
- The victory extends Texas' winning streak to 15, good for the longest of the year. The Longhorns opened the season winning 13 consecutive contests.
- The current 15-game streak is the sixth longest in program history. The 2006 squad holds the record with 24-straight victories from Feb. 11 - March 8.
- Texas' overall record of 38-4 is tied with the 2006 and 2011 teams for the best through 42 contests in program history.
- The Longhorns recorded their 14th-straight home win. UT is 22-1 at Red & Charline McCombs Field this season.
