The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Bruins' walk-off hit leads No. 7/6 Softball to 2-1 victory over No. 22/16 Baylor
05.12.2013 | Softball
May 12, 2013
Box Score 
AUSTIN, Texas - Senior Kim Bruins capped off Senior Day with a walk-off hit as No. 7/6 Texas defeated No. 22/16 Baylor 2-1 in nine innings Sunday at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
A sold out crowd watched a back and forth contest between the Longhorns and Lady Bears on the last day of the regular season. Texas senior Taylor Hoagland finished three-for-three with two runs scored while Bruins and junior Brejae Washington added two hits apiece.
The Longhorns won the game in the ninth with three singles and a hit by pitch off of Baylor starter Whitney Canion. Hoagland led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Baylor shortstop Jordan Strickland. After Washington reached on a bunt single, junior Taylor Thom was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Bruins. The senior first baseman laced the first pitch over the head of Baylor right fielder Kaitlynn Thumann, bringing in Hoagland with the game-winning run.
Senior Blaire Luna (26-5) pitched all nine innings, allowed five hits and struck out six batters in her 24th complete-game effort of the season. Canion dropped to 23-8 for the Lady Bears, allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out eight Texas batters.
The first inning was eventful for both teams, as Baylor's Kathy Shelton opened up the contest with a walk. She later advanced to second on a Luna wild pitch. Thumann also walked and a single from Sarah Smith loaded the bases for the Lady Bears with only one out. Luna pitched her way out of the jam, striking out two to close the half inning with three left on base for Baylor.
The Longhorns got on the scoreboard early in a busy bottom of the first. Hoagland started things off with her 12th double of the season and advanced to third on a bunt from Washington, who was safe on an error by Smith, the third baseman. Washington stole second, and Hoagland scored on the play when a fielding error by Smith on a pick-off attempt. Washington was then picked off at second, but consecutive singles by Bruins and Mandy Ogle, followed by an error on Baylor's second baseman, loaded the bases for the Longhorns with two outs. Karina Scott struck out looking, putting the first in the books with three left on for Texas.
The Lady Bears tied the score with one run in the top of the fourth. Strickland led off with an infield single. With two outs, Canion reached on a throwing error that allowed Strickland to move to third. Strickland scored after a second Longhorn error on the play, when the throw back toward the infield rolled under catcher Ogle's body to the backstop.
Baylor had two opportunities to take a lead, but Texas' defense held strong. In the top of the fifth, after one-out walks to Holly Holl and Thumann, Smith doubled to the gap in left center. Center fielder Washington dove and could not make the catch. She picked up the ball and threw to shortstop Stephanie Ceo, who finished the relay with a throw to the plate to Ogle, who tagged out Holl. In the sixth with one out and runners on second and third, pinch hitter Kelsi Kettler attempted a suicide squeeze, but missed the pitch and Linsey Hays was picked off third by Ogle.
In the top the seventh the Lady Bears again had a chance to go ahead. With two outs, Luna walked Thumann, hit Smith with a pitch and allowed a single to Strickland to load the bases. A line drive from Hays to center field threatened to do damage, but a running catch by Washington on the warning track closed another scoreless inning with three left on base for Baylor.
Texas was unable to score a run in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
UT worked around a one-out single from Canion in the top of the eighth and sent down the Lady Bears in order in the top of the ninth, setting up Bruins' heroics in the ninth.
The Longhorns learn their NCAA Tournament fate tonight during the Selection Show, which will be televised live on ESPNU starting at 9 p.m. CT Sunday.
Post-Game Quotes
Head Coach Connie Clark
On how she feels heading into the postseason on a win: A whole lot better. I would have been really disappointed if we couldn't figure out how to get it done on Senior Day. We kept taking time outs and talking about staying on the things we can control: attack, relentless, play hard and don't get consumed with it being a rollercoaster emotionally. We had a lot of those discussions throughout the day. They did a fantastic job with that.
On getting the game-winner from one of her seniors today: It was tremendous. We kind of scripted it out beforehand, the fact that it might come down to the seniors. We just wanted them to enjoy the moment of today because you'll only get it once. I wasn't surprised that it came down to Kim Bruins and Taylor Hoagland because they are tremendous athletes. They want to be in that moment.
That's what you hope for when you're a freshman growing into a senior. You want to be able to handle the pressure like that.
On what she can say to her team that will help it advance in the postseason: We do need to get further (than we have in recent seasons). This group hasn't done that yet. I don't think you change things drastically.
We were in final exams this week. I challenged the captains to make sure that they kept academics a priority, but we backed off of team-structured practice. We encouraged them to get out there, swing and do the things that are going to make that little push to make a difference.
I think they felt a little more confident coming into today. Those are the little things that we need to do because this group of seniors wants to be where they haven't been yet, and that's the Women's College World Series.
Senior 1B Kim Bruins
On getting a game-winning hit on Senior Day and whether she was looking for a specific pitch: Not really, I was just looking forward to putting the ball in play because the bases were loaded with no outs. There were just a whole bunch of scenarios and possibilities that can happen if you just put it into play.
On how exciting it is to get a walk-off hit on Senior Day: It's great. It's so sad at the same time, but it's great to finish off like that.
On the drama of today's close game: A great game like that, going to nine innings, had to have a great ending like that.
Senior P Blaire Luna
On today's win: It's awesome. It was a great win going into the postseason and I think, if anything, it will give us momentum to feed off of.
On how this win will carry her team into the postseason: It's really good. It is momentum for us, especially offensively. We still have things that we need to work on, but we'll work on those through the week.
On getting the win on Senior Day: It's awesome. It's really exciting more for Kim (Bruins). She got the game-winning hit and that's really exciting for her.
Post-Game Notes
- Senior Taylor Hoagland holds a .628 on-base percentage this season and reached base in all five plate appearances during the game. 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 double in the first inning was her 12th of the campaign, the most in a year in her career.
- Hoagland's runs in the first and ninth were her 57th and 58th of the season, one behind her UT single-season record of 59 scored, in 2012.
- Hoagland's two walks gave her 169 in her career, three behind Texas A&M's Megan Gibson (172/2005-08) for the all-time Big 12 mark.
- After her zero-for-three performance at Oklahoma State on May 4, Hoagland is hitting .714 (five-for-seven) with two walks.
- Junior Brejae Washington has been on a hot streak over the last 13 games, batting .444 (20-for-45) with five runs batted in and 10 scored.
- Washington stole a base in the bottom of the first to give her 28 this season. The total is good for third on the UT single-season list. She owns the school single-season record with 38 swipes in 2011.
- Senior Blaire Luna recorded her 44th career Big 12 victory, tying Cat Osterman (2002-06) for the most in program history.
- Texas' stolen base in the first inning was the team's 108 this season, good for second on the single-season record chart. The 2013 squad is just seven behind the 2011 team's single-year UT record of 114.
- The Longhorns finished the Big 12 Conference season with a .313 batting average, good for the third highest in program history.
- UT also posted a .399 on-base percentage during Big 12 action, good for the third best in Texas history.
- Texas finished the home season with a 24-3 record.
- The walk-off win was the team's second of the season as Gabby Smith singled in the decisive score in the bottom of the eighth against Tulsa on Feb. 24.
- The Longhorns improve to 3-1 in extra-inning games this season.
