The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State earns 2-1 victory Saturday over No. 6/6 Softball
05.04.2013 | Softball
May 4, 2013
Box Score 
STILLWATER, Okla. - A two-run first-inning home run by Tarah Ettinger proved to be the difference in the game as Oklahoma State claimed a 2-1 victory over No. 6/6 Texas Saturday afternoon at Cowgirl Stadium. The Longhorns (42-8, 12-4 Big 12) scored a run in the top of the second on a single from freshman Erin Shireman, but could not force a tie and suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season.
Senior Blaire Luna (24-5) went the distance for UT, scattering four hits and four walks in addition to picking up 11 strikeouts. Simone Freeman started for the Cowgirls and tossed two-and-two-thirds innings, giving up a run on three hits and two strikeouts. Kat Espinosa (18-15) relieved, earning the win, and threw the remaining four-and-a-third frames, allowing just two hits on seven whiffs and a free pass.
Oklahoma State (30-22, 6-8 Big 12) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Ari Morrison drew a one-out walk and Ettinger delivered her two-run home run to left field.
Texas answered immediately in the top of the second with a run to make it a 2-1 Oklahoma State advantage. The inning started with a leadoff single from junior Mandy Ogle. After a pop out, a groundout moved Ogle to second and she scored on a two-out single to center from Shireman. Freeman ended the threat with a fly out to center.
In the bottom of the second, the Cowgirls had a chance to answer, loading the bases with one out, but could not convert. After a foul out started the frame, Shelby Davis reached on an infield single and stole second. A throwing error allowed Erika Campbell to reach first and moved Davis to third with one out before a walk to Gessenia DeLaCruz filled the bases. Tamara Brown hit a fly ball to left center that junior center fielder Brejae Washington caught and threw to the plate for catcher Ogle, who applied the tag on Davis to close the inning.
UT had an opportunity to force a tie in the top of the third and was held off the board. With two outs, Washington singled to center and stole second base before senior Kim Bruins was hit by a pitch. Oklahoma State brought in Espinosa, who retired Ogle on a fly out to center.
The Longhorns put a runner on base in the fourth and fifth innings with a single from senior Torie Schmidt in the fourth and one from Washington in the fifth, but could not move either past second base as Espinosa kept it a one-run OSU lead.
Oklahoma State had a chance to add to its lead in the fifth, but did not capitalize. Morrison was hit by a pitch to start the inning and stole second before a strikeout and walk to Samantha Chrisman put runners on first and second. Luna again cut off the threat with a strikeout looking and groundout to strand the pair.
Texas had its final scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth as Ogle walked with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch. Espinosa kept the lead with a strikeout and fly out before retiring the Longhorns in order in the seventh.
UT wraps up the three-game series at Oklahoma State Sunday with a noon CT first pitch. The contest will be televised live on ESPN with Cara Capuano (play by play) and Amanda Scarborough (analyst) calling the action.
Post-Game Notes
- Senior Taylor Hoagland failed to reach base in a game for the first time this season. She had reached safely in 57-straight games prior to today's contest.
- Hoagland holds a .620 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).
- Freshman Erin Shireman recorded her eighth RBI of the Big 12 season, good for the fourth most on the team.
- Shireman has five runs batted in during her last nine contests.
- Junior center fielder Brejae Washington recorded her first assist of the season, and first since March 7, 2012, against Texas Tech.
- Washington stole a base in the top of the third to give her 27 this season. The total is one behind her 2012 mark and good for fourth on the UT single-season list. She owns the school single-season record with 38 swipes in 2011.
- Senior Blaire Luna recorded her 19th game of 10 or more strikeouts this season, fanning 11.
- Texas' two stolen bases give the team 106 this season, good for third on the all-time list and just eight behind the 2011 squad's single-year record of 114.
- UT lost consecutive games for the first time since May 26, 2012, against Oregon in last year's NCAA Super Regional.
- The Longhorns have not lost three-straight contests since April 6-11, 2012, against Missouri and Texas Tech.
- Texas dropped consecutive road games for the first time since May 4-5, 2012, at Oklahoma.
- Entering the series, UT was 41-0 when outhitting the opposition. Texas had dropped both games this weekend despite outhitting Oklahoma State in both contests.
