Texas did not let its impending Big 12 road test in Stillwater, Okla., get the best of them. They faced an overmatched Texas State team Wednesday night en route to playing the Cowgirls on Saturday. The Longhorns connected for 12 hits in their 6-2 victory over the Bobcats. This extended the Longhorns’ current win streak to 13 games and improved their record to 29-3 on the season.
The offense produced four home runs during its seven innings of play. Junior Courtney Craig, having just returned to action after an injury, notched her first home run of the season. Senior Amy Hooks, junior Lexy Bennett and freshman Taylor Thom produced the other three home runs of the game.
Rachel Fox, the freshman right-hander from Sugar Land, Texas earned the victory for the Longhorns by allowing only one run off of four hits. This win improved Fox to 12-1 for the season and lowered her season ERA to 1.10. After four innings of work, sophomore reliever Kim Bruins went in to finish the game while only giving up one run off of one hit. Hooks leads the team in career home runs at 28 with sophomore Taylor Hoagland and Bennett tied at second with 20 each.
The Longhorns allowed the Bobcats to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. After that, they never looked back. In the bottom of the third, Bennett reached first base on a fielder’s choice. Hooks’ home run, her fifth of the season, sent Texas ahead 2-1. Texas State was never given the chance to regain the lead after that. A late rally in the bottom of the sixth inning threatened the Longhorns’ lead, but Bruins held the Bobcats to only one run. Texas State only managed to plate two runs off of five hits. Three errors committed by the Texas defense helped in each of the Bobcat scores.
The Longhorns are riding a hot streak that started in California at the Judi Garman Classic. This streak is present on both sides of the ball. This weekend, the Longhorns will face their first ranked Big 12 opponent during their first true road test. Up to this point, most of the Longhorns’ away games have been at neutral sites during tournaments. A talented Oklahoma State team supported by an enthusiastic and rowdy crowd will meet the competitive Longhorns this weekend.
