Weekend Breakdown:
Game One vs. Lamar:
Brejae Washington’s four RBIs complemented Blaire Luna’s one-hitter to give No. 6 Texas a 5-0 win and extend the season-opening win streak to 13 games. Longhorns pitchers continued their streak of 27 straight scoreless innings.
Game Two vs. No. 24 Tulsa:
The Longhorns suffered their first loss of the season Friday night against No. 24 Tulsa. The 27 scoreless innings streak was snapped in the first inning of the 7-4 loss on back-to-back bases-loaded RBI singles by the Golden Hurricanes. After a shaky second inning, freshman pitcher Holly Kern was pulled for Kim Bruins. Tulsa led 5-0 going into the third. The Longhorns cut it to 5-3 in the fifth, but that was as close as they got.
Game Three vs. Utah State:
Powered by Taylor Thom’s 4-for-4 day at the plate, the Longhorns got back on the winning track with a 13-2 drubbing of Utah State. Sophomore Gabby Smith claimed the win with a complete game to improve to 2-0. Thom had an NCAA record-tying three doubles and drove in four runs.
Semifinals vs. Lamar:
Texas set up a rematch with Tulsa in the finals with a 9-1 win over Lamar. Bruins drove in two runs and pitched her fourth complete game of the season. Taylor Hoagland and Washington combined for five runs scored while Thom continued her hot streak picking up two more hits.
Finals vs. Tulsa:
The Longhorns avenged their only loss of the season with a 1-0, eight-inning thriller against No. 24 Tulsa to claim the Texas Invitational title. Luna went the full eight innings, allowing just three hits while looking like a true all-American. The only run of the game came on a Smith single to score freshman Stephanie Ceo.
By the Numbers:
5: Homers hit by Taylor Thom this season in 15 at-bats after her home run in Friday’s win over Lamar. The hot streak helped Thom earn Big 12 Player of the Week.
12: Career triples by Brejae Washington after her three bagger in the tournament, just one behind Shannon Thomas for the all-time Texas record
0.50: Blaire Luna’s ERA to go along with her 7-0 record.
